Thelen Lays Off 26 Associates, 85 Staffers

Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner laid off 26 associates and 85 staff on Wednesday afternoon, the most dramatic step in a package of moves reacting to tough economic times. The firm is also trimming its summer associate program from 11 to eight weeks and is pushing the start date for first-years from September to January. Co-chairman Stephen O'Neal characterized the decisions as a smart response to an unforgiving economy. Last year was the firm's first full year following the 2006 merger of San Francisco-based Thelen Reid & Priest with New York-based Brown Raysman Millstein Felder & Steiner. The merged firm posted a nearly 50 percent increase in both headcount and revenue when compared to its predecessor Thelen Reid & Priest.

Thelen Lays Off 26 Associates, 85 Staffers law.com Thu, Mar 20, 2008