Law Practice Management
Cell Phone Conversation on Train Tips Listener to Planned Pillsbury Layoffs
Posted Feb 19, 2009 3:59 PM CST
By Martha Neil
A post on Above the Law this morning reported that an unidentified tipster claimed to have overheard two top lawyers at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman discussing planned attorney layoffs in a cell phone conversation loudly conducted on a crowded train.
And that apparently may be true, reports the Legal Times, in an article reprinted in New York Lawyer (reg. req.): The law firm has not only confirmed in a brief statement today that it "will be implementing reductions to ensure that our resources are aligned with our business needs," but also apologizes in it "for the unfortunate manner in which our deliberations about reductions have become public.”
Details of the expected layoffs aren't provided in the Pillsbury statement.
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Comments
B. McLeod
Feb 19, 2009 4:38 PM CST
Ever since there have been cellphones, there have been pompous asses who insist on loudly conducting cellphone conversations on public transit, so that other passengers may see how important they are.
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Bill Dugan
Feb 20, 2009 1:46 AM CST
Comment removed by moderator.
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Ronnie
Feb 20, 2009 8:52 AM CST
B. McLeod,
I don’t often agree with you, but on this instance, I am 100% with you.
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FJP
Feb 20, 2009 8:56 AM CST
Guess that means there will be two more layoffs than originally planned . . . . .
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Mike
Feb 20, 2009 9:30 AM CST
McLeod is right indeed. It can get more embarassing than that, when a transaction gets disclosed before being published by some silly person gibbering about it on his cell.
The Eurostar train between London and Brussels used to be the favorite spot for journalists and eavesdroppers, to find out what is hot and what transactions are on. Just listen carefully, and you go home well-informed.
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Hadley V. Baxendale
Feb 20, 2009 2:45 PM CST
Somebody forgot Professional Conduct Rule 1.6. Cell phone users annoy me when I am a captive audience—train, line at bank, etc. I am not interested in other peoples’ secrets. It’s bad enough to have to do that for a living.
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G. Zambre
Feb 20, 2009 9:48 PM CST
Thank you, McLeod and Baxendale, for your well worded comments. I’ve felt the same (about cell phone users in public areas) for a long time; specifically, the worst i’ve seen has been in my physicians lobby amongst many people trying to read and not be distracted.
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