Gunderson Axes 8 Associates

A well-known corporate and intellectual property boutique in Silicon Valley has laid off eight of its 90 associates, including half of its first-year class in its biggest office.

Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian axed five of 10 first-years and a second-year in its Silicon Valley office, as well as two other associates in San Diego and Boston, reports the Recorder in an article reprinted in New York Lawyer (reg. req.). The article is based on information provided by two laid-off associates.

The 130-attorney firm offered laid-off associates a three-month severance package, according to one of the two, and said the layoffs were based on a lack of work, rather than performance.

Name partners at the firm itself didn't immediately respond to e-mailed requests by the Recorder for comment.

As discussed in an earlier ABAJournal.com post, the firm recently moved its Silicon Valley headquarters to less expensive offices.