Kilpatrick Stockton Lays Off 24 Lawyers

Kilpatrick Stockton has announced the layoffs of 24 lawyers and counsel, attributing the actions to the current economic downturn.

The law firm says the layoffs are spread across all of its U.S. offices, according to the Fulton County Daily Report. A statement by Diane Prucino, the firm's co-managing partner, said the laid-off lawyers "will receive a competitive and generous severance package" as well as outplacement assistance.

“We have a strong commitment to our people, which makes these departures extremely difficult, especially in the current economic environment,” Prucino says in the statement provided to the ABA Journal. “We, like other leading law firms, believe this measure is necessary to adapt to changes in the economy and to the demand for certain legal services.”

The statement says no other reductions in force are planned.

Last week the law firm revealed it is pushing back start dates for new associates to April 2010.