Experienced Lawyers Leaving HP in Series of Shakeups
The legal department at Hewlett-Packard has seen a lot of changes—and departures—since Michael Holston took over as general counsel in 2007.
Some experienced lawyers are now gone, either because they were forced out or they are unhappy with the changes, the Recorder reports. Those who left include 18-year veteran Charles Charnas, who left for Apple last year, and 20-year veteran Alan Haggard, a patent lawyer who jumped to Rambus in January.
“Continual layoffs, Holston’s intensive new performance evaluation program, and management shakeups have transformed the department,” the Recorder says. “It’s out with the old and in with the new.”
Leigh Ann Weiland, an HP senior counsel who left last year, told the Recorder of “an exodus of great people” and replacements who don’t always have the same stature. “I think there’s also been a focus on trying to find younger attorneys; many of the more older, experienced people who have a wealth of experience with the company were simply urged to move on,” she said.
The story cites an example: The company’s intellectual property department had 70 U.S. lawyers when Holston took over; only about a third are still there. “At least a dozen who left fit this profile: late 40s and early 50s, with 15 to 20 years of experience at the company,” the story says.
Holston, a former prosecutor, joined HP from Morgan, Lewis & Bockius. He told the Recorder that he likes to have a balance of experienced and newer lawyers, and notes that three of his deputy general counsel got their jobs in internal promotions.
“If you’re going to be the best legal and government affairs department in the world, then you’re going to have to hold people accountable,” he told the publication.
