Husch Blackwell lets go of 17 attorneys, 45 staff

The decision to eliminate jobs probably was based on focusing efficiently and effectively on the legal needs of that firm's clients. watch funny people online and watch jennifer's body. Internal firm politics and management probably only made the tough decision even tougher.

HBS is not the only one; dumping long-time, loyal hard- working online human services degree employees with little acknowlegement of their contributions appears to be the latest trend in law firms. Former legal "staff"online education degree programs | online history degree

I totally agree - HBS is not the only one; dumping long-time, loyal hard- working employees with little acknowlegement of their contributions appears to be the latest trend in law firms. Former legal "staff"

My husband was one of the many that HBS let go for 'performance reasons'. Like many, he had never received a negative review. He was well liked by everyone that met him. In fact, when they were laying him off the words were 'this has nothing to do with your work, your work has always been high quality' and 'we hate to do this'. Yeah, right. Not even a week's severance for 1/2 the time he gave to the firm. After 15 years of service this is how the firm repays the hard work and dedication? This is nothing more than an opportunity for the fat cats and Fenley to line his pockets with more money so he can buy himself the latest model Mercedes and a few new Italian suits. Fenley, if you're worried about any of the families affected by this (I know you're not, but I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt here), we're okay. In fact, I'm glad this happened, I would be far more concerned for my husband to be in that environment watching his Blackwell Sanders family crumble around him. Why? Because my husband and so many others have something that you don't - a heart. Remember Dave, what goes around comes around. You and your cronies will get yours someday. The fortunate part for my husband and the others like him is that they got the best years at Blackwell - the friendships that were made there will last a lifetime - something that you probably can't say.

Sounds like a trip to CVS is in order.

I was a staff employee cut by this "right size" decision. It was done in such a terrible manner. Call you in the conf. room, tell you today is your last day and that you'll be escorted back to your desk to pack your things. I didn't have performance issues, always had a good review, well liked and going above and beyond the call of duty for YEARS with them.

The severance package was so slight, not even 1 week per year of employment. No out-placement assistance offered, nothing more than the very bare minimum they have to by law (meaning we "can" file unemployment).

I find it in very poor taste that a company who I've worked for over 10 years couldn't give me any notice at all, when if I were the one "severing" my employment with them, they "require" a 2 week notice.

HBS didn't have to be so cold about this no matter what the economic climate is. They certainly did not take the high road.

I am aware of the 2002 and 2003 layoffs at BSPM. I know for a fact that one of them was based on sex discrimination. Family friendly firm ?! Unbelievable.

This is a pretty unflattering report for a newspaper that has, at least in the past, been represented by HBS.

Still, Mr. Finley's comments don't pass the smell test.

Here's hoping someone on the reporting staff has the guts to keep asking tough questions.

but but but Genius Dave graduated from Menninger's - oh wait, that's right, Washburn, duh...

Reading your comment, you likely need to hire good outside counsel. At minimum a good proofer.

I admit, I know Dave and kinda like him. I also know that he sometimes can be a jerk. So can I! However, his quotes left me dismayed.

The decision to eliminate jobs probably was based on focusing efficiently and effectively on the legal needs of that firm's clients. Internal firm politics and management probably only made the tough decision even tougher.

It's always sad to see folks lose their jobs. I've been one of them before. My hope is that those looking for new employment land on their feet soon.

I heard that one of the ladies they laid off was six months pregnant. Didn't they just have some push last year on how great of a family and woman friendly firm they were?

As in-house counsel for a large corporate client carried over to the firm from the former Blackwell Sanders, Mr. Fenley's comments solidified my decision to no longer use the services of Husch Blackwell.

Most companies and firms are facing hard personnel decisions these days. For him to attempt to bolster his firm's performance ("going gangbusters") while maintaining the dismissals are simply performance-based is absurd. If his comment is reflects a poorly veiled attempt to deny unemployment benefits to those dismissed, it is indecent. If it reflects his approach toward managing people and business, it demonstrates poor judgment. In either case, I want nothing to do with it.

I use firms where the attorneys can focus efficiently and effectively on my legal needs, and not be distracted by internal firm politics or management, particularly in these tough times. Mr. Fenley's comments provide me the insight to see that Husch Blackwell is not managed as such a firm.

Before being attorneys or support staff, each of the persons dismissed, as well as the people remaining at the firm, are foremost human. Perhaps Mr. Fenley could benefit from advice on how to treat and manage them as such.

It's time for that firm's board of directors to lay off Mr. Fenley as the leader of the firm. At least they should fit him with a muzzle.

Those fired attorneys and staff will land somewhere else, and instead of being sources of referrals, they will be enemies of the firm because of Fenley's parting shot.

Dave is a great guy.

It's not him, it's his disease.

"Performance Based" merely means that weasel is trying to get out of paying unemployment compensation.

Mr. Fenley is one of the most arrogant people around. To call these cutbacks performance based makes him look even worse. HBS claims to be family oriented and staff friendly. My @ss!

According to friends at the firm, HBS' review process ran its course in Sept for associates and in Nov for staff. Given the timing, this reduction cannot clearly be tied to either.

This is not the first time HBS terminated attorneys during tough economic times (while simultaneously claiming that performance-not economics-was behind the whack). In August 2002 predecessor firm Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin LLP terminated 8 associates, including two first-year associates, with no notice immediately BEFORE annual associate reviews (when performance based issues would typically be addressed).

Although Mr. Finely was similarly quoted (in the KC Star) insisting that all terminations were based on individual performance and not firm economics, inside sources point out that 7 of the 8 associates were in the transactional practice areas (corporate, energy, real estate) most effected by the dot-com bubble of 2001-2002, and Enronesque energy trading troubles at BSPM’s largest client (Aquila Inc./Aquila Merchant Services, Inc.).

Mr. Finley’s comments, (1) unnecessarily disparage departed attorneys/staff; and (2) reflect poorly on Mr. Finley and the rest of HBS leadership.

His approach stands in stark contrast to competitors such as Foland Wickens, which have not only gone out of their way to provide extraordinary severance and transition assistance, but also (perhaps more importantly) made a point of acknowledging the impact of prevailing economic winds on firm fortunes.

Maybe HBS isn't quite as "world class" as Mr. Finley would like to think?

Arrogance is a tool used by many a Chairman in the face of adversity. Interestingly, arrogance is also a quality possessed by many tools.

Honestly, would anyone have thought less of them had they just admitted that they are responding to weakness in certain practice groups??? Now, the firm just looks like bunch of [expletive deleted]s that you do not want to work for.

How could a law firm be so incompetent with spin? That's often what lawyers are paid to do.

It's a good start!

Fenley is a consummate bs'er! The real problem is that the firm is full of "partners" who are really lemmings afraid of the neighborhood bully he is.

Sounds like the spin is going gangbusters.

I can't wait until they get kicked out of their building and they decline to call it an "eviction" as "firms change locations all the time" and "the current landlord just wasn't meeting our needs" to serve our business that's growing bunches and bunches. LOL

PR specialist? Not even close! Firing 62 employees during a recession and calling it performance related demonstrates a gross lack of class and integrity.

I feel sorry for the employees who are still under this joke of a leader. Congrats to those who will most certainly find work under someone they can respect.

I would decline to use the term "layoff" for Dave Fenley, termination for performance would be much more suitable.

Fenley must be a PR specialist. Maybe he should be the next "layoff" victim so his family can see how it feels.