PR Drama Escalates at Skadden - 3rd Associate Quits, Georgetown Law Group Snubs Recruiting Event, Internal Movement Among Associates Not to Participate in Recruiting

 Not long ago CMO at Paul Weiss Luke Ferrandino switched teams and went to work in a new position but titled "CMO," at Skadden. Maybe he should have stayed put. 

Paul Weiss seems to be recovering nicely from the PR fallout after dealmaking with the Trump administration. It even put up again on its website the material for Center to Combat Hate. Who knows, its chair Brad Karp may return to being in the front lines of social justice initiatives. The link to the Pivot podcast in which he is saluted as a change agent might even go up again on the website too. Saint Brad can circle back to his comfort zone of social justice. 

In contrast, the PR nightmare darkens at Ferrandino's new home Skadden. After the litigation associates were treated to a supposed calming-down session Monday about Skadden's values, associate Thomas Sipp quit. He's the third associate to exit in response to how Skadden's handling the Trump administration. And Sipp did that with a Norma Rae email. Here's a snippet:

"Skadden is on the wrong side of history. I could no longer stay knowing that someday I would have to explain why I stayed."

Smirk. We know how the brass unwelcomes that sort of thing. Anyone who has ever perceived being oppressed by a power system is probably having gleeful fantasies about the collective upper-tier emotional distress at Skadden. How is executive partner Jeremy London holding up?

Also another public relations wildfire which made its way nicely to media is that a group at Georgetown Law refused to attend a Skadden recruitment event. It sized up the law firm as cowardly. 

As some know or should since Skadden's the law-firm story of the moment, there's also an internal movement among associates not to participate in recruiting. But I have doubt that one will catch fire. Don't turn on the firehoses yet. Partners don't miss a trick. Associates know that and so they know that they could find their reputations tarnished because of the lack of enthusiasm in that activity. The up-or-out system in Big Law, at least as I observe it, is highly subjective. Even one partner can finish you off.

The conflict at Skadden between the power structure and the worker bees is emblematic of what's mostly seething resentment, on both sides, in this difficult economic environment throughout most sectors. The leadership feels overwhelmed with problems. Employees feel overworked, unappreciated and, with depreciating wages, underpaid. 

In our coaching/tarot readings both express feeling at a breaking point. Ironically, if management were transparent and engaged there could be cooperation. 

UPDATE:

Law firm Willkie also cut deal with Trump administration. It'll pony up $100 million, just like Skadden, in pro bono work. Here are more details from Bloomberg Law.  

On the scale of 1 to 10 predict the PR vibrations to unfold at Willkie? And, rate also on a scale of 1 to 10, if that outbreak of resistance will suck off the focus on Skadden? In general, Paul Weiss, which took such a hammering earlier, could be off the hook. And it only had to commit $40 million. Paul Weiss chair Brad Karp should win an award for being Dealmaker of the Year.

Need help sorting out how to make a living? Complimentary consultation with intuitive coach Jane Genova (text 203-468-8579, email janegenova374@gmail.com).