In July 2025, McDermott Will & Emery and Schulte Roth & Zabel joined forces to become McDermott Will & Schulte. The newly combined firm rode a wave of growth, ushering in a massive new partnership class last fall and debuting in the latest Am Law 100 ranking as a top 20 firm. Now, it appears the firm is hitting some turbulence.
Sources at McDermott tell Above the Law that conducted layoffs in its New York office across multiple practice areas. Tipsters say legacy Schulte associates were allegedly hit the hardest. Above the Law contacted the firm for comment, and it now seems that the layoffs extend far beyond just the New York office.
McDermott Will & Schulte provided the following statement:
“McDermott Will & Schulte has made the difficult decision to separate from a small number of associates across the firm as we continue to align with shifting client needs.
We are grateful to the associates who are departing; their work has made a meaningful impact on our clients and the firm.”
The firm added, “As markets evolve, we remain focused on the areas where we lead, making disciplined decisions about how we invest and grow so we can stay at the forefront and help our clients do the same.”
Best of luck to all of the McDermott associates affected by this round of layoffs.
If your firm or organization is reducing the ranks of its lawyers or staff, whether through deferrals, open layoffs, stealth layoffs, or voluntary buyouts, please don’t hesitate to let us know. Our vast network of tipsters is part of what makes Above the Law thrive. You can email us or text us (646-820-8477). Thank you for your assistance.
If you’d like to sign up for ATL’s Layoff Alerts, please scroll down and enter your email address in the box below this post. If you previously signed up for the layoff alerts, you don’t need to do anything. You’ll receive an email notification within minutes of each layoff announcement that we publish.
Staci Zaretsky is the managing editor of Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or connect with her on LinkedIn.
The post Newly Merged Top 20 Biglaw Firm’s Growing Pains Include Layoffs appeared first on Above the Law.
In July 2025, McDermott Will & Emery and Schulte Roth & Zabel joined forces to become McDermott Will & Schulte. The newly combined firm rode a wave of growth, ushering in a massive new partnership class last fall and debuting in the latest Am Law 100 ranking as a top 20 firm. Now, it appears the firm is hitting some turbulence.
Sources at McDermott tell Above the Law that conducted layoffs in its New York office across multiple practice areas. Tipsters say legacy Schulte associates were allegedly hit the hardest. Above the Law contacted the firm for comment, and it now seems that the layoffs extend far beyond just the New York office.
McDermott Will & Schulte provided the following statement:
“McDermott Will & Schulte has made the difficult decision to separate from a small number of associates across the firm as we continue to align with shifting client needs.
We are grateful to the associates who are departing; their work has made a meaningful impact on our clients and the firm.”
The firm added, “As markets evolve, we remain focused on the areas where we lead, making disciplined decisions about how we invest and grow so we can stay at the forefront and help our clients do the same.”
Best of luck to all of the McDermott associates affected by this round of layoffs.
If your firm or organization is reducing the ranks of its lawyers or staff, whether through deferrals, open layoffs, stealth layoffs, or voluntary buyouts, please don’t hesitate to let us know. Our vast network of tipsters is part of what makes Above the Law thrive. You can email us or text us (646-820-8477). Thank you for your assistance.
If you’d like to sign up for ATL’s Layoff Alerts, please scroll down and enter your email address in the box below this post. If you previously signed up for the layoff alerts, you don’t need to do anything. You’ll receive an email notification within minutes of each layoff announcement that we publish.
Staci Zaretsky is the managing editor of Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or connect with her on LinkedIn.
