While there’s no certainty about how many more Big Law firms will reduce their workforce in response to a downturn in demand, recent layoffs at Reed Smith and Dechert reveal that more firms than just those with a Silicon Valley transactional focus are facing capacity constraints.

Layoffs at Pittsburgh-born Reed Smith came just before a 6% reduction in force at Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, coupled with deferrals for its class of 2023 associates. In the spring, Cooley, Fenwick & West and Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian also announced deferrals. Meanwhile, Dechert said in mid-May that it would reduce its workforce by about 5%. All of the reported layoffs impacted both lawyers and staff.

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