I defintely understand that - If my J.O.B. was on the line - I too would want to know when I had to start packing and bailing - but this board has been swamped with rumors
Man - it isn't like this is a huge megapolis of lawyers that no one would not know of someone at the firm that would even be able to confirm -
The law community is small and cozy with one another so lets start getting some facts up
either put up or shut up

Since this whole thread was started by your question about this firm, I find your post curious to say the least.

Some of the information I have has come to me by a confidential route, so I can not reveal and will not reveal information that has come to me by that route. Much of the other information has come from conversations with J&G employees or shareholders I know or from public sources.

The issues with chairs conduct have been reported extensively and I believe have been done so in a pretty accurate manner. The board of J&G's visible inaction has also been reported in an accurate manner.

As to the tax matter Ernst's payment of 15 million (just with the IRS) causes many of the J&G defenders to pause I am sure. Remember that payment is just for the IRS and would not cover clients. I think J&G's exposure may be higher than Ernst- but I am not sure of that.

As to other issues, yes J&G has several "gremlins" as one person put it recently. The lack of managment action on certain issues and an attempt to defer action till later in the year or until Dec. 31 may be the biggest gremlin and may well cause a civil war.

"Since this whole thread was started by your question about this firm, I find your post curious to say the least."

Yes I started it but the postings have really become questionable and doubtful with respect to validity because of the repeativeness of the postings..but with all of the flaming any credibility to these rumblings were lost.

Now if your sources are truly who you claim them to be - its a different story....

Just wanted to get the air cleared here for a while ...

Jenkens rumors
 

I don't mean to criticize, but how do repetitive postings cause the rumors to be questionable? Wouldn't they have the opposite effect -- lending a little credence to the original rumor?

" I don't mean to criticize, but how do repetitive postings cause the rumors to be questionable? Wouldn't they have the opposite effect -- lending a little credence to the original rumor?"

Yes they in fact could - but looking at the fact (playing devil's advocate) that many of these postings could be repeated by someone with a grudge under different alias which is not unheard of at this and other boards - there is also the other possibilty..

Hey for all we know their may be some basis to these postings - but what I've been reading is the same tale mutating...

Personally - I think they do have a major morale problem from the looks of it, as well as the IRS issue and this yet to come out harassment suit - but I still think that that is no enough to bring a firm down..

Thjink a few years back when a prominent partners of a top 50 NY was busted and is now doing time for failing to disclose a major conflict issue conflict a few years back - the firm is still functioning..

We all know that the business of law is a game of who you know and what you know -- will they lose some credibilty? I guess yes, some clients - yes, but will the doors shutter - I think not, what is out there is not enough to bring it down..
Now if the firm is in deep debt - that will definitely start pounding the nails on the coffin....

Just wanted to offer a different perspective or start some real discussion as what can really bring down any firm

[/QUOTE]

And could not also playing devil's advocate the "this won't bring the firm down" postings be the flip side of the same coin.

Don't you think the long postings ripping apart the complaint in the V&E thread might well have come from someone with an axe to grind against the woman who filed the lawsuit and possibly a V&E PR flack?

Believe me I understand...
I was just hoping to stir up action, and the postings had ceome almost repetative ... Now that this little exhange has been up for a few days lets see if anybody knows somebody that is really in the trenches...that can really give us the lowdown as what the general mmod inside and behind the walls are like...

Under Siege
 

Inside, there is a siege mentality, so I would be less inclined to trust what the associates have to say.

I am interested to hear if other companies will be dropping J&G as their primary counsel, or if competitors are using J&G's difficulties to convince their big corporate clients to jump.

The ability to retain big clients will be the ultimate determinant of J&G's success.

Austin(former J&G corporate client)tatious

More J&G news..Talk about bad vibes
 

News Watch
Paralegal Allegedly Imprisoned
On Cruise Ship
For Working at Law Firm


New York Lawyer
July 9, 2003

By The Associated Press

Ever contemplate a week at sea aboard a cruise ship, but worry you might feel a little trapped?

Beth and Mark Lurie, who in February set sail for a weeklong Hawaiian vacation aboard the luxury cruise liner Norwegian Star, claim crew members locked them in a room for hours and then forced them to get off the ship.

The Luries have filed a false imprisonment lawsuit, claiming the lockdown was motivated by Beth Lurie's employment at Jenkens & Gilchrist, a law firm that represents employees who have sued Norwegian Cruise Line Ltd. for failure to pay wages.

A few days into the trip, when the ship had docked at Maui, the Luries were trying to disembark with other passengers for an excursion when they were stopped, locked in a room, and interrogated for hours, at the behest of the ship's ranking agent, Fertel said.

Afterward, they were ejected from the ship and forced to make new travel plans to get back to New York, he said

It looks like he may also grabbed the ass of an SA's wife. http://www.infirmation.com/bboard/cl...&msg_id=002EG9

I suppose you've got to earn those "free" lunches at J&G.

Jenkens...
 

Thanks for the link. Check it out now.

http://www.infirmation.com/bboard/cl...&msg_id=002EHp

Apparently the board of directors decided not to take any action against Durbin. Is groping female coworkers acceptable behavior? Is abusing your position of authority encouraged? (Well, obviously it is not discouraged at Jenkens, otherwise he wouldn't still be in that position of power).

Does anyone have any ideas on what anyone could do (internally or externally) do get the board's attention on this matter?

Vault Rankings
 

Number 6 on the Quality of Life Rankings doesn't seem to shabby. The New York office was hit hard during the downturn, but all corporate departments were. Litigation, Real Estate, and Bankruptcy are booming. Corporate is picking up. This talk of dissolving is nonsense!

GP Rebuttal
 

Aside from the above post, check this out:

http://www.infirmation.com/bboard/cl...?msg_id=002EVJ

"I have worked with this man for several years, he has never been anything but completely respectful towards me and I am still shocked by how crazy these rumors have gotten. This is the one and only time I will post on this site. Now everyone, grow up and get back to work. That's what you are being paid for. Actually create some value to your firm instead of disseminating this kind of bs which has absolutely none."

Give me a break. I have no J&G ax to grind, and I truly hope they don't dissolve. But note to J&G PR spinmeisters: your colleagues at V&E are making you look like amateurs.

JENKENS
 

Anytime a branch MP leaves it is not a good sign.

Arter & Hadden's DC MPs left in droves the last few years....the entire firm collapsed last month.

Here in DC, Jenken's former MP Keith McGlamery left last month. He had been a real estate attorney for 11 years in Dallas with Fulbright & Jaworski. Joined Jenkens in 1998; they sent him to open a DC branch in May 2000. Went from 4 to 20 attorneys in three years. He left to go with Ballard Spahr.....a Philly based, definitely no tier one firm....in short, no great shakes.....so, obviously, he just wanted out of Jenkens....demonstrating a lack of conviction Jenkens is worth the candle.

JENKENS
 

It could also be said that when ever a newly annointed practice group leader also leaves (IP) that this is not a good sign. A former IP practice group leader also left this year as well.

A managment flack (or the chair himself?) posted on the other board and touted the vault study and then just whined about "leave us alone and get back to work" , "we have mortgages and car payments and kids to put through college"