Hartford-based Robinson & Cole, which added to its attorney ranks during a busy 2008, announced Tuesday that it is laying off 30 people across its Northeast offices, including 11 attorneys. The number of affected people in Connecticut was not immediately known.
John B. Lynch, Jr., who was named Robinson & Cole's managing partner last week, said "we, like every other business, are experiencing the effects of the economic downturn." Lynch noted that the firm's summer associate and incoming fall associate classes for 2009 will not be affected.
The attorney positions that were eliminated include counsel and associates, while 19 support staff positions also were trimmed.
Robinson & Cole made news in the Connecticut marketplace last year by adding 34 attorneys and 17 staffers from Thelen LLP, which closed its Hartford office in December. Robinson & Cole also picked up two lawyers from Dewey & LeBoeuf's now-defunct Hartford office earlier in 2008.
Robinson & Cole has about 240 lawyers in eight offices in the Northeast and Florida. Its Connecticut offices are located in Hartford, Stamford and New London.
