Cooley has laid off 78 attorneys and 72 paralegals and business professionals across its U.S. offices due to a period of overhiring in the last two years followed by a slump in demand, according to an internal memo sent to employees Wednesday and obtained by The American Lawyer.

A majority of the lawyers affected are associates, along with a few counsel, said a person familiar with the cuts, adding that no partners were laid off. Most practiced law in Cooley’s business department and all were based in the U.S., the person said.