Boston law firm Choate Hall & Stewart laid off 5% of its attorneys and staff last week amid a slowdown in client demand, according to an email from managing partners Charles Cheever and William Gelnaw published by Above the Law.

“We have come to the difficult decision that we currently have too many lawyers and business professionals in certain practice areas and departments based on the current demands of our clients,” the email stated, attributing the slowdown to “general economic and market conditions.”