Palo Alto-based firm Fenwick and West has laid off 32 associates and 15 paralegals, becoming the latest in a string of Silicon Valley firm to have cutback staff in the wake of the downturn in the technology sector.

The layoffs, which became effective on 13 September, follow rival Silicon Valley firm Cooley Godward’s shock announcement last month that it is to lay off 85 associates (Legal Week 30 August).