For many, the altercation between Pillsbury Winthrop and Latham & Watkins over a partner defection highlighted how not to handle a partner loss in the press. But the traditional bland statement when partners move on will not fool anybody any longer, writes Chris Hinze.
When partners leave their current firm to join a new one, you can almost fill in the gaps of
the press release that will be issued: ‘So and so’ has joined and they are ‘delighted’, ‘very pleased’, ‘excited’ by the opportunity that the move presents. The firm they are leaving will be low key in stance, almost non-committal, but often keen to say that the departure will have little or no effect and they are an all-round nice person.
