Monday, March 23, 2009

Recession Might Claim Wolf Block After 106 Years in Business

Law Firm Could Dissolve

Wolf BlockThe recession is a bit more than a year old, but it is threatening businesses that have been around for more than a century.

Wolf Block, a 300-lawyer law firm, is holding talks today to discuss dissolving the company.

Company history

Wolf Block was formed in 1903, and it was once one of Philadelphia’s premier law firms. In its beginning it was a partnership between Morris Wolf and Horace Stern. The two lawyers could not find work in Philadelphia, so they started their own firm.

The firm rose in prominence during the first half of the 20th Century along with the local Jewish business community. It was able to attract some of the nation's top Jewish law school graduates until other firms changed their hiring practices in the late 1960s and provided more competition for their services, according to Philadelphia Business Journal.

21st Century Wolf Block

Trouble became evident in the fall when the firm announced it would delay start dates for first-year associates, sending many young lawyers with huge school debt running for payday loans or other law firms. In December, Wolf Block laid off 15 employees. The firm then had to make more cuts this year.

The company’s partners will vote today on whether to dissolve the company.

Not for lack of trying

Wolf Block will reach a verdict today on its own dissolution.

Wolf Block will reach a verdict today on its own dissolution. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Recession Might Claim Wolf Block After 106 Years in Business"

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