Talk
about
how
artificial
intelligence
will
someday
take
lawyers’
jobs
continues
to
be
dismissed
—
but
maybe
that
talk
will
be
granted
more
credence
now
that
AI
has
come
for
business
professionals’
jobs
at
one
Biglaw
firm.
Sources
tell
us
that
Baker
McKenzie
recently
conducted
a
“massive
staff
layoff”
among
its
global
business
services
team,
with
cuts
made
across
nearly
all
functions
across
all
offices,
including
the
firm’s
IT,
knowledge,
admin,
DEI,
leadership
&
learning,
secretarial,
marketing,
and
design
teams,
among
others.
The
firm
is
reportedly
planning
to
cut
ties
with
less
than
a
tenth
of
its
staff
—
a
little
more
than
700
people,
based
on
current
employee
headcount
at
the
firm.
As
noted
by
RollOnFriday
and
Legal
Cheek,
the
firm
offered
the
following
statement
on
the
layoffs:
“To
position
the
firm
for
continued
growth
and
remain
agile
in
a
fast-evolving
business
context,
we
recently
undertook
a
careful
review
of
our
business
professionals
functions.
This
review
was
aimed
at
rethinking
the
ways
in
which
we
work,
including
through
our
use
of
AI,
introducing
efficiencies,
and
investing
in
those
roles
that
best
serve
our
clients’
needs.”“Following
the
review,
and
consistent
with
many
other
organisations,
we
are
proposing
a
series
of
changes
to
how
we
operate
and
deliver
important
business
services.
Subject
to
consultation
processes
in
applicable
jurisdictions,
some
roles
will
likely
be
phased
out,
while
others
will
evolve.
We
have
not
taken
decisions
around
these
proposed
changes
lightly,
but
felt
it
was
necessary
to
deliver
on
our
long-term
plans.
We
appreciate
the
valuable
contributions
our
impacted
colleagues
have
made
to
the
Firm
and
will
be
supporting
them.”
Best
of
luck
to
all
of
the
staff
members
at
Baker
McKenzie
who
may
have
lost
their
jobs
thanks
to
AI
disruption.
If
your
firm
or
organization
is
reducing
the
ranks
of
its
lawyers
or
staff,
whether
through
deferrals,
open
layoffs,
stealth
layoffs,
or
voluntary
buyouts,
please
don’t
hesitate
to
let
us
know.
Our
vast
network
of
tipsters
is
part
of
what
makes
Above
the
Law
thrive.
You
can email
us or
text
us
(646-820-8477).
Thank
you
for
your
assistance.
EXCLUSIVE
100s
face
axe
at
Baker
McKenzie
as
AI
reliance
grows
[RollOnFriday]
Baker
McKenzie
to
cut
business
services
roles
as
AI
use
grows
[Legal
Cheek]
Staci
Zaretsky is
the
managing
editor
of
Above
the
Law,
where
she’s
worked
since
2011.
She’d
love
to
hear
from
you,
so
please
feel
free
to email her
with
any
tips,
questions,
comments,
or
critiques.
You
can
follow
her
on Bluesky, X/Twitter,
and Threads, or
connect
with
her
on LinkedIn.