Chicago-based law firm fires 135

Mayer Brown LLP, the Chicago-based firm of about 1,000 lawyers, fired 45 attorneys and 90 staffers in response to financial pressures.

"These changes were necessitated by the severe and prolonged downturn in the global economy, resulting in reduced business activity by our clients," Mayer Brown Chairman James D. Holzhauer said in a statement today.

Mayer Brown previously cut 88 employees, a combination of attorneys and staff. The firm tried to avoid further cuts by making reductions in operating expenses unrelated to personnel, Holzhauer said in the statement.

The firm asked most of its incoming class of junior lawyers to postpone their start date to January 19, 2010, according to the statement. Those lawyers will receive a $5,000 monthly stipend and medical benefits during the deferral period, the firm said.

At least 30 of the 50 largest U.S. law firms cut jobs of lawyers and staff in the past 18 months in response to the decline in the legal market. They include New York-based Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, San Francisco-based Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP and Los Angeles-based Latham & Watkins LLP.