Compensation & Talent Economics
Post-merger layoffs show that scale does not remove utilisation pressure
Above the Law reported that McDermott Will & Schulte, newly created from McDermott Will & Emery and Schulte Roth & Zabel, separated from a small number of associates as it aligned with shifting client needs.
BY ECONOMICS DESK · MAY 14, 2026 · 1 MIN READ
Above the Law reported that McDermott Will & Schulte, newly created from McDermott Will & Emery and Schulte Roth & Zabel, separated from a small number of associates as it aligned with shifting client needs. The source is commentary-driven, but the economic signal is real: even firms that gain scale through headline combinations still have to rationalise capacity, practice mix and associate leverage.