It's been a tough start to the year for White & Case's London banking team. Four partners left the firm for Latham & Watkins in January, and this week six associates were seen rushing for the fire exit. At least five of them are understood to be joining Latham.

Apparently the associates resigned en masse, and White & Case was so furious it asked them to leave the premises that day, warned them of the hell that would befall them if they dared to contact any clients and put them on gardening leave for three months.

A spokesman for the firm said "we can confirm that some of the associates who have resigned have been placed on paid garden leave". An insider said that most of them have already buggered off to go travelling for three months and, as would be expected, are absolutely delighted at the turn of events.
 

Sweeeeet

 
White & Case has a sizeable London office: even after these departures it has six banking partners (seven when Christian Pilkington joins next month from Skadden) and more than 30 associates. But the shock to morale of losing ten colleagues in little over a month should not be under-estimated - and neither should the impact of the extra work load on those who remain.

The danger for W&C is that three months' holiday on full pay and benefits could start to look very attractive...