Ice Miller trims administrative staff

By Scott Olson, The IBJ

solson@ibj.com

Ice Miller LLP is the latest city law firm to cut payroll by eliminating support staff.

The firm late last week laid off 14 people, reducing its total workforce by about 2 percent. No attorneys were affected by the cuts, the firm said.

"Over the last few months, we have been engaged in a thorough review of all aspects of our business operations in an effort to increase efficiencies and productivity to better serve our clients," Chief Managing Partner Byron Myers said. "As a result of that review, we determined that we could consolidate some of our internal processes, which resulted in much more efficient staffing requirements."

Earlier this month, Bose McKinney & Evans LLP slashed 11 support jobs, reducing its administrative staff by about 8 percent. And in December, Baker & Daniels LLP eliminated 22 positions - 12 in Indianapolis and 10 in Fort Wayne.

With 238 lawyers, Ice Miller is the city's largest firm. It's among the scores of practices nationally that are taking steps to reduce expenses and stay competitive in the depressed economy.

In December, IBJ reported that Ice Miller and Louisville-based Greenebaum Doll & McDonald PLLC were in merger talks and that a deal could be reached by year's end. Sources in the legal community still expect the merger to happen but said completion of the agreement is taking longer than expected.

Myers said last month the firm constantly evaluates markets to determine potential growth opportunities, but he would not comment on specific opportunities. The firm has had no further comment.