O'Melveny tops law firm ranks as rivals witness cuts and vanish.

O'Melveny tops law firm ranks as rivals witness cuts and vanish

This year's compilation of the biggest local law firms proves the legal industry is no more stable than banking, aerospace or real estate. Several large and old firms have gone bankrupt; the majority have had staff cuts and a few have merged in order to stay afloat.

After being No. 1 on The List of the 100 largest Los Angeles County law firms for four consecutive years, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher switched places with O'Melveny & Myers and slipped into second place.

This year's leader, O'Melveny, added 12 attorneys, whereas Gibson Dunn reduced its lawyer ranks by 10.

Although Latham & Watkins remains third on The List, it reduced the number of its attorneys by 18.

Other major changes since the annual List was last published was the merger of Lillick & McHose, both years ranked fifth, with Pillsbury Madison & Sutro, raising the firm's number of lawyers to 205 from 155. The firm retains the name of the latter.

Formerly ranked No. 11, Century City-based Wyman Bautzer Kuchel & Silbert was dissolved, and many of its attorneys are believed to have moved to Katten Muchin Cazis Weitzman, a newcomer to this year's List, which currently employs 55 attorneys and is ranked 46th on the list.

Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom has 20 fewer attorneys this year, dropping three notches in the ranking to 15th place, while Morrison Forster, with 17 additional lawyers, rose four to 11th on the list.

Even though Lewis D'Amato Brisbois & Bisgaard merged with Wolf & Leo (which employed 39 attorneys in last year's ranking), Lewis D'Amato still came in at 18th place with four fewer attorneys than its year-earlier total of 107.

Ranked 19th last year, McKenna Conner & Cuneo slid into 33rd place. It changed its name to McKenna & Fitting and reduced the number of attorneys by half.

One of the older bankruptcy specialists in the county, Gendel Raskoff Shapiro & Quitner of Century City was disbanded. Partner Robert Moore and several others moved to the newly formed branch of San Francisco-based Murphy Weir & Francisco, also a bankruptcy firm.

Other newcomers to The List are: Carlsmith Ball Wichman Murray Case Mukai & Ichiki (39th), Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe (45th), Daniels Baratta & Fine (81st), Veatch Carlson Grogan & Nelson (89th), Stutman Treister & Glatt Professional Corp. (91st) and Danning Gill Gould Diamond & Spector (96th).

PHOTO : O'Melveny managing partner L. Charles Bender, left, and chairman R. Warren Christopher