Staff cutbacks at Riordan firm blamed on technology, profits. (Law).

RIORDAN & McKinzie PLC, the Los Angeles law firm founded by former Mayor Richard Riordan, has laid off 15 percent of its support staff, citing technological improvements.

The cuts come as three partners have departed in recent months and the firm missed its profit projections for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31.

Profits per partner last year were $525,000, flat from 2001, said Richard Welch, the firm's chairman, who had earlier anticipated 2002 profits to reach $600,000 after declining from a peak high of $580,000 in 2000.

"If we had gotten any help from the economy we would've gotten there," said Welch. "The economy for corporate deals was not strong."

On Feb. 1, labor and employment partner William Emer left to join Perkins Coie LLP. Former partner David Laufer became vice president and general counsel of Chatsworth-based Natrol Inc., a Riordan & McKinzie client, on March 5. Thomas Harnsberger, who was serving of counsel, became a partner at Reed Smith Crosby Heafey LLP on Feb. 24.

Emer declined to comment on his departure. Laufer and Harnsberger could not be reached.

Riordan & McKinzie now has 58 attorneys, 28 of them partners, compared with early 2001, when it had about 85 lawyers, including 40 partners. Merger talks with Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich LLP fell through in 2001.

Welch said the layoffs included information technology specialists hired to improve the networking system at the firm. Also included are secretaries whose duties have been replaced by associates and junior partners, he said.

Staff reporter Amanda Bronstad can be reached at [phone] ext. 225, or at [e-mail].