SHRINKING: Tough times have finally caught up...

SHRINKING: Tough times have finally caught up with Orange County law firms. In the past year, the four largest firms have reduced their staffs. Even some partners have been cut loose. . . . “We tend to react very slowly because we’ve invested so much in our people,” says Joseph D. Carruth, managing partner of Rutan & Tucker. . . . He blames fewer real estate transactions and fear of expensive litigation.

O.C. Law

Law firms with the most Orange County-based lawyers: Rutan & Tucker (Costa Mesa): 100 Stradling, Yocca, Carlson, & Rauth (Newport Beach): 75 Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher (Los Angeles): 72 Latham & Watkins (Los Angeles): 55 O’Melveny & Myers (Los Angeles): 50 Source: Individual law offices