The Boston Business Journal was very busy this week reporting on major inter-firm defections, the difficulties NY firms face when expanding into Boston, and Testa's use of the "performance review" as a layoff device (not really anything new there!).

Characteristically, Testa's managing partner denies that layoffs were done under the guise of performance based terminations. I've heard way too many rumors to chalk it up to normal firing practices. There are plenty of ways to squeeze someone out of a job, and this is one of them. (Unfortunately, it's also rather nasty, as it hinders the job search for the newly freed associate.)