Skadden Kills Blog's 'Hot Associate' Contest

Is it hot in here or is Skadden management angry?

Henry Baer, of counsel to the firm, chastised the Skadden Insider blog for drafting female associates into a “hottest associate” contest that posted their photos from the firm's site, Facebook and the like. Baer issued a firmwide memo because the bloggers keep their identities secret. Which right now is looking like a wise move. They did post part of the memo, though.

“Numerous attorneys at the Firm have expressed their concern and, in some cases, embarassment at such contests,” Baer wrote.

But no worries, the bloggers responded. “With limited exception, we used publicly available photos of each nominee.”  So at least they’re being objectified with a minimum of research effort. “Had anyone asked to be removed from the contest, we would have obliged. No one did.”

Clearly the onus is on the “hot” associates to complain that they’re being objectified. Isn’t that how these things always work?

Oh, and male Skadden associates have nothing to worry about.  Skadden Insider is taking the e-mail seriously and discontinuing the upcoming hottest male contest.

But the female posts remain up. Just in case we want to know what the fuss was all about.

—  Niraj Chokshi