White-shoe law firm Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft has a problem. They've been infested by bed bugs. Above the Law was forwarded a copy of a firm-wide e-mail sent by chairman Robert O. Link, Jr., which we've helpfully reproduced.

Likely most awkward employee memo you'll see this week:

From: Robert Link
Sent: Monday, June 25, 2007 4:58 PM
To: MAIL-NY_EVERYONE
Subject: 33rd Floor


As many of you are aware, last week there had been reports of bed bugs in the Word Processing Department on the 33rd floor.

We immediately arranged with Assured Environments, a full-service integrated pest management firm operating in the metro NY area for over 70 years and a specialist in the treatment of bed bugs, to review our problem and make recommendations on both short and long-term solutions. On Monday evening, June 18, the Word Processing Department and adjacent areas were sprayed using a combination of compounds, none of which have an odor, and all of which are entirely safe for use in an office environment. During the course of the extermination, a box was identified as the source of the bugs and was immediately removed from the premises. A single treatment by an exterminator usually controls bed bugs and prevents reinfestation for several months. However, since it is almost impossible to penetrate all hiding places, a few living bed bugs may be seen for a week to 10 days after treatment, at which point the area is resprayed. On Friday afternoon, we received information that an insect -- which may or may not have been a bed bug -- was seen, again on the 33rd floor. Accordingly, Assured Environments treated the entire 33rd floor beginning on Saturday morning. A report of an insect this morning has prompted us to again aggressively treat this problem and Assured Environments will spray the entire 33rd floor this evening beginning at 8:00 pm.

The individual who we believe brought the insects into the firm came forward on Tuesday, June 19, and is no longer associated with the firm.

Bed bugs, while not usually found in a work environment, can cause uncomfortable itching. They do not show themselves during daylight hours, only at night in the dark. The bites of bed bugs closely resemble the bites that you might expect to get from something like a mosquito. A small, reddish bump may appear on the skin and in some cases it can produce a slight itching reaction as well. The best evidence of bed bugs is not the actual bugs but the waste material left behind that is either a dark brown or reddish color.

Assured Environments has said that it is very unlikely that these bugs could be transmitted to your home. However, for the next several days, please closely examine your clothing and any materials you take out of the office. Note also that Assured Environments has assured us that Cadwalader does not have any infestation and will continue to proceed with an aggressive course of action to remedy the situation. Other reports of insects -- which we receive periodically in an office environment -- have been carefully investigated and, in each
instance, were identified as fruit flies or gnats.

Please do not hesitate to contact Elizabeth Hart at [xxxx] if you have any questions.