In this era of hedge-fund riches, word is, the perks of life at a white-shoe law firm are seeming meager by comparison. And here's some proof: Dewey Ballantine, whose big-name clients include Fortune 500 companies like Walt Disney, Sony, and GE, has previously held its annual holiday party in fancy-pants venues like Lincoln Center and a rented-out Madame Tussauds. This year's fête, on the other hand, will be held in the company cafeteria — and that's leaving some grumbling litigators. "Even my kid's high school has the good sense not to hold the prom in the gymnasium," sniffs one. The big question is where future merger partner Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe is having its end-of-the-year shindig — and if this is a bad omen for what's to come. Plus, wonders another disgruntled Dewey worker, "Does this mean the partners are taking their annual trip to Brighton Beach this year instead of Bermuda?"