The London office of Pillsbury Winthrop has made two associates redundant and imposed a hiring freeze following the downturn in the economic market.

The first associate was let go from Pillsbury in the summer of 2001 and was followed by another redundancy last month. Both associates worked in the corporate department.

No partner from Pillsbury was available for comment.

The redundancies highlight the plight of a number of US firms based in the UK, including top New York firm Shearman & Sterling, which implemented a wave of cuts last year.

In 2001 McDermott Will & Emery also let go of three associates from its corporate group following a performance review. The firm insisted that the review had nothing to do with the economic climate. And last week Legal Week reported that Buchanan Ingersoll was poised to make up to six partners redundant from its London office.

Pillsbury Winthrop was the result of a merger between San Francisco-based firm Pillsbury Madison & Sutro and New York's Winthrop Stimson Putnam & Roberts last year.

It will be left with just three partners, one counsel and one associate in London following the cuts.
The firm's London office specialises mainly in corporate work, but is also known for its energy and biotech practices.

Last year the firm appointed David Snyder, a corporate finance specialist, as its new London office managing partner from the San Diego office.
This month the firm is also closing its two-partner Hong Kong office.