Halliwells is to lose four senior London lawyers to rival firms, including a veteran corporate trio to Davies Arnold Cooper (DAC).

Former senior partner Clive Garston – currently a consultant at the top 40 firm – is set to join DAC in September alongside London corporate partners Ian Brent and Steven Raize. They will be joined by Halliwells corporate solicitor Melissa Needham. Brent will become head of corporate at DAC, with Raize joining as a partner and Garston as a consultant.

Meanwhile, property partner Paul Marco, who became London property head when Simon Hardwicke left for PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal last September as part of a three-partner team, is set to join Trowers & Hamlins next month.

The departures will leave Halliwells' London corporate practice with only one partner, Catherine Moss, and its City real estate practice with two partners: Hugo Greer-Walker and Caroline Taylor.

Separately, it has emerged that Halliwells has asked fee earners and staff to work a four-day week on 85% pay in order to reduce its overheads by 15%. The firm wants to see 75% of its fee earners and staff working a four-day week as part of the scheme, which will run from August for an eight-month period.

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