Barlow Lyde & Gilbert has confirmed that three partners from its corporate and commercial group have been asked to leave the firm alongside a handful of associates who have taken voluntary redundancy.

As first reported by RollonFriday today (19 November), Barlows has made changes to its corporate group in order to align the firm more closely with its core sectors, including insurance and energy.

Five or six associates are expected to leave the firm, with one further partner from the corporate group understood to have been offered a consultancy role.

The news follows the departures of former corporate and commercial head Mike Munro and insurance partner James Parker to CMS Cameron McKenna.

Munro was recently replaced in the role as practice head by partner Simon Gamblin.

Barlows chief executive officer David Jabbari told Legal Week: "We have looked closely at the size and shape of our corporate group in the light of current market conditions.

"Our aim has been to ensure that we have got real focus in our non-contentious capability, targeting well-aligned areas where we can generate strong and lasting revenues."

The firm earlier this month announced that it was in discussions with four or five corporate partners and a number of associates about possible departures when it merged its commercial litigation and arbitration practice with its professional and financial disputes group.

The changes have been made following a review focusing on three areas – core markets, plans for future growth, and increasing profitability.