Eversheds and Camerons finalise reviews as redundancies roll on

Nearly half of the UK's 50 largest law firms by revenue have announced job cuts over the past year, with the number of roles placed under threat of redundancy since May 2012 fast approaching the 1,500 mark. 

More than 1,300 jobs have been put at risk across 20 top 50 UK firms since the start of the 2012-13 financial year, with around 750 positions cut to date. 

This month alone has seen five firms confirm plans for layoffs, with more than 300 roles potentially to be lost as a consequence. Last week, Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) announced one of the most wide-ranging redundancy programmes of recent months, affecting 58 legal positions and 44 secretarial roles, with further support cuts also likely.

Meanwhile, Wragge & Co is reviewing 180 support positions in a comprehensive back office consultation, though only around 30 positions are likely to go as the bulk could be transferred to an outsourcer. 

The redundancies look set to continue, with Trowers & Hamlins this week confirming that it has recently laid off four fee earners and three secretaries, while others including Hill Dickinson, Osborne Clarke and DWF are all in the process of reviewing jobs.

Firms have been steadily shedding staff since Clifford Chance last March announced a small number of associate redundancies in London, with Linklaters admitting a small number of support cuts. These followed a period of relative calm after widespread job cuts swept through the market in 2009 after the credit crunch. 

Other major UK firms making cuts over the last year include legacy Herbert Smith, Slaughter and May, which laid off 44 secretarial and support staff in November, and DLA Piper, which in January cut 45 jobs in Glasgow as part of a 251-strong review, of which 116 document production employees are still in consultation.

In the same month, Eversheds placed 166 roles under consultation in a restructuring that has resulted in the loss of 116 jobs. 

CMS Cameron McKenna and Clyde & Co have axed 37 and eight roles respectively following consultations launched earlier this year, while Parabis recently cut four support roles and one fee earner in Leeds. 

Commenting on the trend Michael Chissick, managing partner of Field Fisher Waterhouse, which has not made any cuts and has no current plans to do so, said: "The worst isn't over. The legal sector continues to be oversupplied and there is insufficient demand in some areas coupled with many firms continuing to struggle with creating the profits they aspire to."

Syed Nasser, senior recruitment consultant at Fox Rodney, said: "We are continuing to see very tight control on finances by law firms, and, if there isn't enough work, associates will suffer."