Wragge & Co has made 26 redundancies following the transfer of part of its support function to business process outsourcing (BPO) company Intelligent Office.

The firm launched a redundancy consultation in May this year after conducting a  review of its back office operations, placing 180 jobs at risk with 30 full-time roles expected to be cut.

The review closed in August, with 26 staff members opting for redundancy. The results of the consultation affected PA roles across the firm's four legal groups: corporate, commercial, finance and projects; real estate; human resources; and disputes.

Managing partner Ian Metcalfe (pictured) said in a statement: "The new structure is still bedding in but we are confident we have the right people in the right roles, and that this is the right way forward for the firm, our clients and our people.

"We wish those who chose not stay with us all the best in the future."

The firm's new back office structure, which was phased in over a three-month period before going live earlier this month, has seen Wragges transfer 65 full-time facilities, administrative and secretarial roles to Intelligent Office, forming a hub, or 'docucentre', that is overseen by the company on-site.

It sits alongside a new document production centre and concierge hubs. The firm has said that an assessment process agreed during the consultation has seen several people promoted into more senior roles in the revised structure.

A new PA grade, called the executive PA, has also been formed, with the first round of promotions into the role set to be considered in early 2014.