Parabis has closed its Bristol and Colchester branches with up to 41 jobs at risk across the two offices.

The decision follows a two-month consultation with individual consultations now due to take place on all 23 jobs in Bristol and 18 in Colchester at risk. 

Of those at risk of redundancy, 32 are fee-earners, 18 of which are in Bristol and 14 in Colchester.

In a statement, a Parabis spokesperson said: "Individual discussions are now underway and until these are completed we cannot confirm the final position regarding jobs or a date for the closures. We are grateful to all involved for their helpful participation in the consultation process."

The closures are a result of a spate of mergers in recent years, including subsidiary Plexus Law's merger with fellow defendant insurance firm Greenwoods Solicitors last May.

The decision comes as Parabis has begun the consolidation of its three London offices into a single City base, with the aim to locate a site before the end of next year when the lease on its Monument Street headquarters runs out. It is part of a wider move by the firm to channel its offering through fewer and larger sites.

The firm is also looking to open an additional base in South Africa, which would sit alongside an existing operation in Pretoria.

Parabis also has offices in Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Southampton, Croydon, Milton Keynes, Evesham, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

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