BP's in-house legal team are among those at risk of being cut as the company ends its redundancy freeze.

In a statement, the energy giant's CEO Bernard Looney said the company will now "begin a process that will see close to 10,000 people leaving BP – most by the end of this year".

The cuts will affect office-based jobs away from the operational frontline – which includes BP's legal function. BP's 500-strong legal function comprises around 350 lawyers.

This follows the company's three-month redundancy freeze, which was introduced in March.

Looney added: "I am really sorry that this will hurt a lot of people who I know love this company as much as I do."

A BP spokesperson said: "As Bernard told staff, the focus of this process will be firmly on office-based roles away from the frontline of operations. While BP's legal function will likely therefore be included in the process along with other office-based roles, we definitely cannot yet say what specific impact there could be on any function, business or location."

Of BP's total global population of 70,000 people, 30,000 of those are front-line staff.

Last month, Uber cut more than a dozen positions within its legal department brought on by pressures of the coronavirus pandemic.