‘A process of transition’: Slater and Gordon to close more offices as UK restructure continues

Slater and Gordon‘s (S&G) group managing director Andrew Grech has provided an update on the firm’s UK restructuring programme which has included a 16% reduction in headcount as well as a re-organisation of the legal services business into three divisions: serious and specialised personal injury claims; family law, employment law and dispute resolution and fast track personal injury claims.

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SABMiller legal team faces autumn redundancies as £79bn AB InBev deal closes

credit suisseAs brewing giant SABMiller’s global general counsel (GC) John Davidson prepares to stand down in 2017, up to 35 staff in the UK-based legal team are to be made redundant.

In 2015, the world’s second-largest brewer became the focus of a takeover approach fromAnheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) (at press time valued at £79bn). Since the deal was signed, a review was held and the company’s structure overhauled in August.

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Brexit effect hits home as mid-tier reveals job cuts and pay freezes

Large mid-tier firms in the UK were some of the first to feel the sting of the UK’s decision to leave the European Union, with Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP), Trowers & Hamlins, Addleshaw Goddard and Gowling WLG all putting their summer salary reviews on hold.

In July, BLP postponed all UK staff pay reviews to November 2016.

The decision came on the back of a sluggish financial performance for 2015/16, with fee income falling 2% to £254m in 2015/16. The firm said in a statement: ‘Following market uncertainties arising out of the recent EU referendum vote, BLP has decided that the responsible and prudent thing to do is to defer making UK salary decisions for a further four months.’

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KWM to cut 15% of legacy SJ Berwin partnership following major shake-up

Following a major overhaul of its practice structure, King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) said in March it would axe 15% of its Europe and Middle East partnership, and make 45 business services employees redundant in London.

The move means 24 partners will leave the firm and is the second shake-up of the legacy SJ Berwin partnership in 12 months, when another 10% of the partnership across the region were asked to leave following a performance review.

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