Exclusive - top firms sacking lawyers on the quiet
RollOnFriday's revelation last week that law firms are trying to dress up redundancies as voluntary or performance-related departures seems to have opened the floodgates - and some of suspects are set out below.
It's been alleged that DLA Piper gave three litigation associates the boot way back before Christmas: apparently they were picked from a dozen names put in the hat. Sources report that over the last few weeks a further bunch of associates have left the firm's London office "voluntarily" (but after being offered £30,000 to do so). One associate who played hardball managed to get £50,000.
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A lawyer being fired yesterday | |
Three associates in the International Finance Group at Sidley Austin's London office were apparently booted out earlier this year - supposedly for "performance issues". However a charming memo was subsequently circulated saying:
"If the current climate continues the firm may need to think laterally, for example by offering associates and support staff the opportunity to take extended unpaid leave. Where the firm identifies under-performing staff the usual steps will be taken to address performance issues."
Insiders say that there are constant rumours of further redundancies and that associates are soiling themselves with fear.
Neither Sidleys nor DLA Piper would comment on these departures.
Meanwhile seven real estate lawyers found themselves no longer required by Halliwells' Manchester office. Apparently there was no consultation period. They were told on a Monday and left on the Tuesday - there wasn't even time for a goodbye drink...
A spokesman for the firm at first denied this, but when given the names of some of the lawyers concerned reverted with the statement: "we can confirm that there is no redundancy consultation in our Manchester real estate team. Our staffing levels remain consistent". Draw your own conclusions from those carefully-chosen words.
And it has been reported that Addleshaws has summarily dismissed three associates ostensibly on the grounds of "performance". Each of them was marched out of the building immediately after the news was broken to them. None of the associates in question had been with the firm more than a year. A spokesman said that no-one had been made redundant and the firm was actively recruiting.
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