Biglaw Firm Set To Make Layoffs In Departments Hardest Hit By Pandemic Changes
Staff layoffs for this Magic Circle firm.
There’s no denying that COVID-19 has greatly impacted the ways that most of the world works. Though Biglaw has largely thrived throughout the pandemic, there’s still been a wave of layoffs throughout the industry, as firms try to tweak their model to respond to industry changes. Now comes word that yet another Biglaw firm is readying their own round of layoffs.
Magic Circle firm Clifford Chance is reportedly looking at between 44 and 73 layoffs of staff members in its London office. According to Roll on Friday, the departments impacted will be those hardest hit by the move to work from home, spurred by COVID-19. As such, secretaries, those in document production, and mail room staff will be offered severance packages in a “hybrid voluntary/compulsory redundancy approach.” The firm is hopeful this will reduce “the number of compulsory redundancies needed.”
During the height of the pandemic, Clifford Chance avoided furloughs or layoffs, but now the firm says the time has come:
But now, said Regional Managing Partner Michael Bates, “Following a thorough review of our UK operations looking at the impact of Covid and accelerating technological change, we have identified some areas where we need to make changes”.
“Sadly, these proposals will also result in the departure of some of our valued colleagues. This is never an easy decision, and not one that we have taken lightly”.
“We have entered into a consultation with the affected teams, and will also be offering them a voluntary redundancy scheme. Throughout, we will seek to reach our final decisions in a fair and inclusive way that respects our people and reflects our culture. And we will do all that we can to support all of our colleagues as we move through the process”.
Best of luck to those who find themselves out of work.
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, and host of The Jabot podcast. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).
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