Addleshaws takes axe to back office

In addition to the redundancies further business services staff have resigned and others have not had contracts renewed, with the total headcount in the ­business services unit falling by 43 since the beginning of the year.

The number of redundancies made so far as part of the consultation is ­slightly lower than expected. In May, when Addleshaws announced that it was launching a redundancy programme, the firm said as many as 40 staff could see their jobs cut (The Lawyer, 24 May).

According to the firm, a number of staff whose jobs have been cut have applied successfully for other ­vacancies, as well as newly created roles in the firm. A small number of staff are still in consultation.

Addleshaws announced the redundancy programme following a 3 per cent drop in turnover, from £167.5m in 2009-10 to £161.9m in 2010-11. Net profit at the firm dropped by 17 per cent over the same period, from £41.2m to £34.4m, while average ­profit per equity partner was down by 23 per cent, from £426,000 to £328,000.