Change is hard for SJ Berwin

Partner pay is always a sore point, especially at a firm like SJ Berwin, where partners have to be reminded to work as a team. The latest attempt at a shift, spearheaded by managing partner Rob Day, has been the subject of discussions since at least early this year, but even now the jaw-jaw has had about as much effect as the pack trying to chase Usain Bolt. The plans have been duly shelved pending further debate.

This is not a case of cold feet or procrastination: instead the firm has built work referral into the annual partner assessment process from this year, even if the checks and balances of profit share allocation won’t yet take cross-selling into account.

Indeed, the firm is still hopeful that it could wrap up a vote on partner pay in time to introduce the new regime in 2013.

It’s slow going, but Day’s aims to modernise SJ Berwin from a 1980s start-up into a 21st-century international firm are gradually stepping up a level.

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