CMS launches redundancy consultation with 40 jobs at risk
CMS Cameron McKenna has today launched a review of its UK and CEE business that has placed 40 roles in the UK at risk of redundancy.
Duncan Weston
The roles are a mix of legal, legal support and secretarial roles and cover most of the UK business. They include 26 lawyers in the UK.
In a statement CMS’ UK managing partner Duncan Weston said: “Clearly this is not a decision that we take lightly but we take it in the best interests of delivering sustained, competitive success.
“There are long-term and short-term reasons for the review. In the long-term, we continue to work in an environment where law firms need to ensure that they are the right size and shape to meet the needs of business going forward. Short-term, we need to manage efficiently in what remains a tough market.”
The firm broke the news to its staff this morning. A spokesperson for the firm said in the CEE the roles coming out of the business would be a mixture of redundancies, termination of contract and non-replacement of position.
In the 2008/09 financial year CMS made 73 redundancies but also launched a reduced working scheme which allowed staff to be put on four-day weeks or two-week sabbaticals.
Readers' comments (7)
Anonymous | 15-Jan-2013 9:19 pm
From an ex-Cameron's lawyer
This is terribly sad news for many at a firm that used to invest in people and their skills, regardless of where in the firm you worked. No-one can possibly deny that we continue to work in a difficult market for legal services, but let's get a grip; the law continues to pay well, particularly in the City and for many partners, and if we look up and beyond London, life is bloody difficult for many people. The article refers to a number of strategic errors that the management of that firm has made. Throughout that period and in the absence of any material growth in revenue, Partners and Management have sought to continue to increase profits for partners by snipping, cutting and trimming - and outsourcing - the firm's employees. That can't be a model for success or for happiness.
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Anonymous | 16-Jan-2013 4:38 pm
Another (glad to be) ex-Camerons lawyer here.
The thing that used to make Camerons was its culture/atmosphere. Without that, it's just another really average upper mid-market firm. Unfortunately, Duncan and his team, and the attitude of the partners towards maintaining profits, have destroyed that. Granted the Camerons partners are hardly alone in refusing to take the rough with the smooth though...
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Oops | 17-Jan-2013 10:34 am
Fully agree with the previous posters. The support staff in particular have been poorly treated over the last 3-4 years. CMS has always trumpeted on about its large Europrean footprint. The problem now though is, with all of the potential for European economin woe, what exactly has it trodden in?
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oops | 17-Jan-2013 10:35 am
PS. Has the Moscow operation started making any money again? lol.
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Anonymous | 22-Jan-2013 9:12 am
As an ex client of Camerons (not Mckenna) this is a sad thing to see. Noted the cash call on partners, noted the outsourcing, noted the redundancies (can there be anyone left in the support side to make redundant after the outsourcing?). Where are those who champion the fact that a law firm is nothing without its people - if you fire them all then you won't have a firm left.
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Anonymous | 23-Jan-2013 3:50 pm
I am ex CMS employee (support staff), I can honestly say that it’s very sad for the people that I know there but CMS gave up on their support staff a long time ago and now it seems they are giving up on their lawyers too. By the time I left morale was at an all time low, there is no such thing as “teamwork” at CMS and in the end you are out on your own, which is why after many years I was forced to look elsewhere.
Yes I work at another law firm in the city but at one where they respect everyone as equals and they genuinely invest in you as employees.
All the best CMS, you are going to need it.
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Anonymous | 8-Feb-2013 3:26 pm
With a fee-earner friends in the midst of the redundancy at CMS, it is so sad to hear their heart-ache during what appears to be a badly-run redundancy process. It's important that Partners and HR role model and handle the process carefully, otherwise they will start to see high performers leaving. I understand it has to be done but a little dignity goes a long way.
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