Halliwells set to make redundancies in London and Manchester

Halliwells has launched a redundancy consultation process across its London-based corporate team, as a result of the group lagging behind budget.

It is understood that seven or eight solicitors and support staff could be without a job as a result of the review that will close in early March.

Head of corporate Julian Lewis has resigned from the firm and is currently on gardening leave before he heads over to a role as partner at Fladgate Fielder. The corporate partner Martin Walsh has also left.

Ian Austin, managing partner said: "We must reorganise our corporate team to achieve our wider objectives. Our growth in London will continue."

There is speculation as to whether a replacement for Lewis will be found from within the London team, given that there is not believed to be a natural successor within a group that includes a number of newcomers such as Stephen Raize and Catherine Moss. A spokesperson for the firm claimed that as a result of the changes the group will not be reporting directly to Manchester.

Also poised for redundancy are an unconfirmed number of support staff in the Manchester office, which are being let go as a result of the firm’s move from five offices to a more expensive single site.

The Manchester office of Halliwells has recently been hit with exits from the insurance team with the move of a team of three professional negligence partners to Weightmans.