The redundancy consultation process, which was launched today, is the direct consequence of Eversheds reviewing its real estate strategy over the summer in what had been dubbed “Project August”.
Eversheds head of real estate Lee Ranson told The Lawyer that the economic downturn of the past 12 months has been well publicised and that the firm is not immune to the negative climate.
“We did look at alternatives such as different fee-income streams and also wanted to ensure that the long-term business was protected,” said Ranson.
“While the loss of any staff is regrettable, it is important to put the proposals in context, as with a continuing real estate team of nearly 400 lawyers we will remain one of the largest and strongest real estate groups in Europe.”
Closing the Norwich office means the lawyers and support staff that are not made redundant will be transferred to the firm’s Cambridge office – the firm’s nearest base.
Norwich senior office partner Owen Warnock said staff in Norfolk understand the need for the two offices to merge.
“Both offices are busy and profitable but the proposal was put forward looking to the future,” said Warnock. “I’ve been a lawyer in Norwich for 28 years and have loved it, but it is understandable in terms of needs of clients why combining the offices is needed.”
The merger of the two offices will see the firm’s full-service Cambridge office increase its planning, real estate litigation teams, and a doubling of the Cambridge employment group.
Eversheds chief executive David Gray (pictured) told The Lawyer that while it is tough when a firm has to make people redundant, at least now those concerned will know their position.
“Making the position clear hopefully will put other lawyers at ease,” said Gray. “There will be a lot of concern and worry among those that could be made redundant, but for the rest of the business it will be reassuring to know where they stand.”
Norwich closing due to the recession? Rubbish
From: Jackie
I can't believe that David Gray and Lee Ranson think we're that stupid. The fact is that Eversheds Norwich has been slowly dwindling for at least five years - I worked in the Prop Lit team for over 20 years and could see the writing on the wall back in 2003 when any secretarial staff over 40 were made to feel incredibly uncomfortable.
I decided to desert the sinking ship late that year and work from home. Most of the teams from Norwich have left and gone to Birketts, Mills & Reeve or Hansells and they'd begun the exodus prior to me leaving 5 years ago!
Add to that the fact that the major offices were all top notch and had state of the art decor and Norwich staff were left in dirty, undecorated offices with old and dirty carpets that were lifting and were taped down, imaking do with ancient furniture and sub-standard equipment and it's pretty clear that we were considered the country bumpkins. Investors in People? NOT!!!!!!!!!
Eversheds
From: Anonymous
I guess you have to ask the question what the future has in store for the other "unloved" Eversheds regional offices.
evershed's norwich office
From: Anonymous
it was always expected and has been on the cards for sometime. The office did not have any clients in Norwich anymore and all the work was comming from London so there is no reason why it should be based there rather then the vibrant market of Cambridge..
Norwich
From: Anonymous
For David Gray to concentrate on his recording career he would have to first make himself redundant. C'mon, Davey, give it a go.
Norwich
From: Anonymous
I think David Gray should concentrate on his recording career.
Norwich closure
From: Anonymous
"...it is understandable in terms of needs of clients why combining the offices is needed.”
One can almost hear the grinding of the teeth as he said this.
Norwich
From: Anonymous
Sad day for those in Norwich. I only hope local commercial firms have the good sense and long-sightedness to pick up good lawyers who may now be on the market.
One wonders if this will be the first in a trend - do big global players need offices in Leeds and Sheffield/Manchester and Liverpool? How long do other outposts of the Eversheds' empire have? Will the new Northern offices of Midlands' firms survive? And the piece on Halliwells says a lot about London offcies of Northern firms. In a declining domestic market, this may be the first of a few such moves.
Cambridge/Norwich
From: Nor Witch
Norwich and Cambridge are much too near for it really to make sense for them to have an office in both. I'm only surprised this didn't happen earlier.
Ah ha.
From: Alan
Do you remember that episode where Alan Partridge is pitching show ideas to Alan Yentob? "This could really put Norwich back on the map..."
Last post
From: Anon.
That's an intriguing possibility. David Gray or David Brent?
Office Merger
From: Anonymous
I cannot help noticing the similarity between the "merger" of these two offices and the merger of Wernham Hogg's offices, the Slough office of which merged with "the Swindon lot". Are the management teams of Eversheds and Wernham Hogg by any chance related?