Hogan Lovells has kickstarted a consultation in its business services division as it prepares to transfer or cut 90 roles from its London office.

The decision follows a strategic review and restructuring of its UK operations, and will affect around 78 business services staff and 12 legal support roles.

These jobs are set to be transferred or removed from the London office, with roles being created in the firm’s legal support centres in Birmingham and Johannesburg.

Subject to final consultation, Hogan Lovells expects the vast majority of the roles will be moving with two-thirds moving to Johannesburg.

The vast majority of business support roles are still expected to be housed in London.

Hogan Lovells opened a low-cost legal centre in Birmingham in 2014 and comprises 70 people.

The launch came a month after the firm opened its first legal support office in Johannesburg, now made up of 110 individuals.

Hogan Lovells also opened its first business services centre in the US in Louisville at the start of last year.

Initially set up to focus more on due diligence work, Hogan Lovells’ Birmingham office is becoming increasingly involved in complex legal matters as well as taking on these new business services and legal support roles.

Johannesburg was originally established to handle business services operations, with the review set to expand this capability.

The business services consultation will last a minimum of 30 days.