Dundas & Wilson to cut 50 jobs” />Edinburgh-headquartered firm Dundas & Wilson has announced a redundancy consultation with up to 50 people across its three offices at risk of losing their jobs.
The firm, which has offices in Glasgow, Edinburgh and London, currently employs 669 people.
London managing partner Donald Shaw said, “We’ve not taken this decision lightly, but unfortunately we must act to re-balance our capacity with our predicted levels of future business.
“Our focus remains squarely on clients’ needs and we’ll take great care to manage team composition to maintain the best possible service to clients.
“Our restructuring will also introduce even greater cross-discipline flexibility, allowing us to respond quickly to changing client needs against a challenging economic backdrop.”
The job cuts will affect lawyers as well as support staff.
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“Our restructuring will also introduce even greater cross-discipline flexibility”
Should that not have been done in the first place?
Response to John Grisham’s The Gavel
There already is cross-discipline flexibility. The restructuring will introduce even greater cross-discipline flexibility. There is much about the current economic situation that is worthy of comment and if you have an intelligent point to make then please do so but don’t waste everyone’s time with vacuous comments.
Agree with John Grisham’s The Gavel
John Grisham’s The Gavel: Totally agree.. All the biggest law firms should have enough cross-discipline flexibility to ensure they’re completely unaffected by global financial armageddon. I’m off to find another firm making unfortunate redundancies to take some cheap shots at! 🙂
“Cross-discipline flexibility”
Isn’t “The restructuring will introduce even greater cross-discipline flexibility” just marketing speak in any event?
I agree, this surely must already exist.
Obvious first cut
Does anyone else think that the obvious cut here is to go from two managing partners to one? Just a thought…
One Managing partner too many
I couldn’t agree more with the last comment. It is difficult to understand what possible justification there was for appointing two managing partners in the first place but it is surely now downright irresponsible to allow the situation to continue. How many solicitors’ salaries could be paid by the firm ridding itself of the surplus MP. Perhaps this is an integral part of the restructuring. I won’t hold my breath….
Flexibility
Given the current economic situation surely some degree of “cross discipline flexibility” is the way forward.
Is it realistic to accept that property lawyers for instance can’t handle anything other than property matters? Practicing in a number areas, maybe three or so, would allow staff to maintain a strong ability in each area without overstretching themselves and help to limit the effects of a drop in workload from one particular area.
Kilt wearer
Interestingly both managing partners appear to be Scottish. Maybe one should learn “cross-discipline flexibility” and let the other go out and get some work for the firm.
The Hamster must agree with him
He seems to have a grin firmly fixed on his face these days…
Pulse rate down…
It’s just not the place to be anymore. Team composition will not cut it, if the drive is not there. Lawyers are marooned until the economy changes.