JD Journal » Allens Arthur Robinson

Big Firms in Australia Evacuate Offices Due to Mass Floods

marvins — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 17:09:52 +0000

Some of Australia’s largest law firms evacuated their offices as mass floods hit the state of Queensland that includes Brisbane, the country’s third-largest city. The flood is recorded to be the worst Australia has experienced over the past 50 years, with an estimated damage cost of $6 billion. Flood water in the city is expected to reach depths of 60 feet in some parts of the city, affecting thousands of homes and businesses. The operations of Australia’s “Big Six,” the country’s largest law firms, have been greatly disrupted by the flood and now bracing themselves for the amount of damage the disaster may cost. The “Big Six,” Allens Arthur Robinson, Blake Dawson, Clayton Utz, Freehills, Mallesons Stephen Jaques and Minter Ellison, all have offices in Brisbane.

Don Boyd, Norton Rose Australia managing partner, said that the flood has caused the city immeasurable damage disrupting their firm’s operations and other businesses. “It’s like a war zone. The floods have decimated Queensland. It literally hasn’t stopped raining for weeks.”

A spokesperson from Allens Arthur Robinson said that their office in Brisbane has been closed for now and the firm is currently under a business continuity plan to continue its operations while the city is recovering from the impact of the mass flood. “The safety of our staff is paramount. The firm has implemented a business continuity plan to allow staff to work remotely on time-critical matters.

Meanwhile, Clayton Utz made an immediate donation of $30,000 to the St. Vincent de Paul Society despite the fact that their firm has also been affected by the mass flood. The firm is now focusing on assisting those flood victims and aid organizations in the effect of the disaster.

The Week in Law Firm Layoffs

Erik Even — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:00:20 +0000

This week in law firm layoffs:

Ruden McClosky: 8 lawyers

Allens Arthur Robinson: 114 undisclosed

Weil, Gotshal & Manges: 16 lawyers, 11 staff

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert: 49 undisclosed

Taylor Wessing: 11 lawyers

Denton Wilde Sapte: 14 lawyers

Harvard Law School: 12 undisclosed

Total: 49 lawyers, 11 staff, 175 undisclosed

Previously:

Week of June 28th: 30 lawyers, 43 staff

Week of June 14th: 51 lawyers, 34 staff

Week of June 7th: 81 lawyers, 61 staff, 85 undisclosed

Week of May 31st: 101 lawyers, 142 staff, 49 undisclosed

Week of May 24th: 66 lawyers, 119 staff

Week of May 17th: 40 lawyers, 118 staff

Week of May 10th: 274 lawyers, 499 staff

Week of May 3rd: 274 lawyers, 160 staff

Week of April 26th: 352 lawyers, 220 staff, 70 undisclosed

Week of April 19th: 61 lawyers, 184 staff

Week of April 12th: 67 lawyers, 50 staff, 115 unidentified

Week of April 5th: 144 lawyers, 310 staff

Week of March 29th: 199 lawyers, 474 staff

Week of March 22nd: 455 lawyers, 219 staff

Week of March 15th: 91 lawyers, 177 staff

Week of March 8th: 574 lawyers, 812 staff

Allens Arthur Robinson Sees 114 Voluntary Redundancies

Erik Even — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:11:04 +0000

Allens Arthur Robinson, which in April offered up to one year’s pay to lawyers who take voluntary redundancies, has seen 114 employees take up the offer and leave the firm.

The redundancies included lawyers, corporate services staff, and secretaries. Twelve people who asked for voluntary redundancies were refused.As

By offering the voluntary redundancies, Allens Arthur says it has avoided involuntary layoffs; and it plans to keep all of its incoming trainees. The firm is now undergoing a restructuring.

Founded in 1822, Allens Arthur Robinson is a commercial law firm in the Asia-Pacific region. In Australia, and throughout the Asia-Pacific region generally, it is considered to be one of the top commercial law firms.

The firm has staff based in 14 cities and eight countries, including Bangkok, Beijing, Brisbane, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Melbourne, Perth, Phnom Penh, Port Moresby, Shanghai, Singapore and Sydney. It is one of the largest law firms in the Asia Pacific region, with almost 200 partners and more than 1500 personnel.

Allens Arthur Robinson Freezes Pay, Offers Voluntary Redundancies

Erik Even — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 17:41:06 +0000

Allens Arthur Robinson will institute pay freezes July 1st, and is offering up to one year’s pay to lawyers who take voluntary redundancies.

The amount paid out for those who choose to leave will depend on seniority and years with the firm.

Allens also plans to shuffle remaining lawyers between practices.

The firm has no plans for involuntary layoffs, and will not cut its incoming associate class. It will, however, cut partners’ profit shares.

Allens Arthur Robinson is a commercial law firm in the Asia-Pacific region. In Australia, and throughout the Asia-Pacific region generally, it is considered to be one of the top commercial law firms.

Allens has staff based in 14 cities and eight countries across the region, including Bangkok, Beijing, Brisbane, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Melbourne, Perth, Phnom Penh, Port Moresby, Shanghai, Singapore and Sydney. It is one of the largest law firms in the Asia Pacific region, with almost 200 partners and more than 1500 personnel.