JD Journal » commercial law firms

Mallesons to Cut 100 Lawyers, Staff

Erik Even — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:58:07 +0000

Commercial law firm Mallesons will begin a redundancy consultation in August, targeting 5% of the firm’s workforce.

The redundancies are being characterized as voluntary, and will affect 100 lawyers and staff. Some lawyers will be offered more than one year’s pay.

The offers are to include a payment based on years of service, an additional stipend, and outplacement.

Founded in 1832, Mallesons Stephen Jaques is a commercial law firm that operates in the Asia-Pacific region. In Australia, and throughout the Asia-Pacific region generally, it is considered one of the top commercial law firms. It has offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Canberra, Hong Kong, Beijing, London, Shanghai and Papua New Guinea.

Hall & Wilcox Hiring, May Increase Pay

Erik Even — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:00:56 +0000

Melbourne, Australia’s Hall & Wilcox apparently has not heard that major law firms are shedding lawyers and freezing or cutting pay.

The full-service commercial firm, which had its annual meeting this week, will not be implementing pay freezes this year, and in fact is promising pay increases for certain staff by the end of this month.

It is also seeking lateral hires for certain practices.

Compensation is currently under review for lawyers in the firm’s Melbourne office.

Hall & Wilcox says it has only laid off one person since the global economic meltdown began.

Hall & Wilcox is a full-service commercial firm that is widely recognized as one of Melbourne, Australia’s leading law firms. The firm was named Best Law Firm (revenue under $50 million) nationally, at the BRW Client Choice Awards 2009, as well as Melbourne Law Firm of the Year 2007 and a Finalist in the same category in 2008 by Australasian Legal Business magazine.

BPE Solicitors Returns to 5-Day Week

Erik Even — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 19:35:48 +0000

Cheltenham, UK commercial law firm BPE Solicitors has ended its reduced-hours scheme after eight months, saying the economy is picking up.

In October, staff at the firm voted to work a four-day week to prevent redundancies.

The firm recently sold its Birmingham office to international law firm Irwin Mitchell.

BPE Solicitors is recognized for its expertise in corporate and commercial, commercial property, credit and asset finance, employment, construction and engineering, dispute resolution, debt recovery and intellectual property.

Corrs Defers Recruits, Freezes Salaries

Erik Even — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 20:34:23 +0000

Corrs has delayed the start dates for its 2009 recruits, paying stipends of US$1,740 each.

In March, the firm implemented a firm-wide salary freeze. There may be individual exceptions, and the firm stressed that the pay freeze is not performance related.

Corrs Chambers Westgarth is an Australian commercial law firm founded in 1841. It has offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth. The firm acts for clients internationally, and has links with law firms throughout Asia, the Americas, Middle East and Europe.

Corrs employs over 950 attorneys.

Thomson Playford Cuts 19 Lawyers, 5 Staff

Erik Even — Fri, 15 May 2009 23:00:45 +0000

Thomson Playford has laid off 19 lawyers and five staff in its Sydney and Adelaide, Australia offices.

Thomson Playford Cutlers is a full service commercial law firm with offices in Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne, with 200 lawyers and 350 staff.

In August 2008, the firm was ranked as one of the top 25 law firms in Australia by Australasian Legal Business. In 2008, they won the “Adelaide Law Firm of the Year” Award at the Mettle ALB Australasian Law Awards, the Asia Pacific’s premium law awards event.

Blake Dawson Lays Off 23 Lawyers, 66 Staff

Erik Even — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:56:08 +0000

Blake Dawson has eliminated 23 lawyers and 66 support staff in the wake of its March review of business.

Details have not been released. If you know anything about the situation at Blake Dawson, please send us a confidential tip!

Founded in Melbourne in 1841, Blake Dawson is a commercial law firm that operates in the Asia-Pacific region. In Australia it is considered one of the top commercial law firms.

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.

Halliwells to Lay Off 15 Lawyers, 15 Staff

Erik Even — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 17:01:54 +0000

Manchester, UK’s Halliwells has launched a fourth redundancy consultation, with up to 30 jobs under threat.

The firm’s entire 39-member 2009 trainee class has been deferred. Half will start in March 2010 and the remainder in August 2010.

The consultation affects 15 lawyers in its real estate group and 15 support staff. Around 40 jobs were cut in the previous redundancy rounds.

Cuts have affected staff across the firm’s Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield and London offices.

Halliwells is a commercial law firm, and one of the UK’s top 50.

Blake Dawson Layoffs Tomorrow

Erik Even — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:40:30 +0000

Blake Dawson will announce redundancies tomorrow, Friday the 13th, with “less than 100″ people affected.

The firm says the cuts are all related to the global economic meltdown.

This will be the second round of redundancies at the Melbourne, Australia-based firm, as at least four property and finance lawyers have been laid off since the beginning of the year.

If you know anything about impending layoffs at Blake Dawson, please send us a confidential tip!

Blake Dawson is a commercial law firm that operates in the Asia-Pacific region. In Australia it is considered one of the top commercial law firms.

Blake Dawson was previously known as Blake Dawson Waldron or BDW. The firm shortened its name to ‘Blake Dawson’ in November 2007.