Baker McKenzie has eliminated 46 staff positions — all in the London office in professional and business roles — and another 33 jobs are still at risk as part of a firm-wide assessment. As reported by American Lawyer, a total of 97 roles were placed under review by the firm. Eighteen employees in those positions resigned, and 46 have been eliminated so far (15 were identified as redundant, while there remain 31 cut altogether). The remaining 33 jobs, which are across the human resources, finance, business development, marketing and communications, and knowledge management departments, are still at risk.
The firm offered the following statement on the cuts:
“The ongoing review in London is part of the firm’s three-year global reorganization of our professional business services functions, which includes the creation of new roles, growth in our service centers and investments in new technologies and new services,” a firm spokesperson said in a statement.
“We are grateful to our people in London and globally for their engagement, professionalism and patience throughout this process to date,” the statement said. “We continue to work with those still in roles at risk and in cases where suitable alternative roles are unavailable will offer an enhanced redundancy package.”
Another big change on the way for the London office is smaller — though potentially nicer — digs:
“Like every law firm, we’ve concluded we can probably do with less space,” a London partner at the firm said. “One option is to refurbish the current building and add another floor on top, but everyone would like to move to a nice shiny office. We’re in a good location but the space is tired, and clients want the wow factor.”
Baker McKenzie is reportedly looking to downsize its office space by 10,00 sq. ft.
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, and host of The Jabot podcast. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).