UK regional law firms take drastic steps to avoid further job cuts

Regional law firms in the UK are suffering even more severely from the economic downturn than their London competitors. Several major regional firms are imposing severe cost-cutting measures to avoid further job cuts, reports The Times. Scottish firm Dundas & Wilson is asking its 650 staff to accept a 10 per cent pay cut in return for an additional 18 days of unpaid leave. Pinsent Masons, one of the biggest law firms outside London, and Manchester-based Halliwells have announced similar measures. Pinsent Masons will ask about more than 1,000 of its 1,600 staff to take up to 13 weeks unpaid leave or to switch to a four-day week. With these measures, the firms hopes to cut up to 20 per cent of its salary costs.

UK regional law firms take drastic steps to avoid further job cuts business.timesonline.co.uk Tue, Jul 21, 2009