Trowers becomes latest firm to cut lawyer numbers

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By Rhys Duncan on

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Real estate roles


Trowers & Hamlins has entered a redundancy consultation within its UK offices.

The layoffs will affect 25 lawyers in total, including some partners, across the firm’s real estate and real estate finance teams.

The cuts come in response to a downturn in certain markets, with the real estate sector seeing a particularly significant dip in 2023.

A firm spokesperson said:

“In light of challenging market conditions, and a marked change in demand for some of the legal services we offer, earlier in 2023 we undertook a review of our service offering. It is always important that, as a firm, we remain highly competitive and able to give our clients the best service possible.”

The 2024 Legal Cheek Firms Most List

They continued: “Unfortunately, it was necessary to reduce our staff numbers to align with the slowdown in some markets. The affected colleagues worked predominantly in the real estate department. We continue to offer those affected full support as they transition out of the firm and we are helping them with preparations for finding a new role elsewhere. Trowers remains a firm committed to its people and its clients.”

Over the last year, the London headquartered firm has boosted their NQ salaries to £80,000 for their City contingent, and £60,000 for those in the regions. The Legal Cheek Firms Most List 2024 shows it takes on around 28 trainees a year across their four UK offices.

Trowers join CMS, Orrick, and Reed Smith, all of which have cut roles in recent months on account of uncertain and fluctuating market conditions.

3 Comments

Ds

Damn..why does it seem like there’s no security in law anymore? Go through all those applications, interviews and fees and for what

I know that’s life unpredictable but blimey

Dumbparalegal

I feel like it’s due to the fact that NQ’s can now demand a lot more money.

Not saying it’s a bad thing but the knock on effect of mega US firms coming in with big pay packets and stealth layoffs is that most other firms are gradually beginning to match this style just to keep up and retain lawyers. I mean, if you can just jump ship for an extra £10/15 k for similar hours at another city firm or 30/ 40k more if you go mega American why wouldn’t you?

In return, it means that when there’s a slowdown in a sector/ industry then firms have less cash floating about for lawyers salaries and therefore just cut them to maintain profits.

May be totally wrong here but feel this may be the way that UK law is now moving as magic/ circle / city firms gradually get more intertwined with their US counterparts. The A and O/ Sherman merger being the first example of this it it pulls through.

It’s a bit depressing, but yet again considering most if not all city NQ’s make at least double the national average in terms of wages on qualification, then I guess that’s what we’re paid for.

No wonder a paralegal

What are you on even on about?

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