Hammonds looks to reduce numbers

HAMMONDS has become the latest major law firm to look to make staff redundant.

The firm, which has offices in Manchester, Leeds and London, has not put a figure on the number of people that will leave but said that it will be a “small number” and has begun a consultantion process with staff.

The news follows moves by Eversheds, Halliwells and Cobbetts to reduce their numbers in the face of the increasingly steep economic downturn.

Cobbetts has already said it is looking to make up to 40 fee earners redundant across its Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham offices while Halliwells has begun an employee consultation in its corporate department after 20 staff were made redundant in September and another six redeployed.

Hammonds’ managing partner, Peter Crossley said: “Unfortunately, difficult market conditions have made it necessary for us to review staffing levels and we are now commencing a consultation process which will result in a small number of redundancies across the firm.

“It is a matter of great regret that we find ourselves in this position, but these are unique market conditions and  we would not be proposing these redundancies if we felt we had any real alternative.  We will, of course, be looking to retrain and redeploy any staff potentially affected and will offer our full support to those leaving the firm.”