Pinsent Masons to axe 13 lawyers in ‘restructure’

Law firm Pinsent Masons is to cut about 13 jobs among its employment law team.

The firm, which last year acquired Scottish legal practice McGrigors, said it was responding to changes in the market and would need to create a business to suit demand.

Job losses are expected to be spread around the UK offices, which include Edinburgh and Glasgow.

In a statement yesterday, the firm said: “We continue to grow and have made a number of strategic investments over the past 12 months in those sectors and markets where we see most potential for growth.

“However, like any business we also need to monitor our resourcing levels and recognise and respond to market changes. This is particularly true in the field of employment law where market dynamics have shifted fundamentally.

“As a result we are taking steps to restructure our employment practice to create a group that is the right size and shape to respond to the changed nature of demand across the UK and internationally.

“While it is not possible to confirm exact numbers as consultation is ongoing, regrettably we expect that around 13 people could leave the group as a result of the restructure.”

The firm accepted that it was “an unsettling time” for all involved.

Pinsent Masons acquired McGrigors in May last year to become part of a worldwide firm with a combined turnover of £300 million and 2,500 staff.

Revenues rose by 4 per cent to £221m in the year to 30 April, but the firm claimed the total would have hit £295m if McGrigors’ final months as an independent firm had been taken into account. McGrigors turned over £42.5m in its last seven months before the takeover.