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Linklaters Faces Dispute Over Layoffs
Legal Week
August 10, 2009
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Linklaters has confirmed that it is in discussions with a former employee relating to the redundancy program it carried out earlier this year.
Referring to reports on RollonFriday that the law firm was facing legal action from at least one former staff member, Linklaters confirmed that it is in discussions with one ex-employee as a result of a redundancy. However, the firm would not be drawn on the details.
In a statement Linklaters said: "Whilst our policy is not to comment on any litigation we can confirm that only one case is currently under discussion in respect of our redundancy programme."
Linklaters restructured heavily earlier this year through a global program dubbed Linklaters New World, which saw the firm laying off approximately 400 employees. Out of these, 200 were lawyers and 200 were business support staff. About half of the cuts affected the London office, with the firm declining to comment on individual international offices.
The restructuring also saw the firm trimming its partnership, with about 35 partners worldwide expected to leave by the end of the year. However, the firm has not confirmed an official number of partners set to go.
Since the restructuring, Linklaters has emerged as the largest firm in the U.K. by revenues during the last financial year. The firm reported a virtually static turnover of 1.298 billion pounds ($2,163,376,600) for 2008-2009, compared with 1.293 billion pounds (2,155,043,100) last year. The firm said its profits per equity partner fell to 1.3 million pounds ($2,166.710), partly due to costs inflicted by the restructuring.
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