Wragge & Co has seen the number of staff in its Birmingham stronghold fall below 1,000 after an 8% drop in its Midlands headcount in the past year, a clear sign that the single-site giant has put the brakes on its rapid expansion over the past decade.

The firm’s continued investment in its London office in contrast saw its headcount there increase from 34 to 57 in the 12 months to June 2003, but the figure in its Birmingham base dipped from 1,059 to 977.