Norton Rose Staff Approve Four Day Week As More Firms Slash Partner Pay, Furlough Staff

Norton Rose Fulbright staff have overwhelmingly approved new measures that will allow them to work less hours for reduced pay for one year in response to the COVID-19 crisis.

According to one partner at the firm, 90% of eligible staff have taken up the reduced hours offer, which was proposed earlier in April.

He said: “It’s a really good thing. The staff are looking out for each other.”

The firm announced the offer to select staff across its Europe, Middle East and Asia offices earlier this month, with 75% of those eligible required to take it up for it to be approved. The new programme will now commence on April 20.

The partner added: “Equally, the partners could easily have gone for a deep redundancy programme now but have taken a hit and done the right thing.” Norton Rose deferred the payment of partner distributions, staff salary rises and bonuses for both groups earlier this month.

EMEA managing partner Peter Scott said in a statement: “Our priority is to safeguard jobs and our business for the future for our people and our clients. The overwhelming support of the Flex scheme shows how our people have come together, during what is a challenging time, to support their colleagues and the firm. I want to thank everyone for helping us reach this important milestone. I am confident that we will emerge from this stronger than before.”

Burges Salmon and Dentons have also taken up precautionary measures to avoid possible financial setbacks caused by the coronavirus.

Dentons is slashing its partner monthly drawings by 15 to 20%, depending on seniority, for the next six months across its offices in continental Europe and Central Asia, a spokesperson for the firm confirmed. Its business support team heads in the region have also had their monthly drawings reduced by up to 20%, the spokesperson added.

Some partners on its European management board have volunteered to reduce their distributions by up to 50%, a spokesperson for the firm confirmed. while the firm is also encouraging staff in the region to take 50% of their annual leave before September.

All salaries in the region have been frozen, with all reviews of raises and bonuses suspended pending the situation.

Lateral hiring in those regions is still ongoing and any extra cash will be put into a reserve for partner distributions, according to a statement by the firm.

The statement added: ”While Dentons Europe achieved strong double digit-growth in the first quarter, like all leading international law firms, we must plan for the future and implement sound management actions to mitigate the impact of the economic slowdown on our business.

“Our priority is to protect the jobs of our people, while also protecting our firm. As leaders of the business, our partners across continental Europe and Central Asia and regional business services leaders will be forgoing 15-20% of their monthly advances/income.  We are also deferring discretionary spending.”

Meanwhile, U.K. firm Burges Salmon has furloughed 42 members of its staff, a spokesperson for the firm confirmed. The action has been taken for roles that can only be carried out at the firm’s premises, including front of house staff, legal support roles and some PAs, according to a statement by the firm.

The firm has also redeployed some staff into newly-created business support functions in finance, IT helpdesk, remote working and client service delivery.

A spokesperson for the firm said in a statement: “We are continuing to monitor the position carefully and our focus is ensuring that we continue to provide full support to our clients.”

Several other firms have been taking up new measures to curb the financial issues caused by COVID-19, including Allen & Overy, Slaughter and May, and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

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