The UK’s mid-tier law firms have been hit by a swathe of job cuts as they move to shore up their profitability.

London’s Stephenson Harwood (SH) is to take the radical step of forcing out as many as 20 partners, national firm Addleshaw Goddard is preparing to cull around five partners and 30 support staff, while Birmingham-based Wragge & Co is set to cut up to 30 lawyers.