Dentons restructuring exercise triggers large scale layoff

Dentons restructuring exercise triggers large scale layoff

While 83 employees opt for voluntary redundancy packages, two sent marching under compulsory redundancies in the firm's 'transformation journey'

Multinational law firm Dantons has undergone a massive restructuring exercise leading to 85 lawyers and staff quitting the firm in UK, Ireland and the Middle East.

The move was necessitated following the creation of a virtual legal team and a restructuring of its business services and secretarial units.

The firm termed the large scale shake-up as a 'transformation journey'. While 83 employees, including 16 lawyers, opted to accept voluntary redundancy packages, two were sent marching under compulsory redundancies.

"Whilst it's always difficult saying goodbye to colleagues, we are pleased that so many are staying with us in new roles, learning new skills and that our voluntary redundancy offering meant that the number of compulsory redundancies was limited to just two. Those who are leaving us do so with our sincere thanks and gratitude for the valuable contributions they have made to our firm," Lisa Sewell, Dantons' managing director for the UK, Ireland and Middle East, said.

The review exercise started in November last year. While an overhaul of its business, services and the secretarial staff was on the cards, what triggered the massive shakeup was the firm's announcement about the shift toward remote working inspired by its Covid-19 lockdown agile working measures alongside the creation of a virtual UK real estate fee earning team providing corporate real estate, real estate finance, asset management and due diligence services, working alongside physically-based teams.

Lisa Sewell said that the firm was listening to feedback from its lawyers and staff in order to create a flexible working environment best suited for the post-COVID era.

In total, 16 lawyers opted for voluntary redundancy, while five more accepted alternative roles. Some 35 secretaries and 32 business services staff also opted for voluntary redundancy while six secretaries and 14 business services staff were redeployed in new roles at the firm.

Dentons had recently announced a 'you choose' working location policy for all those working in its UK offices. This is scheduled to be launched to coincide with the fall when it expects office life to limp back to normalcy.