Beachcroft has completed a restructuring programme that has resulted in nine redundancies at the firm.
The 858-lawyer firm has made five solicitors redundant, four in Birmingham and one in London ‹ and has also cut four secretarial jobs.
As part of the shake-up, the firm will transfer 13 staff, including the entire private client practice, headed by veteran partner Julian Korn, to regional firm Laytons later this year.
Three additional staff whose posts were under review will remain at the national firm while the future of three other roles will be decided pending their return from leave.
The news will draw a line under Beachcroft¹s strategic review of its London and Birmingham operations, first reported on legalweek.com (9 November).
The move began two months ago and formed part of a drive to beef up the firm¹s profitability, which continues to trail behind many of its national rivals.
The decision to axe the private client team echoes current strategy among many of the UK¹s major commercial firms. In 2004, Birmingham giant Wragge & Co offloaded its entire 15-strong private client team to Mills & Reeve.
The job cuts come after Beachcroft announced impressive half-year results at the end of last year, with turnover up 18% on the equivalent figure last year to reach £53.1m.
Beachcroft senior partner Simon Hodson said: ³We have tied up the loose ends and, difficult as it was, this was something that had to be done for the future success of the business.² The firm¹s senior management is also drawing up a fresh three-year strategy plan, which is likely to focus on growing Beachcroft¹s offices in Bristol and across the north.
