Gateley Wareing email sparks Scrooge accusations

Anglo Scottish firm HBJ Gateley Wareing has been accused of Scrooge-like behaviour after an email was sent round asking fee earners and trainees to stump up money to pay for gifts for support staff.

The email, which was issued by senior partner Michael Ward, outlined different levels of contribution depending on the seniority of staff, ranging from £75 for partners to £15 for trainees.

"You will be asked to contribute the same amount as your peers in order that each secretary and support staff member can receive a Christmas gift from the fee-earning teams," the email said.

"You will have the option of either signing a short consent form so that the deduction can be made straight from your salary in January or, alternatively, if you do not wish the deduction to be made you can make your contribution by providing cash."

One disgruntled staff member told The Birmingham Post: "Ebenezer Scrooge partners are forcing their solicitors to fund the Christmas spirit. It's an absolute joke. Equity partners here can take home up to £650,000 a year while trainees are on around £20,000 to £25,000. There's no comparison. Why should everybody have to fork out? Some people here could afford to buy as many Christmas presents as anybody could ever want."

In a statement the firm stressed the scheme was voluntary and was designed to ensure that support staff across the firm received gifts of equivalent value in recognition of their "invaluable" contribution to the firm.

It added: "The new scheme has been extremely well received by the whole firm, and particularly the secretaries and support teams."