Blake Lapthorn kicks off third round of job cuts

Blake Lapthorn has launched its third redundancy consultation in the past nine months, with 33 positions under threat, it was announced today (19 May).

The consultation will affect both business services and secretarial staff across the firms' offices in London and the southeast. Fee earners are also likely to be affected.

Blake Lapthorn managing partner Walter Cha (pictured) said: "Having now completed our budget for 2009-10, it is with much regret that I have to announce a number of further job losses as part of the firm's plans to ensure that we can continue to respond to the current period of economic uncertainty, which shows no signs of improving soon."

He added: "All those at risk of redundancy may not subsequently lose their jobs. We shall take all steps that we can to minimise the final number of redundancies."

At the beginning of the year (27 January) Blake Lapthorn consulted with 30 staff over possible cutbacks, with the firm's corporate and real estate teams suffering a number of layoffs.

The firm's first redundancy consultation last September saw 43 positions under review. Thirty-three jobs were eventually lost in total, with some roles saved via job-sharing, redeployment and client secondments.

Last week (13 May) Addleshaw Goddard launched a redundancy consultation which could see 85 staff laid off, while last week Simmons & Simmons made 91 redundancies as its staffing review came to a close.

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