Support staff roles at City firms under threat due to covid-19
updated on 16 December 2020
A number of City firms weathering the effects of coronavirus are evaluating the need for secretaries and support staff during the pandemic.
International firm Pinsent Masons could see 20 to 30 facilities roles cut, after the firm forecast that fewer solicitors and clients will visit its offices in future.
The pandemic has “permanently changed” the way the firm works, according to Managing Partner John Cleland. He added: “all of the internal and externally available data confirms that colleagues who’ve worked productively and effectively from home will wish to continue to do so, to a material extent, once the pandemic ends”.
Around 40 secretarial and support staff roles at City firm DWF could be at risk and Dentons could cut 24 fee-earner positions as the firm accelerates its digital strategy. In a push for full-time remote working, Dentons is also set to close its Aberdeen and Watford offices.
Meanwhile, agile working strategies are being introduced with solicitors at Taylor Wessing and Linklaters able to work from home for up to half of the week once the pandemic has passed.
