Here’s what Legal Loop has to say….
Lawyers Weekly understands that staff across multiple practice groups at the firm have been made redundant recently, and that the total number of staff laid off could be in the double figures.
“KWM has undertaken a small number of targeted redundancies in some teams,” the firm told Lawyers Weekly in a statement. “These decisions are always difficult to make, and we are ensuring that the people impacted by these decisions are fully supported at this time.”
KWM declined to provide specific numbers or whether any partners were involved when pressed by Lawyers Weekly.
The confirmation that redundancies have been rolled out marks another chapter in what has been a turbulent week for the global firm.
On Monday (20 May), Tony O’Malley announced that he was stepping down as the firm’s Australian managing partner, effectively immediately.
This morning (24 May) it was announced that Sue Kench, the head of the firm’s real estate, construction, environment and infrastrcuture group, would replace O’Malley as the firm’s new Australian managing partner.
O’Malley remains a member of the partnershsip, but will be on gardening leave until the end of the year.
