City AM
Mayer Brown’s UK managing partner has told partners in the law firm not to disturb associates on their holidays – apart from in emergencies.
In an internal memo seen by The Lawyer, Dominic Griffiths, the highest-ranking partner at Mayer Brown’s London office, told the law firm’s senior lawyers not to interrupt younger lawyers’ holidays, as he hinted at the effects technology has had on work-life balance.
In an email to partners, Griffiths said: “I’ve a long held belief that it is vitally important for our people to be able to take their holidays without disturbance, except in circumstances of emergency where no-one else can resolve a critical problem.”
“That was naturally the case when I was a junior (as the technology didn’t exist) and I’ve always observed that the most successful of my partners make good provision when their lawyers are out of the office,” Griffiths said.
In an email to City A.M., a spokesperson for the law firm explained that in sending out the memo, “Dom was reiterating the importance of people having a real break from work whilst on holiday, and letting the associates know that a work/life balance is one of his priorities.”
The company spokesperson added that the firm views serving its clients as its “key priority,” as they suggested the company “staffs” its matters appropriately “to ensure seamless service.”
‘Generational shift’
Speaking to City A.M. Bettina Bender, a partner at Winckworth Sherwood, said the memo reflects a “generational shift” that has seen younger lawyers place greater focus on work/life balance, mental health, and “wellbeing,” compared to previous generations.
The law firm partner noted that young lawyers’ bargaining positions have also been strengthened by a “buoyant labour market,” which has seen firms across the City increasingly forced to cater to the demands of junior staff.
Bender said the memo also reflects a wider pushback against the impacts of technology on the world of work, as she explained that work has increasingly begun to “creep” into every sphere of lawyers’ lives, via laptops, smartphones, and the rise of remote work.
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Let lawyers take holidays without having to work, Mayer Brown managing partner says
