Shoosmiths make 86 redundant (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Law firm redundancies will hit Basingstoke offices

8:59am Tuesday 31st July 2012 in Business By Emily Roberts, Chief Reporter

A LAW firm has announced that 86 employees will be made redundant, mainly at its Basingstoke offices.

Shoosmiths in Basing View says that 71 people will take voluntary redundancy and there will be 15 compulsory redundancies.

It is not clear exactly how many of these are based in the Basingstoke offices at Quantum House. In May employees were told that 93 roles were at risk as part of a restructure of its consumer arm, primarily affecting the “volume motor personal injury team”, based in Basingstoke. This operates as part of the Access Legal brand. The company said it wanted to concentrate on other areas of work, including more complex claims.

The latest move comes as the Government watchdog Competition Commission conducts a review of the whole motor insurance industry after a referral from the Office of Fair Trading, which expressed concerns about rising costs and fees.

Shoosmiths has been running for 160 years and has eight offices in total, including Reading and Southamp-ton, and has a turnover of almost £100million. David Palmer, private client practice group head, said: “It is very regrettable that we had to make redundancies as part of the restructuring. “This has been a difficult time and those affected have conducted themselves with professionalism and dignity throughout the consultation process. “We wish them well in the future.”

The company is opening a ninth office in the autumn as part of a merger with Scottish law firm Archibald Campbell and Harley. The new business will be known in Scotland as ACH Shoosmiths.