MORE gloom for leading law firm Hugh James as a formal consultation on job cuts has been announced

WalesOnline - News - South Wales Valleys - Merthyr - Job losses at town’s leading law firm: "MORE gloom for leading law firm Hugh James as a formal consultation on job cuts has been announced.
Employees at the Merthyr Tydfil branch had already been left reeling after being told their departments were to be gradually moved to Cardiff, with some fearing their inability to move would force them to quit.
But the 18-year-old company, which employs 600 staff across Wales, has admitted the financial crisis has forced their hand and redundancies are being strongly considered."

With a predicted one in ten staff to be axed, according to managing partner Matthew Tossell, it leaves scores of workers left worrying for their jobs.

In a statement, the firm said: “Hugh James can confirm that its staff have been informed of the need to review staffing levels in response to the current economic climate and the difficulties being faced by a number of its clients.”

Mr Tossell sent a message to staff earlier this week claiming the impact on the recession meant that “like most UK businesses, Hugh James is having to take steps to cut costs in order to ensure the long-term future of the firm.”

Mr Tossell said: “Given the prevailing economic climate, it is clear that we need to reorganise certain areas of our business in response to market conditions. We believe that we can only achieve that through a reduction in staff numbers which we anticipate to be in the region of 10%, although we will do all we can to keep job losses to a minimum.”