Law firm Hogans is restructuring its operations with around 90 staff in London set to move out of the City as Hogans looks to grow its services centre in Johannesburg and its Birmingham office.
The Law Gazette reports that Hogans’ moves will result in 78 business services roles and 12 legal support roles being removed from the London office, with new roles created in Johannesburg or Birmingham.
Deputy chief executive David Hudd said: ‘This is part of our strategy to evolve our firm so it continues to meet our business needs as well as those of our clients in a rapidly changing and highly competitive market. We are fully committed to ensuring that our people are treated fairly and are fully supported throughout this process.’
Around 110 people are employed in the Johannesburg centre in areas including finance, marketing and business development and technology. The Birmingham office currently has around 70 staff.
The legal industry is undergoing major changes with the onset of new technology, increased competition from inhouse and virtual law firms and other changes. Hogans says that their changes reflect the ‘changing shape’ of the UK legal market with emphasis more on innovation and efficient business and legal support services.
The firm already has a business services centre in Louisville, Kentucky, and sees this changes as the ‘logical next step’, says the Gazette.
