Legal Services

‘It’s shrinkage time’: London lawyers face job cuts as deal boom fizzles

London law firms bulked up in the good times. Now lawyers risk being cut

A slowdown in demand for legal work follows a period where pay soared amid fierce competition for staff
A slowdown in demand for legal work follows a period where pay soared amid fierce competition for staff Photo: Getty Images

London lawyers should gear up for job cuts as the sector faces a slowdown in demand after a period of rapid expansion, say law firm partners and headhunters.

US law firms such as Kirkland & Ellis and Cooley have cut lawyers stateside in recent months in response to a slump that has seen demand for M&A, leveraged finance and capital markets work slow dramatically.

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