DLA Piper Lawyers Angry Over Severance

An internal document leaked to the press reveals that DLA Piper lawyers in the UK are angry over the severance package being offered to redundant attorneys.

The firm launched its second UK redundancy consultation in February, with up to 80 lawyers and more than 100 support staff targeted.

Employee representatives believe the severance package is less that what laid off attorneys are receiving st comparable UK firms.

Those DLA Piper lawyers volunteering for redundancy will be paid up to 20th March, and then receive their contractual notice period plus one month’s pay. Those that have been with the firm for at least two years will also receive statutory redundancy equating to one week’s pay for each year’s service, capped at £350 ($483) a week. Those not volunteering receive the same package without the additional month’s pay.

By comparison, Linklaters is offering three weeks’ pay for every year with the firm, plus three months’ notice.

DLA Piper HR manager Helen Waterson reportedly told the representatives, “The firm has made its decision – to say ‘increase the package’ is not constructive as we’ve said that isn’t an option.”

The document reveals that 7% to 8% of its partnership has recently left the firm. Since the London office implemented a recruitment freeze last June, it has seen only 37 hires, despite the loss of 145 employees.

We previously reported anger at DLA Piper over redundancy criteria that included severe penalties for taking sick days.

DLA Piper is one of the largest law firms in the world, with more than 3,700 lawyers in 28 countries and 66 offices throughout the world.