Nineteen women and four men laid off from Allen & Overy are founding their own firm, Maurice Turnor Gardner.
Formerly with A&O’s private client practice, five of the new firm’s six partners are women.
The firm will headed by Clare Maurice, who in 1985 became the first woman partner at Allen & Overy. It will work out of Allen & Overy’s Spitalfields office until July, when it will move into the City of London.
Today, Allen & Overy laid off 47 equity partners, 200 associates, and 200 support staff. In February, it cut 150 lawyers.
Founded in 1930, Allen & Overy has 31 offices worldwide. It is part of the Magic Circle of London-based law firms.