More I’m afraid. Pinsent Masons has joined the throng of firms making redundancies. The firm has proposed a variety of measures which it hopes will help avoid extensive layoffs at the firmwhich will include: sabbaticals, secondments, pay freezes and part-time working. The number of jobs under threat is not therefore clear at this stage but those at risk are likely to include both fee-earners and support staff. The cuts come after the firm saw a slight risse in turnover of 1% from £213m in 2007-08 financial year to £215, in the 2008-09 financial year.

Meanwhile another City firm, Macfarlanes has launched its second redundancy consultation this year with 15 jobs under threat. The jobs are mainly secretarial with one PSL also in the firing line. The firm’s first consultation was in January – seven real estate fee earners and seven secretaries across corporate and property were axed. On a slightly brighter note, the firm has announced that it is set to retain 18 out of 21 trainees from its September intake.