Nineteen lawyers are to lose their jobs as part of a business overhaul at Norton Rose Fulbright.

The law firm, which has a global shipping team, is cutting 132 staff across its Europe, Middle East and Asia offices (EMEA), after completing a review.

A Norton spokeswoman told TradeWinds the company cannot go into specific details of the 19 lawyers who are affected.

"What I can say is that the impacted fee-earner roles are from across our European (including London) and Asian offices and from across a number of different practice areas," she added.

The restructuring is aimed at ensuring the operating model is set up "to meet our future needs and those of our clients as the legal industry goes through a period of profound change", the company said.

The business is being reorganised into six "core pillars", including finance and operations, IT, risk and compliance and a new practice services function.

Simplified operations

Norton said this is a simplified, more efficient structure, meaning job cuts are needed.

Of the total, 114 people are losing their roles in London — largely secretarial and business service workers, and some contractors.

The lawyers involved are at the counsel and associate level.

Those affected are being offered financial and professional support.

"We have taken the decision to restructure our business services operating model to set us up to lead and thrive in a period of change and uncertainty. Our resilient performance over 2020 allows us to make these changes now," Peter Scott, managing partner for Europe, Middle East and Asia, said.

"Unfortunately, a number of colleagues who have made important contributions will leave us. We have followed a process that is as fair, robust and sensitive as possible, to bring a swift resolution."

In November, the firm tapped the legal team at Clifford Chance Hong Kong for a new partner who joined its maritime legal team in the same city.

Becky Tai had spent seven years as a lawyer at Clifford Chance.