DWF's Managing Partner has offered ex-Cobbetts lawyers new contracts after they complained they were getting stiffed on benefits.

DWF picked up Cobbetts after it went into administration last year, following which its staff were denied loo paper, made redundant and discovered they were paid less than their trainees. They were also kept on under their old contracts, which are apparently quite different from DWF's and in some cases it seems much worse. Insiders complained to RollOnFriday that under their Cobbetts terms of employment they aren't eligible for the perks enjoyed by their DWF colleagues, including access to the car park, and a bonus and extra day's holiday after 10 years' service.

"You didn't get one of these with your Blackberry?"

Managing Partner Andrew Leitherland admitted a "handful" of ex-Cobbetts staff were on worse terms, but said their tin-plated contracts would be addressed in a review in July. He said the rest "are on equivalent packages so even where their specific benefits might be different the overall package is of equivalent value".

However Leitherland also extended an olive branch to unhappy employees, telling RollOnFriday, "Those who’ve joined from Cobbetts may, or may not, wish to move to a DWF contract depending on their personal circumstances and benefits preferences, but it is their decision and they can move to a DWF contract should they wish”.

Wavering staff may find it helpful to refer to RollOnFriday's Equivalent Benefits Table:

DWF contract		Cobbetts contract
Luxury toilet paper	=	Some dried leaves
Parking space	=	Umbrella storage facilities
Gym membership	=	Tufty club membership
Extra holiday	=	Some more leaves
Free health check	=	Free urn
£500 bonus after 10 years	=	Regret