A KWM senior partner has asked ex-KWM partners to contribute up to £2,500 towards a "hardship fund" for staff who were shafted when KWM's European and Middle East arm (EUME) collapsed.

Tim Bednall, the former managing partner of KWM EUME, along with partner Darren Roiser and General Counsel David Wilman launched the appeal in January. Bednall has now emailed around 100 former partners urging them to contribute between £1,000 and £2,500 towards the fund by the end of May, as the donations are set to be distributed in June. Roiser told RollOnFriday in March that the aim of the fund is to help former staff who are in "imminent financial difficulty" for reasons which may include maternity leave or serious illness. Legal Week reports that around 20 individuals are likely to benefit from the fund.
 
  William Boss considers the request. A RollOnFriday reconstruction
 

Other ex-KWM staff are looking for compensation by other means. In February, 200 ex-KWM staff instructed law firm Herrington Carmichael to commence an employment action. The claim alleges that the defunct KWM failed to enter a required 45 day consultation process prior to making redundancies.
 
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Comments

Roll On Friday 05 May 17 12:15

Nice gesture.
Mind you I was recruited with 5 months pregnant so just because someone is off on maternity leave don't assume they can't work full time nor when the baby is just born!

Anonymous 08 May 17 15:16

Altruism aside, the sums requested are embarrassing. And I'm keen to know how many decline to contribute 1k... Though why contribute... that's dinner for two at the Fat Duck with wine and taxi... burn muggles burn.