KWM's European partners decided overwhelmingly last week not to put their hands in their pockets and save the former SJ Berwin. As rumours swirl of Dentons and other firms swooping to pick over the bones, most of those partners will now be sorting out their parachutes and negotiating terms at rival law firms.

That is not of course such an easy option for the employees of the firm, who may well find themselves looking at new year on the dole. So last Friday RollOnFriday suggested that the many firms which have taken on partners from KWM over the past year might like to help out. So far, only one of those firms, Keystone Law, has put up its hand. So we're widening the appeal to all employers out there. If you have a vacancy in your post room, if you can use another secretary or a trainee, if you can keep another litigation associate busy - please send an email to [email protected] to let us know, and we'll post your details so staff can apply directly. So far, two firms, Fox Williams and GQ Employment Law, have answered the call (details here).

     This could be you
 
Meanwhile, the grim reality of life at KWM is filtering through in realtime as staff complete the RollOnFriday Firm of the Year 2017 survey (spoiler alert, KWM probably isn't going to come top). One trainee told RollOnFriday that "they still continue to pay my salary", but, "we won't be around in the next 6-12 months. Morale on my floor could not be any lower".

Another said it's been a "monumental balls-up from senior management, verging on negligent". Which is "a real shame as there are some great people and some great teams working there (for now) who don't deserve the shafting they have received or are about to receive".

The silver lining is a "camaraderie that's more akin to films where the heroes march to what is an inevitable demise". And the fact that "there are a lot of spare offices in which to have long conversations with recruiters", says a senior associate, who laments that the management "are and were incompetent f**k-heads who wouldn't recognise basic business and brand management if you repeatedly beat them in the face with a plank labelled 'Don't extract all the profits, fire all the essential support staff, put years of brand-recognition down the toilet, and then act surprised and abandon ship when somehow that turns out not to be a sustainable model, you thunderc**ts'".

UPDATE: 

Email received this morning from a rather cool-looking tech company, AppDynamics:

"Hi Roll on Friday

We saw your article last week and almost emailed you. Now that the call has gone out for all employers to email in, we wanted to let you know that we have a vacancy in London in our small legal team for a high calibre, experienced IT lawyer. We are a software company headquartered in San Francisco. We are growing extremely quickly so it's a highly visible, genuinely interesting and exciting opportunity in a fast paced and dynamic environment where the right person will be able to really add value to the business. Full details are here: https://www.appdynamics.com/company/careers/job/?jvi=oKOh4fwD,Job

Many thanks

Chris"

Bravo.

UPDATE 2:

Received from beyond the grave:



Wise words.

Update 3:

"For any KWM Associates looking for a move to the Caribbean, Collas Crill, who will be merging with BVI firm Farara Kerins from 1 January, are recruiting for a Solicitor (or Barrister) with 3 years'+ experience in Commercial or Corporate law. If you like the idea of the offshore lifestyle and making the British Virgin Islands your place of residence, please contact Katherine Mercer at [email protected]

To find out more about other job opportunities at Collas Crill, please see http://www.collascrill.com/cc-life/ "


Update 4:

     

Update 5:

Ogier continues to grow with active vacancies in all of our European and Hong Kong offices, for talented Associates.
 
http://www.ogier.com/Careers
 
Ogier provides advice on BVI, Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Jersey and Luxembourg law through our global network of offices. We are the only law firm to advise on these five laws. Our philosophy is to deliver high calibre service to clients combined with an open, friendly and team-based culture.

We are always interested in recruiting the best people to help us achieve our goals.
If you want to join an expanding, award-winning international firm that focuses on what really matters, that delivers targeted and pragmatic advice and that 98% of clients would reinstruct, get in touch with us at [email protected]


Update 6:

We are a new flexible lawyering business and are currently on a lookout for compliance lawyers as well as senior litigation associates. New contract assignments are coming our way in the commercial (in-house) space in the next few months as well so we definitely put our hand up to help out the qualified lawyers at KWM, whether to fill in the gaps in between jobs or embrace a new style of working!
Best wishes
Simona Horelicanova
Relationship Manager

E:[email protected]
D: 020 3865 0421
M: 07596 305 438
www.contaxlaw.com

Update 7:

Osborne Clarke got in touch to say that KWM staff are very welcome to look at vacancies across their Bristol and London offices. Current roles include Associate positions in Tax, Real Estate and Corporate. And business service roles for a PA, Secretary, Event executive and IT Trainer. Details of these and more roles here.

Update 8:

Boutique planning practice Asserson Law Offices is looking for a junior Planning Law Associate (NQ-2PQE). Contact James Kon at [email protected]




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Comments

Anonymous 02 December 16 09:43

That final sentence is spot on and golden (in a turdy way). Poor SJB, used to have a great rep. Absolute disaster.