Belated press release of the week

News has reached RoF Towers that Eversheds is soon to be outsourcing some back room functions. An official press release was sent round the City's newsrooms this morning, and the trade rags quickly stepped up to the plate - almost as if this was something interesting and newsworthy in the height of the silly season.

Of course, we reported this two months ago so don't feel any great need to do so again. Although it looks like we underestimated just how many poor sods would soon be ushered out the back door, statutory minimum in hand (if the 'Shed's past record is anything to go on).

Count the digits - Eversheds begins its fifth redundancy consultation

So anyway - fair and balanced as we are - here's the press release (by no means in full):

"NEWS RELEASE

Eversheds announces proposals to outsource elements of back office finance and human resource functions

Thursday 12 August 2010

International law firm Eversheds today announces that following a substantial review of its finance and human resources administrative functions, it proposes to outsource, over the course of the next 12 months, a number of elements of those operations to Accenture under a business process outsourcing (BPO) contract.

The key focus of the review was to assess how best to provide high quality, cost effective administrative services in a way that could be scaled on an international basis to support Eversheds’ lawyers and clients around the world. The preferred proposal envisages a gradual and controlled movement of certain HR and Finance functions offshore.

As a result of the proposal announced today around 100 roles in finance and human resources, principally at Eversheds’ offices in Birmingham, Cardiff and Leeds, will be at risk of redundancy as these operations are outsourced. A process of consultation with those people potentially affected has begun. "

And then there's a whole load of bumf about Accenture and how - strangely - outsourcing your loyal staff is actually hugely positive.

Managing Partner Lee Ranson said all the things Very Important Managing Partners usually say under these circumstances: "enhanced...redundancy.....comprehensive.....adapt.....innovative.......regrettable".

What he didn't mention was how this would impact on PEP. Or morale in the office.

Comments

Guys, come on, let's ahave a sense of balance in your reportage. You make it sound all one way traffic. Lee Ranson has an incredibly challenging role and the Eversheds management board are striving to ensure that Eversheds is a lean and agile firm, able to gain substantial market share from its more bloated rivals once the economy starts growing again. To just pick on a few words in his press statement is really unfair. The Eversheds partners are feeling the pain of the recession too. That's somethign you seem to forget just because it doesn't make a good headline. Just remember, these guys have to pay for their puddings at partner lunches. Any chance we can see Corny and his axe one more time?