Staff at DWF have had their salaries frozen and been told that no firm-wide bonuses will be awarded - despite the firm recording its best results ever, with turnover up 10%.
 
Managing Partner Andrew Leaitherland emailed all staff to say that despite shedding jobs and imposing various cost savings measures – including the  infamous £5 party – DWF's turnover had increased to a mere £60m this year. Apparently a double digit increase is actually a disappointment because the firm’s target was £63m, and accordingly there was no money left for the troops.

Andrew Leaitherland prepares to weather the storm

Insiders complain that it is outrageous for a firm with such strong results to bleat about the state of the legal services market and the need for wage freezes. And they point out that the “unprecedented financial challenge” Leaitherland said was facing the firm is not severe enough to necessitate the sacking of his personal chauffeur…

The firm didn't comment.