K&L Gates is cutting 10% of staff roles, in a move the Pittsburgh-based firm characterised as an effort to streamline its support structure.
The cuts affect around 180 staffers, according to Law.com, and follow Stacy Ackermann and Rick Giovannelli taking over leadership of the firm last year as global managing partner and management committee co-chair respectively.
“Following a comprehensive, multi-month review of our structure to better align with how our business operates today and support future growth, we made the decision to reduce our allied professional workforce," Ackermann said in a statement. "This action is being taken to streamline our support structure, ensuring that we are attuned to immediate client needs and well positioned to anticipate and meet future demand."
Ackermann added K&L Gates was "committed to supporting our people throughout this transition, including through separation benefits and outplacement support for impacted colleagues. Our focus remains on serving our clients with the excellence, responsiveness, and expertise they have come to expect from our firm.”
The affected roles cut across functions including accounting, marketing and IT according to Above the Law.
The move sees K&l become the latest international law firm to cut non-legal roles against the backdrop of increased investment across the profession in generative AI technology.
A&O Shearman confirmed in May it was cutting around 20 business services roles in London, while in February Baker McKenzie said it would axe business services roles following a review driven in part by the growing use of AI, with dozens of roles potentially axed across research, marketing and secretarial.
Clifford Chance also cited growing use of AI last year when it culled 10% of its UK business services staff – equating to around 50 roles – as did Freshfields when it laid off paralegals in its legal support hub in Manchester.
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