The Brief:
MinterEllison confirms it has cut between 70 and 100 business operations roles following a review of the function.
Clayton Utz made “limited reductions” last month too, but both firms insist AI has nothing to do with it.
It’s official. Aussie law firms have entered axing season.
MinterEllison, Australia’s biggest firm by headcount, has confirmed a fresh round of redundancies, with 70 to 100 jobs gone from its business operations function.
The firm won’t confirm exact numbers, but did tell Capital Brief:
“Following a recent review of the Business Operations function, a number of organisational changes were proposed and, regrettably, some roles were reduced. We have focused on supporting impacted employees through a respectful consultation process and access to appropriate support.”
The news first broke via an Instagram post from The Aussie Corporate, which put the cull at up to 100 roles. Minters has around 2,400 staff in Australia, roughly half of them lawyers.
It’s not the only top tier feeling the squeeze.
Clayton Utz told Capital Brief last month it had made some “adjustments” at the start of the new financial year, reportedly shedding more than 50 roles.
Both firms deny AI is driving the cuts. Notably, Minters and CU were among the first to build out big business operations teams a decade ago, poaching from the Big Four in the process. Now they’re among the first to trim them back.
Other firms like Mallesons, HSF Kramer, G+T and Ashurst Perkins Coie all maintain that AI hasn’t driven any headcount reductions at their firms, though a few flagged AI as reshaping certain roles.
Source: Capital Brief