Further to our apparently controversial post last week profiling the sacking of Herbert Geer graduates come allegations today that the graduate sackings were the result a major contraction in Herbert Geer workflows. We recently received the following comments from an anonymous Herbert Geer spy:
Here’s a little run down that you guys might be interested in.
Due to ”less than expected figures” for the December/January period for the practice groups, Herbert Geer have gone on a mass redundancy spree against their Business Services people. Every department (marketing, IT, finance, HR, mailroom etc) are to fire one staff member with the work to be spread out over everyone else. …This is the first round of redundancies, there will be further cuts to the Sydney office apparently, but this will be aimed at solicitors later this month.
We are unsure as to whether the alleged “round of redundancies” will affect legal staff in addition to the graduates who were let go last week. The anonymous Herbert Geer spy continues:
There has been a mass exodus of partners recently (with more leaving shortly). Partners from property and tax have left and taken their entire teams with them. More than 8 partners have left in the last three months to join other firms including Middletons and HWL Ebsworth (including a partner who had been with the firm 33 years)…Terms like ”sinking ship” were coming up in conversation firm wide.
Indeed, Herbert Geer have lost a swathe of partners and senior lawyers in recent times. Marina Papas, a highly-rated corporate lawyer with 20-years experience, left Herbert Geer a few weeks ago to take up a partnership role at Madgwicks. Leon Gorr and Yan Li Wang – both taxation partners – left Herbert Geer to take up office at serial study tightwad HWL Ebsworth.
We naturally asked the Herbert Geer Managing Partner, Bill Fazio, whether there was a major issue, but neither he, nor the firm’s communications team responded.
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If Herbert Geer in Melbourne is in trouble, the Brisbane office must be in absolute dire straits. I’m at the Firm, and the place is practically run by Ian “Napoleon” Wright, based solely on his billings – whatever he wants, he gets. The rest of the Firm is struggling. Damien Greer has lost 6 solicitors in the space of 12 months (mismanagement, not redundancies, except in one case), Jayne Steel has gone part time, 2 other salary partners moved on, and virtually every team with the exception Ian Wright has lost staff. Even Bill Fazio had to give the staff a pep talk last year. WTF is going on at Herbert Geer?
@Insider- even then, Ian Wright is a recent Corrs defector. One can’t imagine he’ll hang around long if the Herbert Geer Brisbane ship is sinking. Wasn’t the idea of the tie-up in the first place a result of the former Nicol Robinson Halletts having the same issues it continues to face now? Seems the name change hasn’t managed to change anything.
Actually, it’s Herbert Geer has, not Herbert Geer have. Let’s all benefit from the correct use of the singular.