Unlike the partners at HWL Ebsworth who are relegated to the ‘financial conservatism’ of a dodgey office fit-out, it has emerged that an extravagant refurbishment of the Melbourne offices of Herbert Geer is allegedly afoot.

Whereas the comparably-sized mid-tier firm HWL Ebsworth is hangin’ tough with a ‘disinterest in overly flashy office fit-outs and endless internal functions and events’, Herbert Geer is allegedly living it up with a decor re-design.

It is interesting to note the recent divergence in fortunes of the two firms, possibly attributable to the alleged decor divergence. Herbert Geer has allegedly gone on a secret sacking spree and general cost cutting, while HWL Ebsworth has made-up a host of partners to rejoin the exclusive 100+ partner club.

Is a refurbishment appropriate in these trying times?

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The distressing revelation that New Kids On The Block have had to cancel the Australian leg of their comeback tour, owing to ‘GFC-induced’ poor ticket sales, comes amid a contrastingly uplifting GFC-news story that an Australian law firm is rapidly expanding and appointing new partners.

You Got It (The Right Stuff)

Yes, HWL Ebsworth does have the right stuff! As reported in today’s AFR, HWL Ebsworth has returned to the coveted 100+ partner club by appointing a massive 12 partners in the last 6 months. Managing Partner Juan

Martinez boasted that in the current environment, HWL was able attract partners from larger firms who are:

disillusioned or dissatisfied.

Martinez then surprisingly went onto add that:

partnership growth was partly down to financial conservatism and a disinterest in overly flashy office fitouts and endless internal functions and events.

Hmmm … wouldn’t a ‘disillusioned or dissatisfied’ new partner expect a decent office, an occasional lunch and a glass of red on a Friday? Alas, no - the New Kids on the Block are:

Hangin’ Tough!

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Recently merged law firm Home Wilkinson Lowry Ebsworth is embroiled in what has been called ‘the most opportunistic use yet of the GFC to disgorge a law firm of employees’. In news released today, HWL Ebsworth announced that it had

‘made 17 lawyers redundant since December’, though curiously in the same period, it has also ‘employed a total of 55 new staff’. Over the period, the HWL Ebsworth workforce has thus increased by 38 people; something which ‘shows continuing strength’, a spokesperson said.

However, a HWL Ebsworth Firm Spy has derided such comments by saying:

‘the partnership is using the present global economic woes as an opportunity to arbitrarily eliminate staff of their choosing, they are not sacking staff as a bona fide response to economic demands.’

HWL Ebsworth has confirmed that of the new 55 staff, 7 are new partners to the firm.  Do you believe the addition of 7 partners could have supported the workflows of the now-redundant lawyers? What are your thoughts? Email us with your comments and news!