Gateley has entered a formal consultation over proposed redundancies, primarily affecting business support and secretarial teams.
The listed law firm says the restructuring follows a review of its cost base and operating model and is not expected to involve office closures.
Gateley is planning a round of redundancies as the listed law firm looks to cut costs following a review of its operations.
The Birmingham-headquartered group confirmed it has entered a formal consultation process, with proposals primarily affecting business support and secretarial teams. A small number of fee earners are also expected to be impacted, according to an internal email leaked to RollOnFriday which first reported the news.
The email told staff that, after reviewing its "cost base, structure and ways of working", the board had concluded it needed “to reduce some operational and discretionary cost alongside reshaping parts of the Group."
In a statement shared with Non-Billable, a firm spokesperson said: "We have entered a formal consultation process regarding proposed changes in parts of the Group. These proposals follow a detailed review of our cost base, operating structure and ways of working. They primarily relate to colleagues in our business support and secretarial teams.
"No final decisions have been made. The proposals are subject to consultation, and we will meet all legal obligations while engaging constructively with employee representatives."
Gateley denied a separate RoF report that it is planning office closures as part of the restructuring.
They added that the Hitchin office of GWW - the IP boutique Gateley acquired last year - had already been consolidated into its London office and that no redundancies resulted from the move.
The proposals follow a broader trend across the legal sector, with firms increasingly looking to streamline support functions as they seek to improve efficiency and protect margins. A&O Shearman and Baker McKenzie are among several major firms to have announced similar measures this year.
Listed pioneer
Gateley made history in 2015 as the UK's first listed commercial law firm. Following the collapse of RBG Holdings last year, it is now one of only three law firms still listed on the London Stock Exchange, alongside Keystone and Knights.
The firm reported revenues of £179.5 million and pre-tax profits of £23.3 million for the year ended 30 April 2025.
The firm’s share price has fallen by nearly 50% this year, leaving Gateley with a market value of around £73 million.
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