DLA Piper has laid off eight per cent of its Dubai fee-earners as its expansion plans in the Middle East are hit by the global economic crisis.
The firm has made eight associates redundant in its corporate, finance and projects departments in response to falling demand.
Last month, Trowers & Hamlins became the first firm to cut jobs in the Middle East, which had previously avoided the large-scale redundancies seen in Europe and US (23 February).
DLA Piper regional managing partner David Church said: “We’ve been working with our colleagues on a number of alternative solutions in order to minimise the total number of job losses. However, we still need to realign our employee headcount in this market.”
The firm has also launched a redundancy consultation in Asia affecting 54 staff, as well as reviewing 140 jobs in London, citing a slump in the demand for legal services.
DLA Piper has grown rapidly in the Middle East in recent years, opening offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Oman and sending Europe and Asia senior partner Peter Wayte to the region.
