A&O is forced to rehire redundant associate
25 September 2009
Allen & Overy has been forced to rehire one of the associates it made redundant earlier this year, after a court ruled that she had been ditched unlawfully.

Two associates in the firm's Frankfurt office sued A&O, claiming that after they'd been made "redundant" new staff had been brought in to do their jobs. Insiders tell RollOnFriday that while one of the associates settled, the more senior kept fighting and has now been won her case. The court agreed that she had been illegally dismissed and ordered A&O to give her her job back. Quite what that means for the new associate who had been brought in to take over that role is unclear - presumably a game of musical chairs begins.

A&O's Frankfurt office sort out their seating arrangements

RollOnFriday understands that as well as ordering the firm to take the lawyer back, the judge expressed surprise and disappointment at A&O's handling of the matter. Which must leave Clifford Chance feeling slightly uncomfortable, as it awaits the results of its own employment claim...

A spokesman for A&O said, "We confirm that on 23 September 2009 the Frankfurt Labour Court, court of first instance, decided in favour of an associate who sued against her notice of termination". He declined to comment on whether there were enough chairs to go round in Frankfurt.