BLM's managing partner has left the firm suddenly after just eight months.
Gary Allison assumed the Managing Partner role for a three year term when he took over from longtime MP Andrew Relton on 1 December 2016. At the time Senior Partner Mike Brown said that Allison, "has all the experience and credentials to make a real difference in the months and years ahead”.
It turns out there were just months ahead. Sources told RollOnFriday that the only evidence of Allison's departure was the quiet removal of his profile from BLM's website. There was no announcement of his exit or a replacement. When approached by RollOnFriday, a spokeswoman for BLM denied that he had been given the boot and said, “Gary Allison has decided to retire from BLM to pursue other interests. Gary would like to thank his colleagues for the last 23 years’ of support and wishes BLM all the success in the future”. Asked for the identity of the new MP, she said "we shall be announcing this next week to the firm".
If it sounds unusual for a firm to have no new managing partner in place when the old one retires, that's because it is.
BLM hurriedly announced that Vivienne Williams, a veteran partner and the head of its Manchester claims team, would be the new MP. Accepting thepoisoned chalice new position, she said, “I have worked here for almost 30 years and I have seen so much positive change". Last year BLM posted a 28% drop in profits per equity partner alongside a 3.5% increase in revenue. In June, as revealed by RollOnFriday, the firm initiated a mass axing of secretaries.
When RollOnFriday broke the news of the vanishing MP this week, which was a surprise to most BLM staff, one commented that management had been overheard describing BLM's facilities management teams as "turkeys and it's Christmas". Sure enough, this week inside sources told RollOnFriday that BLM had placed "all" its facilities management staff on notice of redundancy, with voluntary redundancy offers made to other support staff across the firm.
A spokeswoman for BLM said, "We are in the process of reviewing our corporate services team which includes facilities management". She said, "As we adapt our organisation to meet the needs of our customers and the market, it is critical that our business support departments are modernised and this proposal will see the department adopting a recognised industry structure”.
As a BLM staffer asked in RollOnFriday's Firm of the Year 2017 survey, "What's going on at BLM?"
Tip Off ROF
Gary Allison assumed the Managing Partner role for a three year term when he took over from longtime MP Andrew Relton on 1 December 2016. At the time Senior Partner Mike Brown said that Allison, "has all the experience and credentials to make a real difference in the months and years ahead”.
It turns out there were just months ahead. Sources told RollOnFriday that the only evidence of Allison's departure was the quiet removal of his profile from BLM's website. There was no announcement of his exit or a replacement. When approached by RollOnFriday, a spokeswoman for BLM denied that he had been given the boot and said, “Gary Allison has decided to retire from BLM to pursue other interests. Gary would like to thank his colleagues for the last 23 years’ of support and wishes BLM all the success in the future”. Asked for the identity of the new MP, she said "we shall be announcing this next week to the firm".
If it sounds unusual for a firm to have no new managing partner in place when the old one retires, that's because it is.
"Hello BLM, Otto is now flying the firm." |
BLM hurriedly announced that Vivienne Williams, a veteran partner and the head of its Manchester claims team, would be the new MP. Accepting the
When RollOnFriday broke the news of the vanishing MP this week, which was a surprise to most BLM staff, one commented that management had been overheard describing BLM's facilities management teams as "turkeys and it's Christmas". Sure enough, this week inside sources told RollOnFriday that BLM had placed "all" its facilities management staff on notice of redundancy, with voluntary redundancy offers made to other support staff across the firm.
A spokeswoman for BLM said, "We are in the process of reviewing our corporate services team which includes facilities management". She said, "As we adapt our organisation to meet the needs of our customers and the market, it is critical that our business support departments are modernised and this proposal will see the department adopting a recognised industry structure”.
As a BLM staffer asked in RollOnFriday's Firm of the Year 2017 survey, "What's going on at BLM?"
Comments
492
567
501
578
503
579
486
527
489
568
510
548
468
601
536
534
459
573
487
550
532
562
476
546
When I worked there in 2015 there was a Partner in the disease team (answering to [redacted]) who thought that scanning things onto the CMS was against the Data Protection Act.
Also, having a headset for your phone was a 'security risk'.
Good luck modernising the stonehenge of the Defendant Insurance legal sector.
465
554
504
575
491
549
471
566
487
517
483
561
Hey!... I thought Mr Brown said BLM are leaders....not followers.
522
545
501
548
482
542
464
562
487
559
505
541
542
507
482
539
514
577
494
567
546
545
459
589
561
560
Why go to the trouble of doing a staff survey if you’re not going to publish the results? What are you scared of Mr Brown, publish those results!
475
594
507
567
479
563
504
545
447
528
478
534
439
607
521
538
459
579
473
580
507
564
It will probably go along the lines of "more positives than negatives "....and that will be the end of it.
491
559
486
540
504
528
491
580
487
530
530
520
497
566
497
571
480
541
434
564
451
557
472
509
457
526
447
527
458
546
462
538
428
512
Then out of nowhere they self elevated themselves to the grand title of HR Director, this enabled them to have power and stroll about full of their own self importance.
They then seemed to forget that the staff have rights and needs, but are to worried about more important things like making themselves noticed by the top boys.
They even started to be able to make suggestions about how to make the top boys more money at the expense of the workers.
In return they were rewarded with inflated salaries,bonus's and swanky client party's and the like.
And of course, when serious decisions have to be made, they get the real HR staff to do the dirty work and keep out of sight.
480
551
447
520
436
523
460
544
439
528
33% either don't want to work at BLM or are unwilling to commit to a positive answer.
57% are alledgly proud too?
The latter will be partners/managers/brown noses
35% either intend to leave BLM within 12 months or unwilling to commit to a positive answer.
65% reckons BLM is the place to be?! Bawhahahahah!
The latter will be partners/managers/brown noses
475
511
472
537
423
520
471
511
478
519
Everyone talks about it openly now and don't care who hears. them.
460
510
437
537
Top quality lawyers don't put in the lowest bids for work because they are so needy. They don't take clients to mens clubs.
They value their junior staff recognising that they are the ones who feather their nests.
454
522
..could be another story for ROF!!
477
489
484
535
478
525