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
534
599
540
620
541
626
526
567
530
608
544
585
505
639
570
586
505
608
526
590
566
596
512
577
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.
499
593
535
619
533
589
505
599
530
559
521
597
Hey!... I thought Mr Brown said BLM are leaders....not followers.
564
585
539
582
519
592
510
609
531
595
537
575
579
547
524
574
547
615
528
607
583
582
495
617
602
598
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!
515
638
540
610
522
596
547
579
485
565
522
565
468
651
554
579
481
623
515
616
552
610
It will probably go along the lines of "more positives than negatives "....and that will be the end of it.
532
593
519
583
541
569
538
618
531
566
572
552
535
617
536
614
526
569
478
599
484
584
510
546
496
561
482
559
501
580
491
582
474
553
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.
508
595
482
563
471
572
489
595
471
577
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
511
548
528
585
464
565
499
547
512
561
Everyone talks about it openly now and don't care who hears. them.
508
542
478
577
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.
493
558
..could be another story for ROF!!
518
534
522
576
508
560