Talk about how artificial intelligence will someday take lawyers’ jobs continues to be dismissed — but maybe that talk will be granted more credence now that AI has come for business professionals’ jobs at one Biglaw firm.
Sources tell us that Baker McKenzie recently conducted a “massive staff layoff” among its global business services team, with cuts made across nearly all functions across all offices, including the firm’s IT, knowledge, admin, DEI, leadership & learning, secretarial, marketing, and design teams, among others. The firm is reportedly planning to cut ties with less than a tenth of its staff — a little more than 700 people, based on current employee headcount at the firm.
As noted by RollOnFriday and Legal Cheek, the firm offered the following statement on the layoffs:
“To position the firm for continued growth and remain agile in a fast-evolving business context, we recently undertook a careful review of our business professionals functions. This review was aimed at rethinking the ways in which we work, including through our use of AI, introducing efficiencies, and investing in those roles that best serve our clients’ needs.”
“Following the review, and consistent with many other organisations, we are proposing a series of changes to how we operate and deliver important business services. Subject to consultation processes in applicable jurisdictions, some roles will likely be phased out, while others will evolve. We have not taken decisions around these proposed changes lightly, but felt it was necessary to deliver on our long-term plans. We appreciate the valuable contributions our impacted colleagues have made to the Firm and will be supporting them.”
Best of luck to all of the staff members at Baker McKenzie who may have lost their jobs thanks to AI disruption.
If your firm or organization is reducing the ranks of its lawyers or staff, whether through deferrals, open layoffs, stealth layoffs, or voluntary buyouts, please don’t hesitate to let us know. Our vast network of tipsters is part of what makes Above the Law thrive. You can email us or text us (646-820-8477). Thank you for your assistance.
EXCLUSIVE 100s face axe at Baker McKenzie as AI reliance grows [RollOnFriday]
Baker McKenzie to cut business services roles as AI use grows [Legal Cheek]
Staci Zaretsky is the managing editor of Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or connect with her on LinkedIn.