EVERSHEDS is considering slashing 27 jobs in Newcastle as part of an international cull of 166 people in a “new strategy” for the firm.

Those affected will be from all levels and grades. The cuts affect 84 non-lawyers and 82 lawyers with redundancy talks beginning yesterday.

The firm, which employs around 120 in Newcastle, said that the potential job losses followed a “detailed management and operational review” which was designed to “align the firm’s operations to the new three-year strategic plan and client business streams”.

Paul Dutton, Eversheds Newcastle office senior office partner, said: “Having established a new, clear strategy for the firm, we are now implementing the changes to deliver legal solutions to North East clients wherever they want them, whether that is here in the region or internationally through our global network of offices.

“The overall performance of the firm to date this year has been in line with our expectations, although there has been some variable performance across certain geographies and practice areas.

“Whilst we are always prepared to ride out cyclical issues, our view is that some markets in which we operate have undergone fundamental change rendering our current structure unsustainable, which, when taken together with our new strategy, has led us to take the decisions announced.”

The firm said it was looking to cut back on marketing, IT and facilities as it works to align its business and client base.

It is also looking to make changes to its real estate and commercial property as the volume of work looks to continue to decline.

The firm said alternatives to redundancy will be considered, including redeployment and relocation, together with opportunities at temp lawyer service Eversheds Agile.

The changes will include the closure of Eversheds’ Copenhagen office, as there was not enough client interest to justify its existence. Eversheds said it is in talks about forming a relationship with another firm and possibly transferring some of its staff.

As part of the changes global managing partner Lee Ranson will become interim Asia managing partner, replacing Nick Seddon, who will leave the firm.