However, Thomson refused to give any further details when questioned by Lawyers Weekly on the number of staff that had been cut and from which practice areas, but cited the economic downturn as the reason behind the redundancies.

"This was a regrettable but unavoidable decision given the difficult economic conditions and the flow-on impact on the demand for legal services," said Brett Goodridge, Chief Executive of Thomson Playford Cutlers.

"It was also a reflection of the trend, not just within the legal industry but across professional services, particularly in Sydney, where other firms are facing similar tough staffing decisions.

"Like other firms, it's important to manage the size and shape of the workforce to reflect the current workflow and economic conditions."

Thomson said no further redundancies were planned at this stage.

- Sarah Sharples