A further dozen people had asked for redundancies but were refused because they worked in essential services.

The firm will reorganise its structure following the departures, which took effect from the end of the financial year.

Last week a media spokesperson for the firm told Lawyers Weekly that a broad range of people had taken up the voluntary redundancy offer - including secretaries, corporate services staff and lawyers.

"People who have been here for a few years and people who have been here for more than 20 years [took voluntary redundancies]," he said.

"It's really right across the firm, where people have told us they're either going to retire, take some time out with their family, do something new and study [and] travel - a whole range of reasons."

The firm announced the voluntary redundancy program in April and it ended 26 June.. Redundancy terms were generous, with up to a year's pay offered to senior lawyers.

- Sarah Sharples