One of the UK’s largest providers of mental health legal services has announced potential redundancies, blaming cuts in legal aid. 

Blavo & Co employs more than 240 staff across 18 offices in cities including Birmingham, Cardiff, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle. Its head office (pictured) is in London.

In a statement to the Gazette, Blavo & Co senior and managing partner John Blavo said: ‘In line with many legal firms, we have revenue streams which are derived from legal aid, enabling us to provide high-quality legal advice to often vulnerable members of society with mental health issues.

‘However, the knock-on effects of legal aid cutbacks have severely impacted upon the number of cases we are allowed to be paid for in this particular area.

‘We have also considered productivity after a recent staff performance review.’

Blavo said he had no choice ‘other than to restructure the firm’.

‘In the light of that, and with genuine sadness, we have informed all staff of potential redundancies across all our departments and offices,’ he said.

A consultation period will take place. Blavo said it would be ‘inappropriate’ to discuss the number of potential redundancies at this stage, though he said the firm would look at ‘natural wastage’ and voluntary redundancies before compulsory redundancies.

Blavo said: ‘It is important to stress that the company remains financially strong but we have to take remedial action in order to ensure continued operational strength, especially amid ongoing changes to legal aid.

‘It is with great regret that we consider this move as we have always prided ourselves on being able to offer advice to everybody whatever their situation over the past 20 years.

‘Because of legal aid cuts, it will mean that some of the most vulnerable in society may not have the representation to which they are entitled to in the British justice system.’