Global firm DLA Piper plans to cut 200 support staff from its UK offices following a review of its business services function.

Under the proposals the firm will automate some administrative tasks in an effort to ‘streamline’ its IT, finance, marketing, human resources, business development and secretarial teams. It also plans to transfer some business processes to its global service centre in Warsaw.

The firm said it has started a period of consultation in the UK which will be completed by the end of July. If the plans go ahead, 18% of the firm’s 1,100 business support professionals in the UK will be made redundant. 

Andrew Darwin, chief operating officer at DLA Piper, said many of the firm’s systems and processes ‘reflect the history of the firm rather than its future’.

He said: ‘It is a key part of our strategy to modernise our business service functions in order to operate more effectively on a global basis and improve the quality, consistency and efficiency of the way we deliver our services to our clients.’

He said the decision follows a comprehensive review of the firm’s operations and the successful pilot of a global shared services centre in Warsaw.

But he stressed that DLA Piper would not make any final decisions until the consultation is completed.

The scheme will be discussed with employee representatives. Support will be offered to staff who might be made redundant.