Salaries at City law firms are likely to remain static for some years, Herbert Smith managing partner David Willis (pictured) predicted this week after his firm announced 84 job cuts in London.

Salaries will be frozen for all staff except trainees in the firm’s London office from September. A number of the City’s legal giants have already announced pay freezes.

‘Legal salaries in London have been through quite a rise in the bull market, but over a longer period they have stood static for some time,’ Willis said. ‘I would be surprised if any market forces drive material rises for a few years.’

Up to 30 fee-earning jobs in London are at risk in the firm’s first redundancy consultation since the start of the recession.

Up to 24 fee-earners and professional support lawyers will be made redundant in the firm’s corporate practice; up to nine fee-earners and professional support lawyers will be axed in its real estate practice; up to nine paralegals in its corporate practice will lose their jobs; and up to 21 secretarial and 21 support staff jobs will be lost.