South-west firm Burges Salmon is to axe up to four property lawyers and up to 27 support staff in its second redundancy round of the year.

The firm said that redundancy pay will be ‘more generous’ than the statutory minimum. In March, Burges Salmon let 18 lawyers go and asked seven prospective trainees to volunteer to defer their start dates.

Burges Salmon is also freezing the salaries of all lawyers and support staff except trainees at 2008 levels. Trainees will receive the standard pay increase when they move into their second year with the firm.

Managing partner Chris Jackson said today: ‘The proposals we are announcing today are the culmination of the business services and secretarial review we started in March, aimed at achieving enhanced and more efficient levels of service delivery. [The proposals] also represent a considered response to the continuing depressed conditions in the property market.

‘The firm remains strong across our sector teams and practice areas. We are confident that we will be well placed for the economic upturn.’