Lighter Side: Barrister or barista?

One of the UK’s premier personal injury firms is closing its Middlesbrough office and the building is being converted into a coffee shop

One of the UK’s preeminent personal injury firms is closing its Middlesbrough office and the building is being converted into a coffee shop, according to local media.

Staff in the office reportedly only found out when representatives of Costa Coffee arrived at reception prepared to measure the building in preparation for the conversion.

Days later, one of the firm’s senior partners admitted that the branch was indeed closing and that staff would be moving to Newcastle, Sheffield, or out on the street.

Thompsons firm has jumped a few hurdles lately, with rumour having it that the firm was recently axed from the legal panel of the GMB union (Britain’s general trade union), it’s fourth largest client, after the GMB suggested that it enter into an alternative business structure with Thompsons in order to share the profits of litigation conducted on behalf of its members.

Not surprisingly, Thompson was unwelcoming of the idea, instead favouring the original agreement where it pocketed the profit itself and paid a referral fee to the union. 

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