Listed credit hire and legal services provider Anexo Group, owner of claimant law firm Bond Turner, has postponed plans to open a new office in Leeds.
Anexo took the decision in response to the ongoing coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, according to its latest stock market update.
The group announced in January that Bond Turner would get a Leeds base, with senior staff initially relocating from its Bolton office before a recruitment drive was launched to bolster the law firm’s capabilities in Yorkshire.
But the pandemic has forced Anexo to shelve those plans, at least temporarily. No lease commitments have been made in Leeds.
Anexo is also deferring due dividend payments and certain performance-related cash bonuses for senior executive directors until later in the year.
Bond Turner has moved most of its staff to remote working and continues to be fully operational, with the progression and settlement of cases aided by moves from the Ministry of Justice to allow the remote operation of courts through online and telephone hearings.
The law firm is currently representing a number of individuals who have registered their intention to pursue a claim against Volkswagen over the emissions scandal that rocked the car manufacturer in 2015.
The High Court of Justice ruled on 6 April that Volkswagen “subverted” key air pollution tests by using special software to reduce emissions of nitrous oxides under test conditions, according to Anexo. The ruling applies to vehicles containing EA189 engines.
Bond Turner is representing approximately 8,000 claimants in the class action against Volkswagen and expects this number to grow.
