Nearly 70% of McClure Naismith staff have new jobs, administrators say

Nearly 70% of those formerly employed at failed law practice McClure Naismith have gone to new jobs in the two weeks since the firm ceased trading, according to the joint administrators.

Tom MacLennan and Iain Fraser of FRP Advisory have revealed that 25 of the 26 partners, and 70 of the 109 staff, have been found new positions since their appointment as joint administrators on 28 August. Further appointments are expected before the end of this month.

Nineteen different businesses have taken on one of more McClure Naismith employees, including Maclay Murray & Spens, Harper Macleod, Burness Paull, Wright Johnston & Mackenzie, Morton Fraser, HBJ Gateley and Morisons, along with a number of London practices. The joint administrators have retained 13 staff temporarily to assist with transitional matters, and continue to assist those 27 staff still seeking employment.

Mr MacLennan commented: “We are delighted that a large percentage of McClure Naismith partners and staff have been placed with other law firms and businesses, thus ensuring continuity of client service and of employment for more than two thirds of the employees. We are very grateful for those businesses that have worked closely with us to agree deals and find solutions in a very short time scale.”

However he warned that creditors were likely to recover only a small dividend, once the extent of landlords' rent and employees' redundancy claims became known.