McClure Solicitors in administration

Administration is a form of corporate insolvency. An insolvency practitioner would have assumed control of the company from the directors and managed the business from that point onwards. The firm of McClure Solicitors ceased trading on 29th April 2021. All client files and funds held by McClure Solicitors were then passed to Jones Whyte LLP - a small, Glasgow-based law firm.

What Happened to McClure Solicitors?
McClure Solicitors and the Jones Whyte LLP issues -
Thereafter, Jones Whyte LLP issued a letter to a small percentage of former McClure`s clients. advising the following (excerpts from letters sent to McClure clients) -
“Whilst we at Jones Whyte had hoped we would be able to assist all former clients of McClure solicitors, it is simply impossible for us. We cannot commit to provide a level of service you would find acceptable.”
“As such, it is in your best interests to seek to appoint another firm of solicitors to carry out legal work that you previously had with McClure solicitors.”
“Due to the enormous level of cases, it is simply impossible for us even to reply to everyone. We may not be able to respond to all calls we receive at our office.”

However, a large percentage of former McClure solicitor clients have not been sent notice from Jones Whyte LLP.

Most clients are unaware of the situation and how it will affect their estate for their beneficiaries.
In effect Jones Whyte are admitting that they do not have the expertise, nor manpower, to deal with the case files transferred from McClure solicitors. That is especially so of any Trusts set up by McClure solicitors for clients.
H3 Guidance for former McClure clients

What does the McClure Solicitors issue mean, and how does it affect you?
If you have a Trust set up by McClure solicitors, they would have appointed members of their company to act as the professional Trustees. Unfortunately, Jones Whyte LLP have intimated that, in most cases, they do not wish to take on that role. They have advised clients that they should seek a solicitor firm that is willing to assume as new professional Trustees.

Moreover, Jones Whyte are charging former McClure clients extremely expensive costs for them to “review” the case files – an exercise that is not required to be done at that level.

Unfortunately, there are only a small number of law firms that can undertake this appointment. Moreover, most of the law firms that could assist are quoting from £1,500 to £4,000, plus outlays, to do so.
Similarly, if your Will that was arranged at the same time as your Trust, McClure solicitors would have appointed members of their company to act as Executors of your estate.

The result of this undesirable situation is basically that you have appointed professional executors and Trustees appointed to administer your estate – this is normally any two of the former solicitor individuals, from Andrew Robertson, Shirley Houlihan, Cynthia Duff and Stewart Moore.

Upon your passing, the effect would be a lengthy and expensive legal process to have your estate and trust “wound up”. Until this was completed, no inheritance could be paid out to your beneficiaries.
Furthermore, extremely serious issues have come to light since the transition to Jones Whyte LLP. These issues could dramatically affect you and your family:
Many Trusts were set up by McClure solicitors for people with mortgages against their property. McClures charged a fee to transfer the property into the Trust and also the Disposition fee that should have been paid by them to the Land registry. However, the property remains outside of the Trust, with no protection against the many asset threats.
Similarly, many Capital Investment Bonds that were supposed to be assigned into the client`s Trust have never been assigned.
In short, McClure Solicitors charged you an exorbitant fee, and yet (in most cases) did not complete the service you had paid them for.

What you need to do now
New professional Will executors and Trustees require to be appointed, a new Will arranged, and the former McClure solicitors` resignations as trustees accomplished.
Charterhouse Inheritance Planning in association with Dallas McMillan solicitors have agreed a “rescue package” for former McClure clients.
We are aware of the worry and stress the McClure situation is causing their former clients. Most are extremely angry as they paid large fees to McClures to have Trusts set up.
As these clients have already paid out large sums to protect and control their assets, we will arrange to have the appropriate changes made. This can be done through the professional, ethical, affordable and speedy process we offer to get these issues sorted.

Call Charterhouse on 0141 266 0093, or email us at info@cipscotland.co.uk, to arrange an appointment to discuss the way forward to sort out these issues.