Yesterday we learned that a 190 year old Mersey law firm is closing, after “falling victim to the worst recession in decades.” Liverpool based Lees Lloyd Whitley (LLW) traces its history back to 1820 when Whitley & Co was formed.
It was announced on September 21st that they were filing for administration.
Reported in the Liverpool Daily Post “The firm’s work will be split across three law firms in Merseyside and Cheshire. The largest part of the demerger is the transfer of most of LLW’s commercial department and its probate work – led by four partners – to join Oliver & Co. As a result, the Chester-based law firm will open a new office in Heswall. Personal injury and insolvency work is being transferred to St Helens firm Keith Park Solicitors and its equity release, conveyancing and remortgage work will move to David Roberts & Co, in Wallasey.”
Wirral Council’s deputy chief executive Jim Wilkie, expressed his disappointment at LLW’s closure, saying “A Wirral company for over 100 years, the partners have been some of Wirral’s most proactive and supportive business advocates in recent times, and I am pleased that their expertise has largely been retained through new partnerships with other firms. News like this is never good, but the company has worked hard to achieve the best outcome for the majority of the staff in very difficult circumstances.”
Looking at the comments in the forums some people are saying that the staff at LLW were treated unfairly and kept in the dark in relation to the demise of the firm. Only a handful of staff have been included in the mergers and apparently most of the staff were only paid half of their salary in September.
We don’t know how true that is but it’s never good to hear and we hope that many of the staff will find new jobs soon.
Michelle Jones, www.e-recruitmentbuddy.com
