Calls for inquiry into collapse of law firm McClure
- Published
McClure Solicitors was based in Greenock
An MSP is calling for an inquiry into the collapse of a Greenock-based law firm which had tens of thousands of clients across Britain.
Some former clients of McClure are having to pay thousands of pounds to have legal paperwork updated or fixed.
Greenock and Inverclyde MSP Stuart McMillan says there should be an inquiry, although the initial priority should be helping its former clients.
The firm's former managing director denied that any clients were misled.
Andrew Robertson also disputed any suggestion of criminality or fraud after Police Scotland said it was assessing correspondence and information in relation to McClure.
The firm of solicitors specialised in work such as wills and trusts, which are used by people to manage assets like property or money.
Some people set up trusts in the hope that they would protect their home from being sold to pay for care home fees, although trusts are not meant to be used for that purpose.
McClure went bust in 2021 and another firm called Jones Whyte took on its files.
Agnes Henery wanted to update her will to leave money to charity
Agnes Henery and her daughter contacted McClure in 2019 because she wanted to update her will to leave money to charity.
They were advised to pay more than £3,000 to put Agnes' house in a trust - but say they did not know that meant she would no longer legally own the home.
When McClure went bust they realised what they had signed up to and paid another solicitor £2,000 to close the trust.
Agnes, 83, said she would like the money back.
"We went through all that hassle and heartache and have nothing to show for it," she said.
Her daughter, Agnes Dupeire, said she felt like they had paid out money for nothing and were back where they started - just £5,500 worse off.
'Patently unfair'
Greenock and Inverclyde MSP Stuart McMillan has held two public meetings about McClure since the start of the year.
He said people who had contacted him were worried and concerned.
"They've already spent in some cases thousands of pounds for documentation that is faulty and they are now being asked to spend additional money to try and get things fixed.
"That is patently unfair," he said.
Mr McMillan wants an inquiry into the firm's collapse in the longer-term, but says the priority needs to be helping former clients.
Annette Riding, a spokesperson for the McClure Action Group, said she would welcome an inquiry.
"How can a company go into administration and leave thousands of clients having to pay additional fees of thousands of pounds to get their property back?" she asked.
'Very worrying'
The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission is the first point of call for people to complain about solicitors.
Its chief executive, Neil Stevenson, has attended both meetings in Greenock.
He said he could understand people's frustration.
"It's very worrying if you feel your home or assets are not being well managed," he said.
"If you raise a complaint with us we can have someone independently look at that and if there are issues of the type we can help with, we may be able to assist."
The Law Society regulates solicitors in Scotland and said it would take "every appropriate measure" to meet its regulatory obligations.
A spokesperson added: "We have the greatest of sympathy with those who have been adversely affected by this situation and will continue to provide information and clarity on how to seek redress.
"It is important that anyone who believes that a criminal act has taken place, should report it to the police for investigation."
'Money was not wasted'
Police Scotland said officers had met representatives of the McClure action group and were assessing the correspondence and information they had gathered.
Former managing director Andrew Robertson said that like many businesses, McClure had been brought down by Covid.
"We strongly dispute any claims of criminality or fraud and have contacted Police Scotland to request further information from them in relation to the meeting with the action group," he said.
"We stand by our position that the company traded legally, in good faith and in line with all professional guidelines and standards."
He said McClure had provided its clients with more than 20,000 trusts.
"Like most businesses, occasionally something went wrong. But that happened only occasionally and when it happened, we put it right at our expense and compensated the client if there was any loss," he added.
"Clients should not fear that money has been wasted. The trust was, and remains, a good service. It had many benefits and the fact that McClure no longer exists does not affect the trust.
"We dispute that clients were misled to pay for a trust."
He added that from 2019, each meeting with one of the firm's consultants had been recorded - with the client's consent - so management could monitor that no undue pressure was being brought to bear.