62 members of staff at Semple Fraser have lost their jobs. But in a miraculous development, every single one of the firm's partners has immediately managed to find gainful employment elsewhere.

Staff had gone into work last week thinking that everything was peachy: four weeks previously a spokesman had told RollOnFriday that the firm was "trading well" with "some good wins". But they clearly weren't good enough, because an email went round on Wednesday saying that the firm was going into administration.

Two days later the firm had shut. A press release said that "with the exception of 7 staff to be retained by the joint administrators to assist with the affairs of the business, all remaining 62 staff in Glasgow and Edinburgh have been made redundant". But somehow, by the end of last week, all of the firm's partners had new jobs: one had set up a construction practice for Weightmans, six had moved to Dundas, seven to Maclay Murray & Spens and three to other practices.

Given it can normally take months to be interviewed by another firm, go through conflict checks, salary negotiations and partnership votes, just how long had the partners already known that Semple Fraser was buggered beyond redemption? Unkind observers have suggested that the partners may have been rather more focussed on their own futures than on protecting their current firm and its staff in their hour of need.

  Shameless

And what of those staff? Well Dundas & Wilson has made offers to six of the redundant fee earners. For the rest, the future currently looks uncertain.

The administrator wouldn't comment on the speed of the partners' moves and Simon Etchells, Semple Fraser's former Managing Partner (now safely ensconced at Maclay Murray & Spens) didn't respond to RollOnFriday.

Lorna Jack, Chief Exec of the Law Society of Scotland, also refused to comment on the conduct of the partners and said in a statement that "a principle (sic) concern for the Society in such a situation is that a firm's client money and business is assured. We understand it has been in this case".

Tip Off ROF

Comments

Anonymous 15 March 13 09:50

Those who went to MMS will fit right in to the "culture" of that Firm under its current leadership. They would appear to be kindred spirits.

Anonymous 15 March 13 09:56

I find it rather concerning that the Chief Exec of the Scottish Law Society is unable to distinguish the correct usage of principle/principal.

Anonymous 15 March 13 13:37

@Anon - 9:56 - I'm slightly more concerned that she didn't bother to comment on the poor sods (i.e. non partners)that got shafted by their former employers. Really shoddy practice.

Roll On Friday 15 March 13 14:23

The Chief Exec of the LawSoc is an accountant so she's not really fussed provided nothing bad has happened with money. When it comes to looking out for the solicitor members of the Society...meh.

Anonymous 15 March 13 15:49

The partners all walk into well paid jobs in bigger firms and leave the non-solicitors on the dole with no notice or redundancy pay. That seems 100& OK, doesn't it Mrs Jack? No wonder people dislike lawyers. Did she previousl work for the FSA?

Anonymous 15 March 13 15:52

Let me get this right - as long as no client's money goes missing then it is fine to treat your staff in this disgraceful way? Great advert for the intergrity and honesty of the legal profession in Scotland!

Anonymous 16 March 13 09:55

Disgraceful. MMS are welcome to Etchells and his soulless pack of lapdogs. A perfect fit.

Anonymous 16 March 13 13:31

This was indeed horrific for us, as non fee earners. No notice, no package and no support from Sir Etchells. They had this planned for months and the receiving firms were all prepared, this was not a last minute rescue. TUPE was also avoided.

Fingers crossed people will realise what shameless people their lawyers are and vote with their feet. There are some good people out there, sadly just note those from Semple Fraser.

Anonymous 17 March 13 14:27

It is quite obvious what has happened here. The partners were in discussions with the firms they have moved to over office mergers. The firms they were talking to had no interest in taking on SF's liabilities to staff or landlords so the administration was engineered. Yes, the partners will lose some capital but they made very good money in the good times and will be doing okay at their new homes. No morals and no ethics. It worries me that I would not be at all surprised if a couple of other central belt firms with the same structural problems as SF follow suit. Best wishes to all the staff.

Anonymous 18 March 13 08:53

Anonymous user (16/03/13 13:31)- dont be too hasty in saying TUPE was avoided. From people i have spoken to, there could be valid claims and some are already making preparations - take legal advice !!

Anonymous 18 March 13 09:41

The reason for the administration was a quintet of long-standing partners who wanted to leave the Semple Fraser partnership. The remaining partners didn't have the finances to pay back their capital contribution, therefore they were left with no option other than to dissolve the partnership. Have seen this threatened before, but never have I seen this scenario followed through until now. Talk about burning bridges...

Anonymous 18 March 13 10:49

Partners all have new homes on big salaries while support staff struggle to pay the bills. To make things better, the Law Society is turning a blind eye and isn't helping the unemployed staff. The partners sitting in the offices of MMS & D&W should be embarrassed. Watch other firms follow suit to avoid liabilities.