Glasgow legal firm founded in 1850s bought in rescue deal but 13 offices to close

A Glasgow legal firm founded almost 170 years ago has been acquired in a rescue move that sees the closure of 13 offices.

Jones Whyte LLP has taken on the goodwill, work-in-progress and certain assets of McClure Solicitors, which was established in 1853, originally in Greenock.

The transaction, for an undisclosed sum, sees the existing partners and staff, comprising 84 people, transferring to Glasgow-headquartered Jones Whyte with immediate effect. They join the current teams working between the two city offices and at home on “flexible working practices”.

As a result of the deal, the McClures Solicitors offices in Glasgow and Greenock will be retained in the short term, however the other 13 satellite offices will close immediately.

Glasgow-based law firm Jones Whyte joint managing partners, Ross Jones and Greg Whyte.

Jones Whyte was founded in 2013 by Glasgow-based solicitors Ross Jones and Greg Whyte. It is said to have undergone “substantial growth” over the last eight years and now provides a broad spectrum of business and personal legal services to a client base across Scotland and the UK.

McClure Solicitors had expanded in recent years by opening two additional satellite offices in Scotland and 11 satellite offices in England. The pandemic meant that the firm had faced “a number of operational difficulties” over the last year, which resulted in the business being placed into administration.

Joint managing partners Ross Jones and Greg Whyte said: “McClure Solicitors was a long standing highly respected firm of solicitors, originally founded in 1853, and this acquisition will further strengthen our position at the forefront of the legal market.

“We very much welcome our new colleagues to the enlarged business, which now sits at more than 170 people. We have ambitious plans to grow Jones Whyte, and this deal is a major step in that direction,” the bosses added.

Tom MacLennan, partner with FRP and joint administrator, along with Chad Griffin, said: “We are delighted that Jones Whyte has agreed to acquire the assets, goodwill and work-in-progress of McClure Solicitors, thus ensuring continuity of client service, the preservation of employment and the safeguarding of client funds.

“We wish Jones Whyte every success with their plans and ambitions,” he added.

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