How Did We Get To This Position?
W W & J McClure Limited (often called ‘McClure Solicitors’ or ‘McClures’) went into administration on April 29, 2021. In simple terms, the firm ceased to operate, leaving tens of thousands of clients with uncertainty regarding their legal documents and assets.
The administration process (handled by FRP Advisory) transferred McClures goodwill, work in progress, and certain assets to Jones Whyte LLP solicitors. Their business has since been transferred to a new company, Jones Whyte Law Ltd, whom we refer to as Jones Whyte.
Jones Whyte is the custodian of tens of thousands of client files, including those relating to dormant cases, Wills, Powers of Attorney, and Family Protection Trusts (FPTs).
Jones Whyte
Jones Whyte was established in 2013
Approximately 100,000 files were passed to Jones Whyte from McClures Solicitors, which included approximately 23,000 Family Protection Trusts. The majority of McClure employees also transferred to Jones Whyte.
The SRA (Solicitors Regulation Authority) and Law Society Scotland agreed to Jones Whyte becoming custodians of the files from McClures.
Jones Whyte contacted some clients in June 2021 advising that files and funds had been transferred to them.
This letter stated “that over the last four weeks they had been able to carry out the appropriate due diligence on the files that were passed over to them. Unfortunately, it has become increasingly apparent that the amount of business undertaken by McClure Solicitors in the period leading up to administration was simply unmanageable.“
Since December 2024, the SRA have agreed 2 Compliance Plans with Jones Whyte. First with regards to clients of McClure who took out Family Protection Trusts and second regarding clients who took out Wills.
Jones Whyte Contact Information:
Address: 3rd Floor, The Connect Building, 59 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 2DH
Telephone: 0800 292 2000
Email: info@joneswhyte.co.uk
Further Background: You can find more information on the Law Society of Scotland’s website and Jones Whyte’s dedicated page for former McClure’s clients.
Has Jones Whyte contacted all affected clients?
No. While the Law Society of Scotland expected the acquiring firm (Jones Whyte) to contact every client to advise that their documents and funds were safely held, Jones Whyte has been very slow in this process. Tens of thousands of clients remain unaware of the situation.
Useful Links:
Jones Whyte Website –
https://joneswhyte.co.uk/wills-Trusts-probate/mcclure-solicitors/
Law Society Scotland –
https://www.lawscot.org.uk/news-and-events/law-society-news/mcclures-jones-whyte-faqs/
Solicitors Regulatory Authority –
https://www.sra.org.uk/