PM Law's sudden closure leaves staff and clients in limbo

PM Law's sudden closure leaves staff and clients in limbo

A significant number of employees and clients of a prominent law firm have been left uncertain after the firm abruptly ceased operations. PM Law, headquartered in Sheffield and operating across several regions including Yorkshire, Cumbria, Berkshire, Derbyshire, and Kent, offered services in areas such as personal injury, wills, and conveyancing. The company unexpectedly closed on a Monday without prior notice.

Some clients found themselves caught in difficult situations, including one who was on the verge of completing a property sale when contact with the firm was suddenly lost. An employee expressed deep disappointment, describing the closure as “devastating” and highlighting a complete lack of communication or preparation from the firm’s management. According to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), PM Law did not close in the way typically expected, and the SRA is reaching out to the firm’s partners to remind them of their professional responsibilities. PM Law has been contacted for comments but has yet to respond.

The firm, which employed over 600 staff under various trading names such as Proddow Mackay, Butterworths Solicitors, WB Pennine Solicitors, and Angela Viney Conveyancing Services, has left workers and clients in the dark. Reports indicate that some employees arriving at the firm’s Sheffield office on Monday found notices taped to windows saying the business could no longer trade due to “regulatory matters.” Others discovered they were locked out of internal computer systems. One staff member, speaking anonymously, lamented the lack of any explanation or future guidance, calling the experience “soul destroying.” She noted that there had been no warning signs, even though plans for office refurbishment and social events had recently been underway.

Many clients remain anxious about the implications of the closure, including Melanie Griffin from South Yorkshire, whose father-in-law was engaged in a complicated property sale with WB Pennine Solicitors. Despite attempts to retrieve files, she said contacting the firm proved impossible and described the situation as “already been a bit of a stressful situation.” Similarly, Joe Hofmann, who was in the process of buying a flat in London, reported being left in limbo just hours away from transferring a large payment. He also voiced concerns over the personal data and documents held by PM Law. The SRA revealed it has received numerous inquiries related to PM Law’s situation and assured that appropriate actions will be taken to safeguard clients. The regulator also noted this type of sudden closure, known as intervention, is rare but necessary when firms abandon their responsibilities. PM Law operates under many different names, including PM Property Lawyers, Lloyd Green Solicitors, All Your Accidents, and several others across the legal services sector

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