Ashton Morton Slack in administration

SHEFFIELD law firm Ashton Morton Slack has gone into administration.

BDO partners Graham Newton and Dermot Power were appointed joint administrators on December 10 after the firm saw a decline in business and increased overheads.

Ashton Morton Slack employs 67 staff and works primarily in the personal injury, serious fraud, commercial/residential property, family matters, employment law and asset management sectors.

Pending consent on a client-by-client basis, BDO has assisted AMS to broker agreements whereby all clients, and their matters, have moved to alternative solicitors so ensuring that their interests are fully protected.

One firm will complete the family, property and commercial files, a second firm will complete the serious fraud files, and three other firms will complete the personal injury files.

Mr Newton said: “A combination of a declining volume of business and increased overheads created a cash flow problem which was ultimately unsustainable for Ashton Morton Slack LLP.

“Our priority is to protect the interests of the firm’s clients by ensuring that they continue to receive appropriate legal representation with minimal disruption and to maximise asset realisations for the benefit of creditors.”

Thirty two jobs have been secured and 11 employees will remain at AMS in the short term to assist with the administration. The remaining employees will be made redundant.

The firm’s office in Sheffield is to be sold, as will other physical assets belonging to the firm.