Join us for an important discussion on the aftermath of McClure Solicitors’ entering administration and its far-reaching impact on vulnerable clients. McClure Solicitors, a firm with over 120 years of history, went into administration in April 2021, leaving an estimated 60,000 clients—many elderly and vulnerable—facing significant legal, financial, emotional and stress-related challenges. This event will explore the connections between McClure Solicitors, the role intermediaries such as financial planners, charities, and estate planners played in steering clients towards what turned out to be unsuitable financial arrangements.

We understand that whilst nearly 18,900 FPT files were handed over to the law firm Jones Whyte, who were tasked with contacting and advising the clients that McClure had gone into administration, some 3 and a half years later it is estimated that only 11,000 FPT clients have been advised.

We will therefore be sounding the alarm that clients are unaware that the legal arrangements they have made may be in peril, especially for those that took out Wills or Lasting Powers of Attorney (where there is no known plan to contact them), potentially causing serious issues for them and their families – this really is a shocking state of affairs.

We will also examine troubling practices that have been uncovered, including issues with improper Wills, Powers of Attorney, and Family Protection Trusts (FPTs), where elderly clients were misled about protection from care home fees and probate avoidance. 

The event will also highlight the challenges ex-clients now face, such as expensive legal battles, lost files, and incorrect bequests, alongside the emotional and financial strain this has placed on their families.

Attendees will gain valuable insight into how third parties and regulators can offer support and accountability, whilst also exploring ways to better protect the elderly and vulnerable in future financial transactions.