AWH Legal acquires defunct Roberts Jackson

Claimant law firm Roberts Jackson Solicitors has been sold following a brief spell in administration.

Andrew Hosking and Sean Bucknall, both of Quantuma, were appointed as joint administrators of Roberts Jackson on 28 September, according to an announcement on the firm’s website.

Bucknall and Hosking completed the sale of Roberts Jackson to Manchester-based AWH Legal, immediately following their appointment as joint administrators at the Wilmslow-based law firm.

Founded in 2009, Roberts Jackson is an industrial disease legal specialist. The business, which recorded a turnover of £10 million in the year to 2016, works across all occupational diseases and personal injury issues that have been caused or exacerbated by employment.

The law firm entered administration as a result of the sector facing substantial competitive and regulatory challenges, according to the administrators. The immediate sale will see all Roberts Jackson staff transfer to AWH Legal.

Roberts Jackson entered into administration despite appointing Rachael Charmbury as chief executive earlier this year.

Hosking said: “We have worked very closely with management, its advisers and creditors in recent weeks and are pleased that we have been able to successfully conclude a sale of the business in short timescales which preserves as many of the jobs of Roberts Jackson employees as possible.”

Samantha Palmer and Johanna Creamer of Pinsent Masons were appointed as joint solicitor managers to oversee the safe transfer of client monies and files in accordance with their instructions.

Hosking added: “The financial difficulties experienced by Roberts Jackson are endemic in the legal sector at present, with the high cost of funding case files having a severe detrimental effect on firms.”

“The immediate sale that we’ve been able to secure with AWH Legal ensures the continued protection of clients’ interests and provides the best opportunity to preserve and realise the maximum value for creditors.”

Dawn Allen of Pinsent Masons advised the joint administrators on the sale to AWH Legal.

Allen said: “We are pleased to have advised on this transaction which has resulted in the preservation of a number of jobs and the transfer of the business. It illustrates the financial difficulties many law firms are facing in this sector.”

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Mark Dugdale