Dundas, Weightmans join Semple Fraser carve-up

Readers' comments (9)

• Anonymous | 11-Mar-2013 12:52 pm

  So, a business fails under the direction and control of a group of individuals (the partners), not because of the economic climate, but because those individuals failed to give appropriate direction and exert suitable control (a simple view perhaps, but no less true because of it) and for some strange reason those same individuals are of interest to other businesses?! They did a bad job with (some) good lawyers working for them: where and what is the appeal to MMS and D&W (both of which have their own direction and control troubles)? Lateral hires are only a good result if the people hired are at a successful firm and they are one of the people directly responsible for that success (a simple view, but no less true because of it too).

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• Realist | 11-Mar-2013 2:47 pm

  The fact is law firms now value and reward salesmen, not lawyers. So it is very plausible that partners of a failed Firm might be of interest to others, provided they are good at sucking-up to potential income streams. Sad but true - lawyers have lost their historic position as trusted advisers/men of business and are now indiscernible from the office supplies salesman pounding the motorways in his company Mondeo or, indeed, the short-skirted ladies frequenting the docks of an evening.

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• Anonymous | 11-Mar-2013 3:04 pm

  Legal firms in Scotland can only be operated by lawyers. This likely means that the Administration of Semple Fraser should have been executed by a lawyer. The Administrators (RSM Tenon) are non lawyers. The Administration may be defective.

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• Anonymous | 11-Mar-2013 8:18 pm

  What a ridiculous series of comments for what is the disappointing failure of a well respected law firm.
  
  To say that this business failure has nothing to do with the prevailing economic climate is not a "simple view" but the clearly the views of a simpleton....
  
  It is not beyond the realms of possibility for successful quality people to be at an under performing business

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• Anonymous | 11-Mar-2013 10:16 pm

  The administration would not be defective. The administration of an LLP is not affected by Solicitors Scotland Act or Law Society of Scotland rules. The LLP in administration arguably wouldn't be able to trade and operate whilst in administration but that doesn't affect the competency of the administration itself.
  
  It seems profoundly unfair that support staff and assistants are made redundant (and many will struggle to find new employment) whilst the partners who created the mess all "land on their feet".
  
  The question which also needs to be asked is - what brought all this on? Was there a creditor demanding payment, which resulted in this being only option? Or did the partners not like the returns being offered/projected and struck best deal they could for themselves? We may never know.
  
  I sincerely hope all those who have lost their jobs find something else quickly.

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• Semple Fraser Partner | 12-Mar-2013 10:28 am

  Well said, Anonymous (11-Mar-2013 8:18 pm). Even a Ferrari can tow only so much excess baggage before it is reduced to Fiesta pace. Pass the swan sandwiches.

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• Anonymous | 12-Mar-2013 3:35 pm

  The "salesman" comment (Realist | 11-Mar-2013 2:47 pm) is so true (and a whole article (edition) on its own. Semple Fraser Partner, the point, I think, is the Ferrari only ever had a Fiesta engine in it from the start. And, Mr Simpleton (you're clearly anything but simple), you get my vote, you're right on the point.

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• Anonymous | 12-Mar-2013 5:12 pm

  Perhaps semple fraser partner, if you had traded in your Ferrari for a Fiesta and lived within your means then you wouldn't have got into the financial mess that you have and so many other peoples livliehoods would not have been thrown into such termoil and hardship.

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• Retired | 12-Mar-2013 6:41 pm

  Maybe now a chance to get out into the real world that is not helping Tesco and the like? Do something positive, use all the so-called fantastic "successful quality people" (to quote Anon 12 March 8:18pm) to spread their success elsewhere! Also totally agree with salesman comment that lawyers these days seem to be horribly competitive salesmen with flashy websites. All promising the same thing. As far as the partners go with their easy transition into other law firms I think it proves that a job's a job as far as the commercial legal mentality is concerned, and the remaining redundant staff were nothing but mere cogs in the wheel of a corporate machine.

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