Leeds, UK-based law firm Fox Hayes has gone into administration (i.e. ceased to exist), with the loss of 115 jobs. Other smaller city law firms specializing in conveyancing work could follow.
Last month, Fox Hayes sold its commercial and private client business, which employed around 40 staff, to Leeds-based commercial law firm Lupton Fawcett 
Joint administrators David Wilson and Julian Pitts have blamed contraction of the property market for the firm’s demise.
They told shocked staff that they were losing their jobs on Friday, as was no more money left to pay their wages.
Most of the staff who lost their jobs were legal executives and clerks, as there were only three or four solicitors left.
The above is not a true reflection of what has been happening. Not only were most staff told at the start of last week they would not be paid, but the firm kept them working (for free) to the end of the week until it was officially announced they were “bust”.
The staff will not be paid their salaries for January, nor redundancy pay, nor anything else they were due. This is tens of thousands of pounds and nearly 100 people who will not be able to make it through the month.
On it’s own a sad story, but read on. On Monday, Advantage Property Lawyers Limited, headed by Julie Sheldon (a director of FOX HAYES) started working from the same offices, on the same files, with some of the same staff and directors using FOX HAYES ASSETS to make profit.
All of the losses and negligence claims and any claims by the staff for redundancy will die with Fox Hayes, and Advantage (aptly named) will reap the reward!
This is devious and cowardly, immoral and (probably) illegal and should be stopped.
I spent several years working for this bunch of shysters as one of their support staff. So glad I got out! One thing Foxy Hayes knew how to do, was con! Still remember Drazen’s immortal words at end of year conference 2005 “Work Hard for Us and We’ll Look After You!”.
There’s a big dark pit awaiting you some day, Mr D.