FORMER employees of stricken law firm Ross Harper have criticised a decision to sell off the company's wills and estates business to the highest bidder in order to help pay its bills.
Some have claimed the move will add further stress to grieving families trying to secure funds from a relative's estate.
The wills and estates business will now be handled by Mitchells Roberton, with clients due to be informed of the development in writing over the coming days.
Some families will, however, have to fight to retrieve contents of an estate secured by Ross Harper before April 5 – the day when financial investigators were called in and the company bank accounts frozen.
They will have to apply to the Solicitors' Guarantee Fund to access the money owed to them, but some could still be left out of pocket, given that the fund does not always cover the full losses incurred.
One former Ross Harper employee said: "If it wasn't bad enough dealing with a family member dying, they have the added stress of not dealing with someone they had built up a relationship with, and trying to recover money – and they may not get all the money back.
"The judicial factor should have just passed the files to the solicitor who has moved on to another firm so he could continue to deal with his clients."
Ross Harper, which was in business for 50 years, was once considered one of Scotland's most successful high street law firms.
It ceased trading on April 30 after a financial investigator, appointed following Law Society of Scotland concerns over the use of client accounts, found there was not enough money available to pay wages and keep the business going.
Thousands of former clients of the firm are owed money, and it has also left a string of creditors. It is known that Ross Harper owed £50,000 in rent for one of its premises, with the firm owing substantially more on the lease for its main office in West Regent Street, Glasgow.
Interim judicial factor Ian Mitchell, of Henderson Loggie, could not confirm yesterday how many former clients of Ross Harper would be affected by the sale of the wills and estates business.
He defended the move to sell the accounts, given his job was to "achieve the best outcome" for Ross Harper, its former clients and creditors.
He said: "I considered offers from all interested parties and engaged in extensive negotiations in order to achieve the best outcome for the firm. Mitchells Roberton presented the best offer and successfully acquired the work."
Work is continuing to find a suitable buyer for the conveyancing and civil arm of the firm.
Experts used by the firm in court cases, such as forensic scientists, are known to be among those who have been left without payment.
A total of 23 staff have been made redundant at Ross Harper, while others jumped ship as the company started to unravel. Its four partners remain suspended from practice as the interim judicial factor's investigation continues. Mr Mitchell's appointment is due to be made permanent this week.
One former client of Ross Harper has spoken of his relief that he did not pay the contents of his mother's estate into its company account.
The man, who asked not to be named, turned to the solicitors for help in finalising his mother's personal affairs after her death.
He said: "I went with Ross Harper because they had been around for a long time and they were virtually a high street brand.
"They went to court to sort out some title deeds and they wanted me to transfer the money from the estate to them so they could administer it. That is something I declined. I am so happy now I didn't give them the estate."
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