McClure solicitors collapse proves 'something went very wrong' at legal firm as MSP demands inquiry

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A public inquiry must examine the collapse of an historic Scots law firm where "something went very wrong", an MSP has said.Stuart McMillan used a Scottish Parliament debate last night to draw attention to the sudden demise of McClure solicitors in 2021 - and suggested some clients were sold trusts that were full of errors.He told MSPs: "It's clear something went very wrong at McClure solicitors."The Greenock-based firm had tens of thousands of clients across Scotland and England before it went bust during the coronavirus pandemic.All of its casework - including wills and property trusts - was subsequently passed to Glasgow-based firm Jones Whyte.Campaigners have since complained it can cost former clients thousands of pounds to have their legal paperwork updated - despite having previously paid what they thought was a one-off fee.McMillan, the MSP for Greenock, said his constituents had made a variety of claims about issues with documentation handled by McClure."Including, and I have a short list here, powers of attorney were not lodged with the Office of Public Guardian, despite the work being paid for," he said."Trusts were in the wrong name or other details were wrong, or they weren't properly advised on what a trust is or why they might want one, or what the implications for them were going forward."Some have even suggested that trusts may have been set up for relatives that lack capacity."The reviewing of the documents is therefore vital in terms of substantiating, or not, these claims ahead of any inquiry."The SNP told MSPs that "thousands of people across the UK spent significant sums of money with McClure with the expectation being that they would not have to pay for any legal work like this again - for many,