DJ Mackay & Partners, a Glasgow law practice specialising in personal injury claims, has been placed into administration after reporting financial difficulties, the firm has confirmed.
Henderson Loggie insolvency specialist Shona Campbell was appointed administrator on 14 August. The practice, established in 2017, employs 16 staff and has notified the Law Society of Scotland of the move.
Administrators prioritise client files and case continuity
Ms Campbell said the partners had decided administration was the appropriate step. The administrators have said their immediate tasks are to secure client files, protect confidential information and maintain continuity for clients with ongoing matters. They added they are liaising with regulators and other stakeholders to arrange the managed transfer and administration of live cases.
“The firm has experienced financial difficulties and the partners concluded that administration was the appropriate course of action,” the administrator said.
The firm’s director, Donald Mackay, described the decision as extremely difficult and said the practice was cooperating with the administrators to ensure an orderly handover, while thanking staff for their efforts and apologising to clients for any disruption.
What this means for clients and employees
In practice administrations of this kind usually focus first on:
- securing and cataloguing client files and records;
- informing and working with the relevant legal regulator — in this case the Law Society of Scotland;
- making arrangements to transfer live matters to other authorised firms or to ensure they continue to be managed;
- supporting staff through any redundancy process and assessing employment liabilities.
For clients pursuing personal injury claims, interruption at the firm handling the claim can delay payments and prolong uncertainty. For staff, administration can bring imminent redundancy risk, while outstanding wages and holiday pay become part of the insolvency process.
Broader sector context — caution, not catastrophe
Smaller specialist legal practices have felt pressure in recent years from rising operating costs, regulatory demands and changes in funding models for personal injury work. While this announcement concerns a single firm of 16 employees, it is a reminder that even relatively young practices — DJ Mackay & Partners was founded in 2017 — can be vulnerable to cashflow shocks.
Administrations do not always end in closure; sometimes live cases are sold to or taken on by other regulated firms and staff may be transferred. The administrator’s statement that they are arranging an "orderly transfer" indicates that continuity of client services is an objective, but the details and timing of any transfers will determine the real impact on claimants and on staff.
| Detail | Reported fact |
|---|---|
| Firm | DJ Mackay & Partners |
| Location | Glasgow |
| Specialism | Personal injury claims |
| Appointment | Administrator Shona Campbell, Henderson Loggie |
| Staff | 16 employees |
| Notification to regulator | Law Society of Scotland |
From a financial perspective, stakeholders will be looking for clarification on the firm’s liabilities — including client money arrangements, staff entitlements and outstanding supplier invoices — and whether there are secured creditors with priority over client or employee claims. Administrators are legally required to consider how client money and confidential information are handled; their swift focus on securing files will be welcomed by regulators and claimants alike.
For the broader market, this episode is likely to reinforce the need for robust risk management at small firms: close oversight of cashflow, contingency plans for key staff departures and careful administration of client accounts. For clients, the immediate priority will be to receive clear communication about who is handling their case and what, if any, steps they must take to protect their interests.
At present the administrators are engaging with regulators and stakeholders to arrange ongoing management of live cases and have pledged to support staff through any redundancy process. Beyond that, outcomes will depend on whether another authorised firm takes on the work or whether the administrators conclude an alternative route is necessary.
