Pure Business Group, a Liverpool firm which handled civil legal claims, has collapsed into administration with the loss of more than 200 jobs. Tony McDonough reports

Legal services business Pure Business Group has collapsed into administration with the loss of more than 200 jobs.

In a statement posted on its website Pure Business Group, which is based on Liverpool waterfront and in Prescot, said it, Pure Legal Ltd and seven other entities were now in administration. Robert Armstrong, Michael Lennon and James Saunders of Kroll Advisory are joint administrators.

In August 2017 Pure signed a 10-year lease for 9,500 sq ft of office space at No 8 Princes Dock in Liverpool Waters. In June 2018 it agreed to take a further 6,000 sq ft on the first floor of the same building.

It employed 256 people and 203 people were immediately made redundant. It has been reported that staff who have lost their jobs are to take legal action against the company over the way the redundancy process has been handled.

Pure comprised two law firms, costs drafting and recovery, litigation funding provision and claims management operations. It also included a division offering claims handling services to the insurance industry as well as a sports management businesses.

The statement said: “The companies ceased to trade following the appointment of the joint administrators. The joint administrators are currently undertaking their statutory duties following the appointment and working with industry regulators in relation to the protection of claimant rights.

“Immediately upon their appointment, and with the support of the Solicitors Regulation Authority, the joint administrators secured the effective transfer of rights to handle the claims and work-in-progress (WIP) files of all existing claimants.”

The companies are part of the wider Pure Business Group which provides a range of end-to-end legal services within the civil litigation sector and is handling over 20,000 live claims.

The joint administrators are taking the steps necessary to ensure all client files and monies are secure and claimants are being contacted to explain the next steps.

The companies are Pure Business Group Limited, Pure Legal Limited, Pure Claims Support Services Limited, Pure Technology Systems Limited, Pure Reporting Services Limited, Pure Claims Limited, Pure Costs Budget Limited, Connect Costs Limited and Astute Business Management Consultants Limited.