Cartwright King Limited – administration

Cartwright King Limited, a national law firm and one of the UK’s largest providers of Legal Aid services, employing 80 people out of 11 offices, entered administration on 23 December. Mark Thornton and Martha Thompson of BDO were appointed joint administrators. The joint administrators explained that difficult trading conditions alongside issues caused by Covid-19 and the continuing court backlogs resulted in cashflow issues for the firm from which it was unable to recover. Immediately upon their appointment, the joint administrators completed the sale of the business and assets in a pre-pack deal to AWH Acquisition Corp. The firm will continue to trade under the Cartwright King name, ensuring continuity of cases and the transfer of all 80 employees to the purchaser. Clydesdale Bank PLC has a registered charge against the firm.