Personal injury firm Calibre Solicitors has been placed into administration resulting in 14 people being made redundant.

The Manchester practice, which traded as Legal Gateway, went into administration on 8 February and has since closed.

Administrators Harrisons Business Recovery and Insolvency and Blue Gate Capital cited poor trading results and forthcoming changes to the funding of personal injury claims as reasons for the firm’s collapse.

As a result of the administration process, Wake Smith LLP, a Sheffield-based law firm, has been appointed by the administrators to ensure that all client files are protected and, where possible, transferred over to them.

‘It was not feasible for the administrators to continue to trade the business,’ said Harrisons director Tony Murphy.

‘Regrettably, this has resulted in the closure of the practice and the redundancy of the company’s employees. Our top priority is to ensure that the affairs of the clients are dealt with properly and promptly.’

The Gazette was unable to contact anyone from Calibre Solicitors and the website is currently not working.

Calibre is the latest firm to suffer financial problems this year, following the collapse of national firm Cobbetts and Yorkshire firm Atteys announcing its intention to appoint administrators.

Meanwhile, north-west full service firm Marsden Rawsthorn LLP has been acquired by Marsden Rawsthorn Solicitors, a new company led by the former partner group. The deal will secure all 80 jobs at the firm with offices in Preston and Chorley. Paul Flint and Brian Green of KPMG's north-west restructuring team were appointed joint administrators of the LLP on 20 February.

On appointment, the administrators sold the business and its assets to Marsden Rawsthorn Solicitors Limited.

Debbie Pettitt, chief executive of Marsden Rawsthorn Solicitors Ltd, said: 'The restructure provides excellent opportunity for growth and is in line with our strategic development plans. Operations are unaffected and we continue to provide our clients with the same outstanding service as before.'