Metamorph Group ordered to pay £570,000

7 Feb 2024News

Pearson Solicitors secures victory for 70 claimants against Metamorph Group, winning a £570,000 Protective Award for redundancy breaches

In a significant legal victory, Employment Partner and Solicitor Alan Lewis at Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers has successfully secured a judgment against Metamorph Group Services Ltd ("MGSL"). The Employment Tribunal ruled in favour of 70 claimants, making a Protective Award valued at approximately £570,000.

Metamorph Group Services Ltd, a service company catering to various law firms, faced closure by the Solicitors Regulation Authority ("SRA") in December 2022. The company provided essential services such as marketing, compliance, IT, finance, and HR to all law firms within the group.

The Tribunal's ruling stems from the lack of consultation and advanced notice provided to the claimants when, on 29 November 2022, they were informed of MGSL's voluntary liquidation. The majority of employees were immediately terminated, with no collective informing or consultation, breaching section 188 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 ("TULRCA").

Alan Lewis, who led the claims, emphasized the significance of proper redundancy procedures. He expressed satisfaction with the judgment, stating, "This is a real triumph for the claimants, and on a personal level, it is particularly satisfying as many of the claimants are former colleagues of mine who were employed to support Linder Myers Solicitors, one of the numerous law firm brands that collapsed as part of the group."

Following the judgment, Pearson's Protective Award Claim team is actively working to ensure that each claimant receives the portion of their award guaranteed by the government's Redundancy Payments Service.

Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers, a leading law firm in the North West, have roots tracing back to 1874. Recognized for their excellence, the firm received the Supporting Young People award at the 2023 Oldham Business Awards and was acknowledged as a 'Leading Law Firm' by The Legal 500 directory.

With offices in North Manchester, including Oldham, Hollinwood, and Failsworth, Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers offer a comprehensive range of legal and financial services to both private and commercial clients. The firm's evolution, marked by an ABS status in 2013, reflects its commitment to growth and adaptability in the dynamic legal landscape.

Legal News desk contact: editorial@solicitorsjournal.com

Latest Articles

Why UK paternity leave still fails families

The UK’s paternity leave framework lags Europe, undermining families, equality and long-term economic resilience

Agent signatures fail for trust declarations

Court of Appeal rules that declarations of trust over land must be personally signed to satisfy statutory formalities

The UK anti-corruption strategy: pillar one in focus

How the UK’s latest Anti-Corruption Strategy seeks to disrupt corrupt networks, incentivise whistleblowers, and strengthen enforcement

CD&R Galaxy UK Opco Limited fined £33,438

CD&R Galaxy UK Opco Limited has agreed to a financial penalty and investigation costs following regulatory breaches identified by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Using US discovery to support English litigation

How Section 1782 offers a powerful, underused route to obtain US-based evidence for foreign proceedings

FCA priorities and predictions for 2026

A forward-looking assessment of the FCA’s recent focus and what FS regulatory lawyers can expect in the year ahead

Why judge-only trials won’t fix court backlogs

Proposals to curb jury trials risk fairness, worsen delays, and ignore the real causes of Crown Court backlogs

Regulatory progress under Martyn’s Law

Ronnie Megaughin reflects on his experience as Interim Executive Director and shares the important developments made in the regulation of Martyn’s Law over the past six months

International taskforce unveils bribery indicators

The Serious Fraud Office and Five Eyes nations release guidance to identify foreign bribery indicators for businesses

Government appoints interim commissioners to EHRC

The Government has appointed Ali Harris and Professor Shazia Choudhry as interim commissioners at the EHRC while new commissioners are recruited

Joey Barton: where online speech becomes criminal

The sentencing clarifies how courts are drawing limits on free expression in the digital age

Impecuniosity, mitigation and credit hire on appeal

The High Court clarifies the limits of impecuniosity and appellate restraint in challenges to credit hire awards

Lawyer reflects on New York courts

A London lawyer shares insights from his visit to a busy New York City Criminal Court

Employers face potential legal issues

As Christmas parties approach, employers must be aware of increasing legal risks stemming from festive events

Thousands to benefit from legal support

The Deputy Prime Minister announced nearly £20 million funding aimed at improving access to legal services for vulnerable individuals

SJ Interview: Joelle Grogan

Dr Joelle Grogan is a legal scholar specialising in the rule of law in times of crisis. She presents The Law Show on BBC Radio 4, and is Co-Academic Director of the Rule of Law Clinic at the CEU Democracy Institute (Budapest), and a Senior Research Fellow at the UCD Sutherland School of Law. Her work focuses on constitutional accountability, emergency powers, and legal misinformation. In this interview, she examines the pressures facing the rule of law in the UK, from executive power and court delays to media narratives, emergencies, and the impact of AI on legal practice.

Justice reform risks targeting the wrong fix

As 2026 approaches, ministers eye jury trials while ignoring deeper causes of England’s criminal justice crisis