Partner Article

Taylors helps rescue 1300 charity jobs

Manchester Commercial Law firm Taylors LLP has pulled together the legal aspects of a deal to rescue around 1300 jobs after a Manchester charity got into financial trouble. Partner Andrew Livesey and associates Stuart Beatson and Matthew Catterall are advising the business advisory firm FRP Advisory.

Under the deal The Lifeline Project, a Manchester-based charity, has had its projects transferred to other providers.

The drug and alcohol abuse charity had a turnover of more than £60m in 2015/16 and provided around 70 projects across England and Scotland to around 80,000 clients. However, it got into difficulty after cuts in public expenditure budgets and in the last financial year revenues tumbled. The charity made a significant loss which made further trading not viable and FRP Advisory were appointed administrators.

With Taylors advising FRP Advisory The Lifeline Project has now been dismantled with contracts either being transferred to new providers or taken in house by local authorities. National Charity Change, Grow Live has taken over the majority of the former Lifeline Project. The legal work for the administrators is being handled by Taylors Re-structuring and Corporate and Employment teams led by Partners Andrew Livesey and Peter Byrne. “This was a hugely complex and wide-ranging deal involving dozens of commissioning bodies, both from the NHS and local authorities the length and breadth of England and Scotland,” says Andrew Livesey.

“A very significant commitment was required, working in tandem with lawyers for CGL and commissioners to ensure that the business could be transferred to new providers without interruption to the service users.

“Given the nature of the services provide by Lifeline Project speed was vital. The consequences of a collapse of the service could have been devastating to the clients. We are very pleased to have been able to help ensure the best outcome achievable.”

The deal has ensured that vital community based services have continued and has preserved the jobs of the 1300 employees. David Thornhill, Geoff Carton-Kelly and Russell Cash from firm FRP Advisory were appointed as joint administrators.

With offices in Manchester, Wigan and Blackburn, Taylors is a law firm specialising in all aspects of commercial law. The dynamic and highly experienced lawyers at Taylors are committed to providing the highest quality service through a real understanding of our clients’ needs, business priorities and specific requirements.

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