It is understood that Barlow Lyde & Gilbert, Hill Dickinson and HBJ Gateley Wareing are all lining up to acquire parts of Halliwells’ business as the firm tries to avoid administration. The firm filed a second notice of intention to appoint an administrator last week pushing back the deadline to 20 July.

Meanwhile a number of students will be enjoying a couple of extra weeks off this summer as the firm bins its vacation scheme. Some experience it would have been though.

And proving that all is not lost, Ian Austin, former managing partner and head of litigation at Halliwells has landed a new role heading up the commercial litigation department at Manchester firm Heatons. He told Legal Week:

“Having now returned to a full-time fee earning role, I am looking forward to strengthening Heatons’ commercial litigation practice. This is a new challenge and I can’t wait to get started.”

Tactful.