THE CHIEF executive of failed Fife law firm Pagan Osborne is the only partner not to move across to Dundee-headquartered Thorntons Law as part of a pre-packed administration.

While 10 partners have joined Thorntons in either partner or consultant roles, Alistair Morris did not form part of the deal.

It is understood that it was a mutual decision taken by both Mr Morris and the management at Thorntons.

FRP Advisory partners Tom MacLennan and Iain Fraser were appointed as joint administrators of 250-year old Pagan Osborne last week, with Thorntons immediately buying out its business interests.

While Pagan Osborne had run into cashflow difficulties after being unable to service its debt and meet its high property and staff costs, Thorntons has retained only the firm’s Anstruther office. Pagan Osborne’s bases in Edinburgh, Cupar and St Andrews have closed.

Thorntons has also begun a redundancy consultation that is likely to result in up to 70 jobs being lost.

Mr Morris, who had attempted to shore up Pagan Osborne’s finances by having his personal pension buy £95,000 worth of property from the firm in 2015, remains active in a number of legal roles.

The former Law Society of Scotland president is a member of the Judicial Appointments Board and the panel that is reviewing the legal sector for the Scottish Government.