Fee-share firm Mezzle enters administration

Fee-share law firm Mezzle has entered administration, with administrators in talks with another law firm over the future of its consultants and staff.

“Mezzle Limited is in administration, and FTS Recovery Limited has been appointed as administrator,” a spokesperson said.

“Mezzle and its administrators are in advanced discussions with another law firm about the future of Mezzle's consultants and staff. We won't comment further on those discussions until they have concluded.”

The development follows a winding-up petition issued by HMRC. At the time, co-founder and chief executive Mel Kang told Non-Billable he expected the matter to be resolved shortly.

He added that HMRC had agreed not to advertise the petition or take further action in the meantime and that Mezzle had notified the SRA.

Mezzle was founded in 2021 by Kang, a former Gunnercooke partner, and Raj Sumal, who previously worked at Flint Bishop and DAC Beachcroft.

The firm operated a fee-share model, with lawyers working as self-employed consultants and keeping a share of the fees they generated while Mezzle provided infrastructure and back-office support.

Its website has since been taken down, but previously listed 35 lawyers across London, Birmingham, Manchester, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Platform firms grow

Mezzle’s administration comes as fee-share firms, also known as platform firms, have grown in prominence across the UK legal market.

More than 5,000 lawyers now work at UK platform firms, according to a recent industry report, with the largest players including Setfords, Keystone, Taylor Rose and Gunnercooke.

The model has attracted lawyers looking for greater flexibility and a larger share of the fees they generate, while allowing firms to grow with a lighter fixed-cost base than traditional partnerships.