Founder Stefan Cross says the practice has simply 'run out of cases', according to The Journal. He established the firm in 2002 when he felt that trade unions were not fighting the cases with as much determination as was necessary. The firm made its name at the start by representing dinner ladies - women who served lunch - in schools. 'We’ve got what we think are really good deals for our clients, while other solicitors and their clients are still waiting,' he said in a farewell interview.  He continued: 'The great disappointment has been the efforts made by employers to maintain the advantageous position of men over women…A lot of women have ended up with settlements, but ways have been found to continue the discrimination in terms of the pay differential.'

Edinburgh continues

While the Sunderland-based firm is closing, a separate office in Edinburgh, Fox & Partners, still has numerous cases to handle and will continue in operation.