Archial was in the process of trying to recoup unpaid fees owed by debtors before it was forced into administration this week.

The London-based practice was involved in at least four legal claims including one against construction and oil tycoon Ian Suttie, the owner of Scottish builder First Construction.

The legal actions were raised in 2009 and Archial administrator PricewaterhouseCoopers will now investigate the claims and decide if further action is necessary.

Archial, formerly known as SMC, went into administration earlier this week after failing to agree repayment terms over more than £3 million of unpaid tax with HM Revenue & Customs.

It also had a reported £15.4 million of bank loans and overdraft facilities, according to its accounts for the year ended December 31, 2009.

PricewaterhouseCoopers is now looking for a rapid sale of the practice, which is working on a number of high-profile jobs, including Alsop Sparch’s Puddle Dock Hotel in central London, originally designed by Will Alsop.

Developer Blackfriars Investments told BD that the £250 million project, which received planning permission from the City of London earlier this year, was continuing.

Chief executive Mallory Clifford said: “At the moment we are starting talks to find an operator for the hotel. Once we find one and we go into detailed design we will see if we get a new architect on board or stay with the firm.”

Source: BDonline