Wragge & Co has taken the lead role on the administration of Auto Windscreens, with 1,100 jobs currently under threat at the company.

Wragges is advising administrators Deloitte, fielding a team led by restructuring partner Vicki Conway and director Jasvir Jootla.

Conway, who joined Wragges from HBJ Gateley Wareing in 2009, heads up the firm's Birmingham corporate recovery practice.

Deloitte said in a statement that it is looking to keep Auto Windscreens trading while it carries out a search for potential buyers. It is understood that the windscreen repair company had suffered from the loss of several major clients, as well as difficulties caused by a restructuring programme.

The Chesterfield-based company has almost 70 outlets in the UK, employs 1,100 staff and generates annual turnover of approximately £63m.

Deloitte joint administrator Matt Cowlishaw commented: "The company worked extremely hard to try and recapitalise the business, but unfortunately this could not be achieved in the time available."

He added: "We are now in urgent discussions with the key stakeholders and interested parties in an attempt to save the business. We have provided the employees with full briefings and have set up a dedicated employee hotline to help them understand their position."

The role for Wragges comes after the firm recently won a first-time corporate instruction from Premier Foods, advising the UK's largest food producer on the £182m sale of its tinned grocery business to rival Princes.