Shoosmiths has taken the lead legal role on the administration of shoe retailer Barratts, the news of which was confirmed yesterday (11 November).

The retailers' third administration in four years was prompted by difficult trading conditions and the collapse of talks over a £5m capital injection offer.

Manchester restructuring partner Sarah Teal and corporate partner Mark Dawson are leading for joint administrators Philip Duffy and David Whitehouse of Duff & Phelps.

The administrators hope to sell the business – which currently has 75 stores, 23 concessions and a 1,035-strong workforce – as a going concern, but conceded that discussions may result in store closures or redundancies.

Shoosmiths' role is the latest in a string of mandates for law firms advising on the distressed company's various administrations.

In January 2012, a Squire Sanders team headed by Leeds head of restructuring and insolvency John Alderton was on hand to advise administrators Deloitte on the sale of 89 stores and the Barratts Priceless e-commerce business to Barratts Trading.

Barratts Trading was advised by Walker Morris, which also took the role for former owners Stylo group in the retailer's 2009 administration, a deal which saw Berwin Leighton Paisner and Addleshaw Goddard take roles for Deloitte and Lloyds TSB respectively.

The news of Barratts imminent restructuring came on the same day as DVD and video games rental company Blockbuster filed for administration for the second time this year.

Locke Lord is advising Blockbuster administrator Moorfields, with London restructuring partner David Grant leading a team that includes corporate and private equity partner Graham Spitz and real estate partner Ayesha Hasan.