
I’m a partner and head of the commercial dispute resolution and restructuring & insolvency teams, providing pragmatic commercial advice to businesses and individuals, with a particular focus on insolvency issues.
I have almost 20 years’ experience in handling large, complex disputes, often acting against heavyweight City firms.
I also advise on contentious and non-contentious high value restructuring and insolvency matters, including claims against directors, acting for insolvency practitioners, creditors (including landlords) and companies in financial difficulties.
In addition to contentious insolvency matters, my litigation expertise includes corporate governance issues, shareholder disputes and IT and technology contracts.
I am recognised as a specialist in Commercial Dispute Resolution and Insolvency in Chambers and Partners and Legal 500.
Areas of expertise:
- Restructuring and insolvency
- Insolvency disputes
- M&A Disputes
- Director and shareholder disputes
- IT and technology contracts
- Intellectual property
- Complex contractual disputes
Qualifications and memberships
- Qualified in March 2004
- R3: Association of Business Recovery Professionals (Member)
- Member of Insolvency Lawyers Association
If I'm unavailable, please contact:
Lesley Monteith
Legal Secretary +44 (0)1892 765 452 lesley.monteith@cripps.co.uk
Nicola O’Shea
Legal Secretary +44 (0)1892 506 208 nicola.oshea@cripps.co.uk
My experience

Crowe UK LLP / Betteshanger Sustainable Park Limited
Representing joint liquidators in an appeal against the rejection of a creditor claim of over £1 million relating to a construction project.

Green Box Recycling Kent Limited / Richard Monks
Acting for joint Defendants in a claim for breach of director’s duties and knowing receipt relating to the wrongful diversion of business and assets to another company.

Noksel çelik Boru Sanayi A.Ş.
Securing judgment for over $7 million on behalf of an international manufacturing client in a complex Commercial Court claim.

Acting for a BVI company in debt recovery proceedings against a Ukrainian national, subsequent enforcement proceedings against their property in Germany and associated freezing injunction.

Acting for private members’ club The Conduit on a winding-up petition presented by its landlord at the start of the pandemic, and associated restructuring advice.

Advising the Moravian Union, a registered charity, on financial difficulties experienced by one of its boarding schools and its subsequent closure and administration.

Advised on the administration and subsequent business and asset sale of regulated fintech company Oval Money Ltd together with its Spanish subsidiary.

Advising Milk Visual Effects Limited, an independent visual effects company, on cash flow difficulties and a subsequent pre-packaged administration sale.
How we made a difference
"Joanna is an engaging professional who is a delight to work with."
Chambers UK Guide 2024
"She is very thorough, measured, reliable and pragmatic."
Chambers UK Guide 2024
"Joanna is a trusted legal adviser who delivers time and time again. She not only brings deep legal expertise, but knows when to bring in her trusted colleagues on matters requiring further input. This is all done in an outcome-focused and pragmatic way."
Chambers UK Guide 2024
"She anticipates responses from the other side and remains calm and composed when others in the room aren't making the process very reassuring."
Chambers UK Guide 2024
"She's always fully prepared and informed, with a very commanding but equally soothing presence in meetings. Her commercial acumen is clear."
Chambers UK Guide 2024
"She's a calm and commercially minded solicitor who exercises excellent judgement when it comes to navigating complex cases. She's a great leader and willing to talk directly and calmly to clients."
Chambers UK Guide 2024
Extremely client focussed and collaborative - Cripps always provide clear and technical advice in working with us.
FRP Advisory Trading Limited
[Joanna] exercises excellent judgement and has a calm head in a very stressful environment.
The partner I dealt with was Joanna Ford. I found her accessibility outstanding compared to my experience of other firms. She was always available to discuss matters as they arose and to give practical advice – a pleasure to deal with.
Legal 500
The Cripps team was diligent, attentive and on top of things throughout the proceedings. We were successful in almost all of our claims and Cripps’s assistance in attaining that result was very valuable.
Cenk Atik
Deputy General Manager of Financial & Administrative Affairs at Noksel çelik Boru Sanayi A.Ş.
My thinking

Reshaping director duties: ESG and corporate responsibility

Government information hub for company directors

Duties and responsibilities of directors

Cripps has advised on the sale of Yateley Manor School to the Inspired Learning Group

Litigating sustainably – the Greener Litigation Pledge

The insolvency landscape in 2023

Limitation issues in insolvency - the Third Parties (Rights against Insurers) Act 2010

Guidance note on directors’ duties

HMRC toughens up post-pandemic

An end to temporary COVID insolvency measures
Awards


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