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
- Admitted as a solicitor 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 [email protected]
Nicola O’Shea
Legal Secretary +44 (0)1892 506 208 [email protected]
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 Ford and John Kirkwood put considerable time and effort in to get very complex transactions over the line. Their considerable experience and knowledge is vital to ensure all the hurdles to completing sales are overcome in a very short time. As well as the work itself, it was a pleasure working them, they were very driven, friendly and accessible.
Legal 500 2024
Joanna Ford and John Kirkwood play an integral part in achieving successful outcomes.
Legal 500 2024
Joanna’s attention to detail saves time and keeps things moving. I would have no hesitation in recommending or using Cripps again.
Legal 500 2024
Joanna Ford understands the challenges of stakeholder management. Her advice was clear and concise.
Joanna Ford is my go-to lawyer. I have worked with her for years and she always helps finds me the right person.
Legal 500 2024
"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
My thinking
Judge robot? Technology’s role in dispute resolution
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
Awards
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