I’m a legal director in the commercial dispute resolution and restructuring and insolvency teams. My clients value my technical expertise and pragmatic approach to their legal issues. My primary focus is to listen to what my clients want, assess if this is what they actually need and deliver excellent service.
I work in all areas of corporate and personal insolvency. Although much of my work is contentious, I am also regularly involved in the non-contentious transactional side of insolvency when we are retained by insolvency practitioners acting as liquidator or administrator.
Over the last 30+ years, I have developed recognised expertise in director protection, advising directors of companies in financial distress or those that have entered an insolvency process, as well as defending them in all manner of proceedings including disqualification.
Having spent many years acting for the Insolvency Service instructed by the Secretary of State in bringing disqualification proceedings against former directors, I am in the unique position of being able to advise directors who have been targeted for disqualification.
My clients include insolvency practitioners acting as liquidator, administrator or trustee in bankruptcy, company directors and individuals.
I am recognised by The Legal 500 as a specialist in Insolvency.
Areas of expertise:
- Restructuring and insolvency
- Insolvency disputes
- Defending director disqualification proceedings
Qualifications and memberships
- Admitted as a solicitor in January 1993
- R3: Association of Business Recovery Professionals (Member)
- Committee Member of R3 Education Committee
- Member of Insolvency Lawyers Association
My experience
Advised two major landlords in connection with the impact of their tenant’s ongoing Chapter 11 insolvency proceedings in the Unites States, on their leasehold obligations in respect of two substantial cinema leases.
Defended a winding up petition presented by HMRC for unpaid tax. Secured a 13-week adjournment to allow VAT Returns to be filed and the level of tax payable re-assessed. The parties reached an agreement resulting in the withdrawal of the winding up petition.
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.
Expertise in advising trustees in bankruptcy on valuable and high profile cases with significant assets including a case involving a Syrian property magnate once listed in Forbes.
Acting for joint administrators appointed over a hotel chain in a case that started out as a liquidation and evolved into a complex and highly litigious administration.
Advising an award-winning P2P lender, one of the UK’s largest, on their interests as creditors of a major bar operator.
Successfully advising a client on the disclaimer by her former trustee in bankruptcy of a freehold interest in a property which was registered in her sole name.
How we made a difference
My thinking
New measures from the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (“ECCTA”) introduced on 4 March 2024
Insolvency statistics – where are we and what does the landscape for 2024 look like?
Rare relief: Compensation order made against disqualified director
One step on from Sequana – what more have we learned after Hunt v Singh [2023] EWHC 1784 (Ch)
Insolvency Service winds up 11 companies involved in BBL fraud
Tough times for directors who abused the pandemic financial support schemes
Will the proposed Companies House reforms under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill be fit for purpose?
Corporate insolvencies remain at a high
The director’s questionnaire
All change in creditor petition deposit fees: Bankruptcy and winding up
