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At DLA Piper UK LLP, Huw Dolphin and John Jeffreys provide ‘very level-headed advice’. The team has strong bank panel appointments and intermediary relationships, and acts for a number of private equity investors. It advised PwC on the insolvency of Castlemore Securities, while recent cross-border work includes advising Better Capital on the acquisition of Digipos. It is also developing its real estate insolvency practice. Key clients include Baker Tilly and Barclays.

Eversheds LLP’s team ‘remains commercial and focused’ under the leadership of the ‘clear and concise’ Andrew Jordan. The team works with the main clearing banks, assets based lenders and the big four accountants on large-scale restructuring assignments. Key mandates included advising Barclays and Grant Thornton as administrators on the pre-pack sale of the business and assets of parts of the Orchestra Group to Communisis. Deloitte, Santander and RBS are also clients. Gemma Curtis is praised for her technical ability.

Gateley’s ‘response times are consistently excellent’. Mark Wilson ‘grasps complex matters quickly’, and the ‘incisive’ Brendan McGeever ‘outlines the options clearly’. The practice continues to assist UK clearing banks and various accountants on contentious and non-contentious matters. Key instructions included advising Zolfo Cooper on the proposed CVA of Astraeus, and advising AIB and Begbies Traynor on the orderly realisation of an individual borrower’s investment portfolio. Other significant clients include Lloyds TSB and Deloitte.

Squire Sanders LLP has a ‘first-class team’. Practice head Stephen George ‘can always be relied upon’, and Daniel French is ‘developing a strong market presence’. The team has been active in a number of high-profile transactions, including advising the administrators of Perfect Pizza, and Grant Thornton as administrators of Helix. The team regularly acts for Barclays, RBS and Lloyds Banking Group.

Vicki Conway heads the team at Wragge & Co LLP, which has a strong reputation in the market. It advises clients such as Lloyds Banking Group and various asset-based lenders, and regularly acts for corporate groups on complex transactions in the UK, Europe and the US. It is also well equipped to advise on the real estate aspects of corporate recoveries. It recently advised the joint administrators of Gemstone Retail and Gemstone Operations.

Clarke Willmott LLP provides ‘technically sound and commercially excellent advice’. It receives a steady stream of instructions from Smith & Williamson, BDO and Moore Stephens, and also acts for asset based lenders. Practice head Stephanie Slinn demonstrates ‘great attention to detail’.

Cobbetts LLP’s clients include PwC, KPMG and Baker Tilly. The team acted for RSM Tenon Recovery as administrators of a software company in the pre-pack sale of its assets and business to a competitor. Alan Meiklejohn and Daryl Shorthose are the key contacts.

Jon Whitbread heads a two-partner department at Harrison Clark LLP. It acts for RSM Tenon, Smith & Williamson, KPMG and Marrill Group, along with new gains such as The Co-Operative Bank and Unity Trust.

Higgs & Sons’ head of department David Ellis ‘gets straight to the point’. The team acted for the administrators of MGR Services in a going concern sale of the assets and goodwill of the business. It also handled an array of pre-packs and other asset sales and acts for many insolvency practitioners locally.

The team at Pinsent Masons LLP is ‘efficient’. It focuses on bank-led transactional restructuring and insolvency work involving mid-market businesses. Highlights included advising Better Capital on its acquisition from the administrator, KPMG, of the DigiPoS group. HSBC and Deloitte are also clients. Alastair Lomax is ‘commercially astute’.

SGH Martineau LLP’s client base spans niche insolvency practices, mid-tier national accountancy practices and major lenders. It recently advised the lender on the appointment of the administrative receivers to CDU and the trade sale of the remaining assets. Sam Payne is the primary contact.

Shakespeares was instructed by KPMG on the administration of Greens Transport. Practice head Andrew Taylor is appreciated for his ‘commerciality’, and the service provided by the team as a whole is ‘outstanding’. The wide-ranging practice receives a steady flow of instructions from clients such as Unity Trust Bank and Poppleton & Appleby.

Shoosmiths advised EFB on the acquisition of a number of Oddbins outlets from the administrators (Deloitte); and also advised SKG on its acquisition of 25 of Walmsley’s high street outlets from Leonard Curtis. It continues to receive instructions on complex contentious matters and high-value property sales on behalf of LPA receivers. The ‘responsive and commercial’ James Keates heads the team.

Sydney Mitchell LLP continues to attract sizeable instructions from insolvency practitioners such as KPMG and Baker Tilly, and referrals and recommendations from institutions such as AIB. Practice head Kamal Majevadia and associate Leanne Schneider-Rose are ‘very commercial and helpful’.

The Wilkes Partnership’s contact partners are David Cleary and John Cooper. It has a focus on the SME market.

Richard Preston heads the team at Beswicks Solicitors LLP, which ‘adopts a practical approach’, and counts KPMG and Moore Stephens among its clients.

Eddie Flanagan is the main contact at Blakemores. The team is strong on the contentious side, and also handles some personal insolvency work.

Brindley Twist Tafft & James advises on a wide range of insolvency issues, from personal guarantees to recovery and enforcement. Mohammed Qasim is the key contact.

FBC Manby Bowdler LLP recently advised the joint administrators of a chain of 69 substantial retail outlets. Guy Birkett and Brian Aikman are recommended.

Freeth Cartwright LLP advises on contentious and non-contentious matters. Highlights included successfully pursuing a number of preference claims against directors. Martin Cork is a key contact.

Irwin Mitchell has a strong LPA receivership, property insolvency and non-contentious offering, and acts for clients such as HSBC and Bank of Cyprus. Lead associate Michael Bennett is ‘commercial and practical’.

Knights solicitors llp has particular expertise in advising on the impact of insolvency on landlord and tenant relationships. Clients include RSM Tenon. Adrian Rushton is the primary contact.

Nicholls & Co is a boutique practice specialising in insolvency (including personal insolvency), corporate restructuring and distressed debt trading. James Nicholls is the main contact.

Andrew Harris heads the team at Wright Hassall LLP. He advises on the full spectrum of insolvency issues, and has particular expertise in advising on the appointment of insolvency practitioners. Clients include Cranfield Business Recovery and MB Insolvency.

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