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DLA Piper UK LLP, under the ‘very level-headed and experienced’ Huw Dolphin, handles a considerable amount of lender-driven restructuring and property-related insolvency work. Key mandates included acting for PwC/Bank of Scotland in the administration of a property holding company which holds various bingo halls around England and Wales; and advising HSBC/BDO on the administration of a chain of furniture retailers based in and around London. Other clients include Begbies Traynor, KPMG and Baker Tilly.

Eversheds LLP’s ‘strong team’ includes the ‘gifted and innovative’ Gemma Curtis and the ‘dependable’ Andrew Jordan, who is ‘someone you would want next to you in the trenches’. A successful year saw it advise on the restructuring of a number of high-profile corporates. A key mandate was acting for Begbies Traynor in the administration of the Wedgwood Museum Trust following the failure of the Wedgwood group. The team has an excellent reputation for restructurings in the real estate sector, and counts Lloyds Banking Group, PwC and Deloitte as clients.

Gateley’s sizeable team has an ‘excellent reputation’, and features the ‘top-notch’ Brendan McGeever and Mark Wilson. It acted for the joint administrators of Birmingham Development Company in relation to the Cube, a new mixed-use development scheme in the centre of Birmingham, and acted for the liquidator of a leading automotive manufacturer in the successful conclusion of a claim against its former administrators. Clients include Lloyds TSB, Deloitte and Zolfo Cooper.

At Squire Sanders Hammonds, the ‘very knowledgeable’ Stephen George heads a three-partner practice and is noted for his expertise in pensions deficit issues. Also recommended are the ‘very experienced’ Devinder Singh and the newly promoted Daniel French, who is ‘always available’. The firm advised PKF as administrators of Super Aguri F1, the Formula One motor racing team.

Wragge & Co LLP has a ‘very responsive team’ which includes Vicki Conway, who ‘gets the deal done’. It recently advised the administrators (John Whitfield, Paul Clark and Paul Williams) on the sale of the business of Legion Group and Legion FM. Jasvir Jootla has been promoted to director.

Clarke Willmott LLP has a ‘commercial and pragmatic approach’. It counts major names such as Bank of Ireland, BDO Stoy Hayward and Butcher Woods as clients, and continues to receive regular instructions on the personal insolvency side. Newly promoted partner Stephanie Slinn is a ‘strong team leader’.

At Cobbetts LLP, directors Alan Meiklejohn and recent addition Daryl Shorthose (formerly of Shoosmiths) are part of an ‘experienced and capable team’ which provides ‘proactive and robust advice’. Key mandates included acting for Begbies Traynor and RSM Tenon as administrators of Octavian. Zafar Rafiq left the firm.

Harrison Clark LLP, a ‘City-type firm for a provincial price’, has a well-regarded team that includes Jon Whitbread (who ‘comes up with solutions’) and the ‘excellent’ Dan Cambridge (now a partner). Highlights included acting for the management of Adroit Modular Buildings and the administrators of AIM-listed company Henderson Morley.

The ‘very knowledgeable’ David Ellis heads the team at Higgs & Sons, and associate Sunil Abbi is appreciated for his ‘no-nonsense approach’. Clients include Begbies Traynor, and Smith and Williamson. The team has seen a surge in s110 restructurings, and advises on personal insolvencies.

Martineau’s four-partner practice, led by Ian Baker, regularly advises on contentious matters, and restructuring work remains a major focus. The team includes Helen Readett, who is ‘willing to think outside the box’; and Sam Payne, who joined from Freeth Cartwright LLP. It advised King Sturge London on an LPA receivership concerning a development site.

The team at Shakespeares has seen some significant changes at a senior level; Carrick Lindsay and Robin Koolhoven left to set up their own practices, while Andrew Taylor joined from Irwin Mitchell LLP. Taylor is complimented for his ‘thorough advice’ and ‘ability to see the bigger picture’. Active clients include KPMG, Mazars and Islamic Bank of Britain.

Shoosmiths provides a ‘great service’ under the leadership of the ‘commercial’ James Keates. The team regularly advises funders to the automotive industry on distressed lending matters. High-profile deals included acting for MCR on the administration of Vergo Retail. Clients include Anglo Irish Asset Finance, Nationwide Building Society, and RBS Group.

Sydney Mitchell continues to receive sizeable instructions from insolvency practitioners such as KPMG and BDO, and referrals and recommendations from financial institutions such as AIB and West Bromwich Building Society. Kamal Majevadia heads the team, and associate Leanne Schneider-Rose is ‘technically very sound’.

The Wilkes Partnership has a niche, two-partner department which is led by David Cleary and concentrates on the SME market. It recently represented a liquidator in the recovery of funds from a Swiss bank account and in the repayment of unauthorised dividends.

Beswicks Solicitors LLP’s clients include national insolvency practitioners such as KPMG, Moore Stephens and Insolvency Practitioners Direct. Richard Preston is recommended, and the ‘pragmatic’ Richard Anderson joined the team from Grindeys LLP.

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

Brindley Twist Tafft & James advises on a broad range of insolvency issues, from actions for misfeasance to recovery and enforcement. Mohammed Qasim is the main contact.

FBC Manby Bowdler LLP’s work highlights included obtaining a s127 validation order on 36 hours’ notice to preserve the business of a multimillion-pound mobile communications company. Brian Aikman is recommended.

Irwin Mitchell LLP acts for clients such as KPMG, HSBC and Leonard Curtis. Lead associate Michael Bennett is ‘knowledgeable and experienced’. Andrew Taylor left to join Shakespeares.

KJD Freeth LLP is advising on a number of claims against former directors, and has also been handling property acquisitions and sales for insolvency practitioners and other clients. Martin Cook heads the team.

Knights solicitors llp’s clients include Begbies Traynor and Moore Stephens. Areas of expertise include advising on the impact of insolvency on landlord and tenant relationships. Ian White is a key contact.

Nicholls & Co is a boutique practice specialising in insolvency, restructuring and directors’ disqualification. James Nicholls is ‘very straight talking and knowledgeable’.

Pinsent Masons LLP’s practice is primarily focused on bank-led transactional restructuring and insolvency work involving mid-market businesses, and acts for Deloitte and Barclays. Alastair Lomax heads the department.

Wright Hassall LLP acts for clients such as MB Insolvency and Tenon Recovery. The ‘very thorough and consistent’ Andrew Harris is recommended.

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