The Legal 500

United Kingdom > Yorkshire and the Humber > Finance > Insolvency and corporate recovery

Editorial sections

Other

All countries

Renowned for its ‘first-class and timely service’, DLA Piper UK LLP has the capability to handle complex multimillion-pound assignments but is equally adept within the middle market. It recently acted for Dyson in a complex debt-for-equity and pension restructuring, valued at £100m. Leeds-based practice head Mark Jackson is ‘the font of all sound commercial knowledge’. Also in Leeds, Colin Ashford has ‘superb technical knowledge’. Duncan Mosley oversees the Sheffield office.

A ‘top performer’, Walker Morris in 2010 acted for the syndicate of banks in connection with the £52m debt-for-equity swap and debt restructuring of Dyson. Philip Mudd heads the department, which includes David Hinchliffe, who has ‘excellent knowledge of football insolvency’; and Duncan Lole, who is noted for ‘commercial decision making’. The team is also valued for the strength of its personal insolvency practice.

Addleshaw Goddard LLP operates on a national basis and has a strong reputation for its advice on complex issues. Clients include Anglo Irish Bank, Barclays, JD Sports and PwC, which the firm has been advising in connection with the receivership of Dairy Farmers of Britain. Graham Briggs is the key contact in the Leeds team, which also includes Andrew Smith.

Eversheds LLP ‘delivers quality advice time and again’, and ‘responds quickly with a commercial and flexible approach’. In 2010 it represented Lloyds Banking group as lender to the secured creditor in the restructuring of Swayfield’s Group. Practice head Peter Cranston is ‘very experienced and well respected’.

Pinsent Masons LLP is regularly called on to advise the major banks and accountancy firms, as well as various other blue-chip clients. It recently advised Ernst & Young as the liquidator of PAL SC Realisations, and acted for Proventec on a creditor scheme of arrangement. Jonathan Jeffries heads the department.

The team at Clarion is ‘courteous and knowledgeable, and has strength in depth’. It continues to act for KPMG as supervisor of the CVA of Industrial and Corporate Finance, a subprime lender owing over £35m to creditors. Practice head Ryan Millmore is ‘particularly good’, and David Arundel has ‘an excellent working knowledge of the industry’.

Cobbetts LLP’s practice is led by William Ballmann, who gives ‘practical, pragmatic and commercial advice’ and is ‘very easy to deal with’. The team advised the board of directors of Powerfuel on the insolvency of the Hatfield Colliery Coal Mine and in connection with Europe’s largest coal gasification non-carbon power station project, valued at £1bn.

Led by John Alderton, Squire Sanders Hammonds’ practice has considerable strength in complex restructurings. In 2010 the firm advised PwC in the disposal of Swayfield Group’s motorway service stations and main development site in order to satisfy bank debt of around £160m.

At Irwin Mitchell LLP, ‘the service is excellent’ and the team has ‘a commercial, client-focused approach’. In 2010 it advised Begbies Traynor on the interaction of Scottish insolvency rules with English rules. Joint national practice head Andrew Walker is ‘very precise, erudite and easy to work with’.

Langleys’ department is headed by Stephen Baylis. It recently advised Begbies Traynor on restructuring JS Scholes’ potato production business.

Led by David Smyllie, Lupton Fawcett LLP enjoys a solid reputation, particularly for bankruptcy work, and has growing expertise in advising distressed or insolvent legal practices.

Brooke North LLP’s Steven Frieze advises on personal insolvency issues, often attracting instructions from overseas. Other areas of expertise include corporate insolvencies affecting property companies.

Carrick Read Insolvency is a specialist insolvency firm that often attracts instructions nationally.

Denison Till’s ‘very commercial team’ is noted for its ‘concise and understandable advice’. Practice head Martin Frost impresses clients with his ‘determination to achieve the best possible outcome’.

Gordons LLP’s restructuring practice counts Morrisons and Bank of Ireland among its key clients. The team is ‘excellent in every aspect’, and Wayne Parker has a ‘no-nonsense, practical approach’.

HLW Commercial Lawyers LLP acts for a number of major insolvency practices including The P&A Partnership, Wilson Field and Abbey Taylor. Sheffield-based Ron Whitlam and Leeds-based David Guest are recommended.

Keeble Hawson’s team includes Richard Fergusson, who is ‘extremely knowledgeable, proactive and professional’. The team now has three partners, following the promotion in 2010 of Natalie Simms.

Lee & Priestley LLP’s key contact is Nigel Whitfield, who is highly experienced in personal insolvency. It regularly attracts complex bankruptcy instructions, and has particular expertise in the real estate sector.

Rollits LLP’s Ralph Gilbert is very experienced in insolvency, particularly contentious matters.

Taylor & Emmet LLP’s recent work includes advising the liquidator of Nonna’s restaurant on the sale of the business. Rob Moore is recommended.

Wake Smith & Tofields recently advised Yorkshire Bank on an EFG loan to assist in financing the MBO of Lightman Leisure. John Baddeley heads the practice.

Ward Hadaway’s clients include PwC, Mazars and Begbies Traynor. Steve Thomas is the key contact in Leeds.

Search News and Articles

Press releases

The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to

Legal Developments in the UK

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to

Press Releases in the UK

The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to
© 2012 www.legal500.com