The ‘technically excellent and commercially astute’ restructuring and insolvency practice at A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland LLP is well-equipped to conduct high value contentious and non-contentious administrations. Sam Corbett, ‘a phenomenal and trusted advisor’ leads the team. Notably, Corbett has been advising on the complex administration of the advertising giant AV Browne Advertising. Michael Neill is another key player in the firm; he has been advising Belfast City Airport on its rights to detain aeroplanes leased by Flybe following Flybe’s administration. The ‘extremely personable’ senior associate Ross Kane specialises in security enforcements and restructuring transactions, while associate Christopher Coulter excels in advanced litigations.
Insolvency and corporate recovery in Northern Ireland
A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland LLP
Practice head(s):
Sam Corbett
Other key lawyers:
Michael Neill; Ross Kane; Dean Barr; Christopher Coulter
Testimonials
‘Technically excellent and commercially astute.’
‘Sam Corbett possesses excellent commercial awareness and technical ability. Chris Coulter serves as a great understudy to Sam Corbett.’
‘The professional team exhibits extensive knowledge of the Northern Ireland market. They provide competitive quotes promptly. Any cost overruns are discussed and negotiated. The team also offers comprehensive training and updates.’
‘The individuals I deal with are Sam Corbett and Ross Kane. Both are extremely personable and are happy to have an informal chat. They always give clear direction in a simple and concise manner.’
‘Timely and concise advice, contactable and approachable. Deliver practical and commercial advice in an easy-to-follow and decipher format.’
‘The team leads the market by a significant margin, combining technical excellence, commercial awareness, and problem-solving abilities to provide first-class client service.’
‘Sam Corbett is a phenomenal and trusted advisor. He’s personable, contactable, and incredibly commercially driven.’
‘Chris Coulter has a talent for thinking outside the box and coming up with good, practical, and effective solutions to address difficult situations.’
Key clients
Belfast City Airport
FRP Financial Advisory
KPMG
Deloitte
Cavanagh Kelly
Keenan Corporate Finance
ASM Chartered Accountants
Lecale Corporate Finance
Grant Thornton
Turpin Barker Armstrong
EY
Interpath Advisory
Work highlights
- Acting for FRP Advisory as Administrators of the Chain Reaction Cycles / Wiggle Group.
- Acting for KPMG as Administrators of A.V. Browne Advertising Ltd.
- Advising Belfast City Airport in relation to the Administration of Flybe.
Arthur Cox Belfast
The Arthur Cox Belfast restructuring and insolvency practice acts as a key contact of various Big Four accountancy firms and insolvency practitioners. Stuart Mansfield heads the team, and has been advising Barclays Bank in relation to the Northern Irish aspects of Cineworld Group’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in the US. Colm McElroy, a key contact for the firm’s Big Four accountancy clients, provides a broad range of services, including enforcement work, administration appointments, receivership appointments, and restructurings.
Practice head(s):
Stuart Mansfield
Other key lawyers:
Colm McElroy
Testimonials
‘The team have extensive corporate insolvency expertise, gained over many years of working in this area. They have a unique and distinctive approach to solving client problems.’
‘Colm McElroy and his team are committed to going above and beyond to help provide solutions to complex legal and commercial issues. They are trusted advisors in their field and prioritise providing a personalised service.’
‘Strong detailed exceptional service and delivery’
Key clients
EY
Grant Thornton
KPMG
Bank of Ireland
Keenan Corporate Finance
Moorfields
PwC
Barclays Bank Plc
Kildare Management Limited
Bank of Ireland
Work highlights
- Advised Keenan Corporate Finance in their role as administrators of William Coates Limited.
- Advised Moorfields as administrators of Abbeytown Associates Limited.
- Advised the administrator of Dixons Contractors Limited.
Carson McDowell
The ‘modern, progressive, and energetic’ Carson McDowell insolvency and restructuring team has a strong presence in the Northern Ireland Market. Notably, the practice successfully defended three directors of WrightBus in disqualification proceedings against the Department of the Economy, which arose from the administration of Wrightbus. Darren Toombs leads the team. A ‘commercial and client focused’ individual, Toombs excels in providing litigation assistance to insolvency practitioners. Sinead McGrath, head of the banking and finance department, lends support on insolvent restructuring and refinancing matters to financial institutions.
Practice head(s):
Darren Toombs
Other key lawyers:
Sinead McGarth
Testimonials
‘Industry leading professionals with genuine expertise.’
‘Darren Toombs is very commercial and client focused. Impeccable legal and commercial judgement.’
‘Darren Toombs provides excellent service and advice.’
‘Straightforward advice, pragmatic solutions that work.’
‘The team’s reputation is built on the trusted relationships it enjoys with its clients. It is modern, progressive, and energetic. Its lawyers understand their subjects, but also the value of service and the client experience.’
‘Darren Toombs is a superb lawyer, confident and reassuring with his clients. He is highly analytical but capable of demystifying complex subjects for his clients and guiding them though challenging personal circumstances.
‘Darren Toombs was exceptionally persistent and collaborative on a challenging an unusual litigation instruction.’
Key clients
Senior Managers in Wrightbus
Mitsubishi HC Capital UK PLC
Begbies Traynor Leeds
Begbies Traynor
Keenan Corporate Finance
Dorothy Brown (IP) Even Keel Financial Services
Work highlights
- Acting for various directors and alleged de facto directors of Wrightbus in defending director disqualification actions.
- Acting for a major PLC Finance Institution to end the potentially widespread fraudulent activities of a farmer engaged in widespread Agric Asset Finance abuse.
- Acting for Begbies Traynor in a major windfarm insolvency dispute which made national legal media headlines on the issue of another IPs costs charged.
Cleaver Fulton Rankin
The insolvency and business restructuring team at Cleaver Fulton Rankin possesses expertise in supporting clients through cross-border insolvency matters, including the acknowledgment of insolvency appointments, recognition of foreign judgments, and representation in asset sales for both Irish and British insolvency practitioners. The ‘very professional, efficient and highly skilled’ Jeanette Donohoe leads the team. Donohoe regularly receives referrals from international law firms which require Northern Ireland insolvency expertise. Stephen Cross, a banking and finance specialist, provides support on matters relating to financial transactions. Associate director Maria McNally assists in a wide range of insolvency matters.
Practice head(s):
Jeanette Donohoe
Other key lawyers:
Stephen Cross; Maria McNally
Testimonials
‘Jeanette Donohoe is very professional, efficient and highly skilled in the area of insolvency practice.’
‘That the team is very knowledgeable and open to questions and provides excellent advice.’
‘Maria McNally has provided great service and advice to me, especially in a difficult situation. She has maintained a good level of communication, which has been appreciated.’
‘The team is made up of people who are highly qualified and provide an excellent service. They have strong knowledge in this field and can always be relied upon when acting in cases. ’
‘Maria McNally provides exceptional service all the time. She is reliable and her knowledge of insolvency is excellent. All work produced by her is to a very high standard, she has a great attitude and is always there to pick up the phone to any query. ’
‘They are a very well constituted firm. They enjoy highly experienced and skilled practitioners. They are client focused and results driven.’
Key clients
Apex Group Fiduciary Services Limited
Baker Tilly Mooney Moore
McCambridge Duffy
KPMG
Danske Bank
HSBC Bank Plc
BDO Northern Ireland
Invest NI
Ipsum Capital (GB) Limited
Department for Economy for Northern Ireland
Work highlights
- Advising the Department for the Economy on the scheme of arrangement made in respect of the Presbyterian Mutual Society pursuant to the Presbyterian Mutual Society (Financial Assistance to Members) Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011.
- Instructed by Intermediate Capital Group in respect of the enforcement of facilities advanced to a well-known, very large Company in NI which owns various shopping centres and other commercial premises in NI, England and Scotland.
- Acted on behalf of the Supervisor of Silverpail Dairy (Ireland) Unlimited Company and Havana Company Unlimited Company CVA to secure recognition of Scheme of Arrangement in NI in accordance with The Insolvency Act 1986.
DWF
DWF's Belfast office benefits from being part of the firm’s wider network of UK offices. The finance and restructuring team is jointly led by Mark Taggart, Orla Hanna, and James Morrison. Taggart is an expert in commercial disputes, while Morrison supports the practice with his banking and corporate expertise. Hanna was promoted to partner in January 2024. At the associate level, Chris Goodfellow is experienced in advising clients on debt recovery options.
Practice head(s):
Mark Taggart; Orla Hanna; James Morrison
Other key lawyers:
Chris Goodfellow
Work highlights
Mills Selig
Mills Selig's restructuring and insolvency group represents insolvency practitioners, accountants, businesses, and private individuals in a variety of matters. Team lead Richard Craig, who is ‘well-balanced and incredibly easy to work with’, frequently appears before the High Court in insolvency proceedings. Associate Kathryn Mclvor has a wide range of litigation experience, particularly regarding debt recovery actions.
Practice head(s):
Richard Craig
Other key lawyers:
Kathryn McIvor
Testimonials
‘ Diligence; preparation; commercially minded; legally astute; motivated to secure results for clients.’
‘Part of the firm’s corporate culture seems to be available, to solve tasks in a timely and correct manner while being solution-oriented. ’
‘Richard Craig is an impressive professional. He is well-balanced and incredibly easy to work with, very focused on the key issues, and handles complex matters well.’
Key clients
Teneo
PKF-FPM Accountants
Gildernew & Co Accountants
Keenan CF
Grant Thornton
Baker Tilly Mooney Moore
Cavanagh Kelly
Rachel Fowler Advisory
ASM
McKeague Morgan
KPMG
Work highlights
TLT
TLT 's Belfast office, which works in tandem with the firm's wider UK network, advises a wide range of national lenders and insolvency practitioners. Fergal Maguire and senior associate Brendan Logue jointly lead the restructuring and insolvency team. Maguire specialises in dispute resolution, including insolvency disputes, while Logue is experienced in personal and corporate insolvency.
Practice head(s):
Fergal Maguire; Brendan Logue
Testimonials
‘Diligence; preparation; commercially minded; legally astute; motivated to secure results for clients.’
‘Very strong insolvency team who offer a wide arrange of advice and practical solutions.’
‘Comprehensive advice. Brendan Logue always goes the extra mile and provide solid, timely advice.’
‘The TLT team have a breadth and depth of experience that they share in timely and practical ways. They actively engage in arriving at the best solution for each case query.’
‘Brendan Logue shows exceptional diligence in finding solutions to queries and situations requiring interpretation of legislation.
Key clients
Arthur Boyd & Company
Baker Tilly Mooney Moore
Begbies Traynor Plc
BDO (NI) LLP
McAleer Jackson
JT Maxwell
Keenan Corporate Finance
Rachel Fowler Advisory
Interpath Ltd
Arthur Boyd & Company
Work highlights
- Acting for administrators of a well-known furniture business who sought payment for or recovery of some £750,000 worth of stock from one particular debtor.
Tughans
Tughans’ specialised insolvency, business recovery, and restructuring practice offers comprehensive advisory services to clients, covering a wide spectrum of matters. The team is led by senior partner Toby McMurray, a highly regarded practitioner who is experienced in acting in the High Court and Court of Appeal in complex insolvency litigations. Key members of the core team include director Ellen Forester and Caroline McAlister.
Practice head(s):
Toby McMurray
Other key lawyers:
Ellen Forester; Caroline McAlister
Testimonials
‘This is a very experienced team with a broad range of applicable skills and the highest standard of client support. ’
‘Toby McMurray is very well known as one of the leading solicitors in this area; he is very knowledgeable and hugely experienced.’
‘Caroline McAllister is an excellent lawyer and provides a superb level of support and guidance to clients. ’
‘This is one of the strongest teams in Northern Ireland. Tughans have a reputation second to none and are market leaders in insolvency related matters. The firm has the capacity to provide a full service to complement insolvency related matters, including insolvency litigation.’
‘Toby McMurray is the leading insolvency lawyer in Northern Ireland and has huge experience, a fantastic network of contacts and is one of the most astute and intelligent solicitors in Belfast. ’
‘Tughans are one of the most active and renowned insolvency advisors in Northern Ireland. They have the experience and credentials to manage every size of insolvency or restructuring assignment and are trusted advisors.’
‘Tughans are one of our go-to advisors on insolvency and restructuring matters. The team is quick to fully understand complex matters and provides value adding commercial advice throughout. ’
‘Toby McMurray is excellent – a trusted advisor.’
Key clients
Interpath
ISL Waste Management
Keenan Corporate Finance
Diageo Northern Ireland Limited
Van Werven Plastic Recycling Holding BV
BDO
KPMG
Work highlights
- Retained by Interpath to advise them in all aspects of the administrations of four Lagan Construction Group companies.
Davidson McDonnell
The Davidson McDonnell insolvency and corporate recovery team provides expertise in both corporate and personal insolvency matters, along with offering support for recovery strategies to lenders. Practice head Lindsey Harten is experienced with both domestic bankruptcy proceedings and in US Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. At the associate level, Elise Quigley and Shane McVeigh are both individuals to note.
Practice head(s):
Lindsey Harten
Other key lawyers:
Elise Quigley; Shane McVeigh
Testimonials
‘Well composed team of highly experienced and diligent practitioners’
‘A medium-sized practice but with a very impressive calibre of staff with expert knowledge and standing in their field.’
‘Timely advice and added value, will go the extra mile to assist and excellent value for money compared with competitors in their field.’
Key clients
BDO NI Limited
Kennan Corporate Finance Limited
ASM (NI) Limited
Lecale Corporate Finance & Restructuring Limited
Gildernew & Co Limited
Directors of MacSpec Engineering Limited
Directors of McCormack Site Services (Ireland) Limited and McCormack Demolition Limited
FRP Advisory Trading Limited
Work highlights
- Advised multiple trustees in bankruptcy on a number of high-value and complex claims involving transactions at an undervalue and preference payments and recovery of estate assets, occasionally on a cross-jurisdiction basis.
- Advising company liquidators, both pre- and post-appointment, on their duties and obligations arising out of those functions, as well as advice and representation on actions to be taken or to be defended against former directors and third parties arising out of the company’s affairs.
- Advising a board of directors on their duties to creditors pre-appointment of administrators and advising on the administration process generally.
Elliott Duffy Garrett
The key names at Elliott Duffy Garrett are Kevin McVeigh, who heads up the corporate and banking practice; securitisation, capital markets and social housing finance specialist Cathy Murphy; and associate John McElrone. The practice is praised for its 'professionalism, sector knowledge and legal skills'.
Practice head(s):
Kevin McVeigh
Other key lawyers:
Cathy Murphy; John McElrone
Testimonials
‘Professionalism; diversity; preparedness; client focus; results driven; experienced; technically proficient; ability to respond urgently to complex matters.’
‘Diligence; preparation; commercially minded; legally astute; motivated to secure results for clients.
Key clients
Northern Bank Limited T/A Danske Bank
Keenan Corporate Finance (Insolvency Practitioners)
BDO Belfast
HNH Group
Ennis Property Finance DAC
Feniton Property Finance DAC
KPMG
McKeague Morgan (Insolvency Practitioners)
Premium Credit Limited
Work highlights
- Advised Lloyds Bank plc on the NI aspects of a public securitisation of a mortgage loan book.
- Advised Deutsche Bank AG on the NI elements of a capital market transaction.
- Advised Keenan Corporate Finance & Northern Bank Limited t/a Danske Bank in connection with contentious commercial litigation with David Prentice (Cars) Limited and which was resolved via mediation.