The large restructuring team at Addleshaw Goddard is based across Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow, giving it a wide national coverage. It acts for international and domestic banking organisations, investment banks, funds, insolvency practitioners, sponsors and corporate borrowers. Jamie McIntosh heads up the practice and is recommended for insolvency and corporate restructuring matters. Tim Cooper handles contentious insolvency work and Addi Spiers is experienced in distressed real estate matters. Managing associate Kirsten Fleming deals with global investigations and recovery issues.
Insolvency and corporate recovery in Scotland
Addleshaw Goddard
Practice head(s):
Jamie McIntosh
Other key lawyers:
Tim Cooper; Addi Spiers; Emma Widdowson; Kirsten Fleming
Testimonials
‘They are a large well know presence in the market and uphold this reputation’.
‘Emma Widdowson is a trusted contact we are able to call upon for our projects’.
‘First-class service from a very knowledgeable team’.
‘Proactive in managing cases and driving forward towards results’.
‘Our key client partner is Addi Spiers who I have found to be extremely positive in managing cases through to conclusion’.
‘Tim Cooper is proactive, provides excellent service and always goes the extra mile’.
‘They are a highly skilled and dedicated team who can be relied upon to provide sound advice in a timely and precise manner’.
‘The people I deal with are personable, reliable and manage time costs well’.
Key clients
Lloyds Banking Group
The Royal Bank Of Scotland / Natwest
Santander Bank
Clydesdale Bank PLC / Virgin Money
HSBC
Barclays Bank plc
KPMG LLP
OakNorth Bank plc
Cable Capital Partners Limited
Scottish Enterprise
Work highlights
- Advised Deloitte as the proposed administrators on the administration of Bifab.
- Acted on behalf of FRP Advisory LLP as liquidators of Land Regeneration & Development Limited.
- Acted for Cable Capital Partners, which acquired the shares in Dubois Ltd, t/a Amaray UK, and Cable’s subsidiary, GQS Finance Ltd in refinancing Dubois’ indebtedness to FGI Worldwide LLC in the region of £2m and provision of further working capital.
Burness Paull LLP
Under the leadership of Michael Thomson, Burness Paull LLP continues to operate at the top of the market in relation to contentious and non-contentious restructuring and insolvency matters. Thomson is ‘commercial and proactive about securing the right outcome for the client’. The practice acts for high-profile banks and insolvency practitioners, and also handles the Scots law aspects of issues for larger London and international firms. Gary Moffat is a veteran insolvency litigator and acts in high-value and high-profile contentious insolvency matters. Allana Sweeney joined as a legal director from Shepherd and Wedderburn in May 2021.
Practice head(s):
Michael Thomson
Other key lawyers:
Gary Moffat; Allana Sweeney
Testimonials
‘There is a good breadth of knowledge at every level in the team’.
‘Gary Mofatt combines strong technical knowledge with a keen eye for the commercial issues at play’.
‘Gary Mofatt’s case analysis is always spot on; he knows what the client wants to achieve and focuses on putting together a strategy that meets those objectives’.
‘Michael Thomson is committed, personable and professional, quick to react and focuses on the key issues’.
‘Very accessible and responsive, professional and pleasant to deal with, capabilities extend across numerous service lines’.
‘Michael Thomson is very good; he is now one of the best operators in the Scottish corporate insolvency scene’.
‘Michael Thomson is a standout partner and is always on hand to brain storm issues before spending time on detailed analysis and well thought through advice’.
‘They have a real depth of experience and are great to work with’.
Key clients
Pizza Express
Zizzi
M&Co
Mamas & Papas
Edinburgh Woollen Mill
An ad hoc committee of secured creditors of Intu, led by Aberdeen Investment Managers Limited and M&G Investment Management
Virgin Money
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme
Arcadia Group
Deloitte
Work highlights
- Acting for the administrators of Arcadia on communications with numerous landlords that are owed rental arrears and on the strategy for continuing to trade certain premises.
- Advised Pizza Express on a company voluntary arrangement.
- Advising the administrators of Edinburgh Woollen Mill on its insovency.
Pinsent Masons LLP
With an international network, Pinsent Masons LLP is well placed to handle cross-border mandates, including those with Scottish, English and Northern Irish aspects. The team acts as lead counsel on a wide range of restructuring and distressed loan matters, and is particularly active in the oil and gas, retail, renewables, care home and financial services sectors. Practice head Claire Massie handles strategic advisory work for global banking clients, while Stacey Bairner is recommended for distressed debt restructuring work, and senior consultant Colin McIntosh brings considerable experience in financial and equity restructurings. Senior associates Natalie Colaluca and Jennifer McCormick are also recommended. Ainslie Benzie left for TLT.
Practice head(s):
Claire Massie
Other key lawyers:
Colin McIntosh; Stacey Bairner; Natalie Colaluca; Jennifer McCormick
Testimonials
‘Claire Massie is well respected, extremely knowledgeable and practical’.
‘A very well-resourced and capable team with a wealth of experience of insolvency and restructuring scenarios’.
‘Advice is always robust and sound and the team is always a pleasure to deal with’.
‘Claire Massie who leads the team is always impressive – I have always found her advice to be well thought out’.
‘Excellent experience working with the Pinsent Masons team to date; highly reliable, very reactive and often go above and beyond’.
Key clients
Deloitte LLP
KPMG LLP
Albert Bartlett & Sons (Airdrie) Limited
HSBC Bank plc
Hutchison Networks Limited
French Duncan LLP
Ernst & Young LLP
PWC
Leonard Curtis Business Rescue & Recovery
Johnston Carmichael
FRP Advisory LLP
Work highlights
- Acted for the administrators of the M&D Group, which involved complex pre-administration planning and negotiation and then acting for the administrators in the sale of the assets.
- Acted for the administrators of Johnston Carmichael Mars Black Sheep Hotels Limited on the sale of the hotels out of administration and thereafter have been involved in reviewing potential antecedent transactions.
- Advised Leonard Curtis Business Rescue & Recovery Carmelite (Aberdeen) Limited, on the pre-administration planning and thereafter the sale of the business and assets via a pre packaged sale agreement.
Brodies LLP
With strength in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, Brodies LLP has recently been handling a number of high-profile company voluntary arrangements (CVAs) and insolvencies resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic. The practice is also active in the charity and energy sectors, and often acts alongside City and US firms on the Scots law aspects of matters. Peter Kelly co-heads the team and has considerable experience in restructuring issues, often acting for banks. Bruce Stephen also jointly leads the team and handles specialised insolvency processes involving credit institutions and the related Banking Act requirements. Lucy McCann focuses on contentious work and Elaine Petterson assists with real estate issues.
Practice head(s):
Peter Kelly; Bruce Stephen; Lucy McCann; Elaine Petterson
Other key lawyers:
Shirley Li-Ting; Louise Laing; Jamie Nellany; Andrew Scott
Testimonials
‘I found Lucy McCann to be most professional and knowledgeable in this area after my first dealings with her, so did not hesitate to engage with Brodies when a similar situation arose a second time’.
‘Lucy McCann was a solid support to me to bounce ideas off from a commercial aspect’.
‘Lucy McCann and Jamie Nellany are both excellent solicitors’.
‘I have always found the team at Brodies to be engaging and enthusiastic about matters, with a pragmatic approach to issues arising and strong commercial view points’.
‘I have worked closely with Shirley Li-Ting, whom I feel goes the extra mile to get to know her clients and understand how they think and operate’.
‘Jamie Nellany has proven himself to be an excellent lawyer with a keen eye for detail and an ability to identify issues at an early stage’.
‘Full-service offering, with experienced and respected professionals’.
‘Louise Laing is very approachable and provides considered advice which is both technical and commercial’.
Key clients
KPMG LLP
Ernst & Young LLP
FRP Advisory LLP – Scotland and London
BDO LLP
Leonard Curtis Business Recovery Limited – Scotland
Aver Corporate Advisory Services Limited
Tennent Caledonian Breweries UK Limited
Ashurst
Duff & Phelps
Moorfields Advisory
Johnston Carmichael
Stirling Toner
Grant Thornton LLP
Mazars LLP
Begbies Traynor LLP
Smith & Williamson LLP
Dentons
Dentons has a focus on insolvency transaction work and handles matters that straddle English and Scots law, with support from its network of offices. It acts for insolvency practitioners and directors and purchasers of distressed companies in relation to restructuring and insolvency matters. Douglas Blyth and Derek McCombe head up the team; Blyth is recommended for contentious insolvency matters and disputes; and McCombe handles corporate restructurings and insolvencies.
Practice head(s):
Douglas Blyth; Derek McCombe
Other key lawyers:
Craig Kennedy
Key clients
The Edinburgh Woollen Mill
Dunfermline Building Society
KPMG LLP
FRP Advisory LLP
CVR Global LLP
RSM
HM Government
Timex Fashions Limited
Quiz plc
Grant Thornton
Purepay Retail Limited
Work highlights
- Led the The Edinburgh Woollen Mill (Group) through a significant debt restructure, a strategically planned and executed insolvency of certain trading companies followed by the acquisition of key brands into a newly formed group.
- Advised long standing client AIM-registered Quiz PLC on the restructuring of its retail portfolio (bricks and mortar stores).
- Advising the Gibraltarian based trustees of Gregory King, the former Heather Capital hedge fund principal, in connection with the investigation into and recovery of assets in Scotland.
Morton Fraser
Morton Fraser takes a multidisciplinary approach to restructuring and insolvency matters, drawing on strength from experts in restructuring, banking, property, employment, financial crime and asset-based lending mandates and litigation. The practice handles both contentious and non-contentious matters for banks, financial institutions, insolvency practitioners and businesses, and regularly handles referral work from London. The team is headed up by Alan Meek, who is recommended for insolvency matters. Iain Young handles corporate restructurings and commercial contract work. Yvonne Brady joined from Shepherd and Wedderburn.
Practice head(s):
Alan Meek
Other key lawyers:
Richard McMeeken; Nicola Ross; Iain Young; Yvonne Brady
Testimonials
‘Well-established team with a wealth of experience’.
‘Always available to analyse complex problems and provide realistic advice, based on sound legal knowledge’.
‘Alan Meek is an excellent lawyer, well respected and with the ability to address complex problems and come up with the appropriate advice’.
‘Nicola Ross is an exceptional partner, understanding of clients’ needs’.
‘An exceptionally knowledgeable and results-focused team, who I always feel are prepared to prioritise my work’.
‘Alan Meek can always be relied on to prioritise where necessary and provide technical and commercial advice’.
Key clients
RSM
KPMG LLP
French Duncan LLP
FRP Advisory LLP
Quantuma Advisory
Anderson Anderson & Brown
Ernst & Young Legal
Leonard Curtis
Wylie & Bissett
Bibby Financial Services
Work highlights
- Acting for French Duncan as liquidator of The Scotsman (Edinburgh) Company Ltd.
- Acting for The Environment Agency in litigation to determine the ranking of environmental liabilities against remuneration of administrators.
Shepherd and Wedderburn
Following the departure of Yvonne Brady to Morton Fraser at the start of 2021, Fiona McKerrell has taken over the reins as leader of the restructuring and insolvency practice at Shepherd and Wedderburn. McKerrell focuses on corporate advisory, stakeholder advisory and non-contentious insolvency matters. On the contentious side, Gillian Carty is a key name to note, while Hamish Patrick is well regarded for the reorganisation of funding structures and cross-border matters.
Practice head(s):
Fiona McKerrell
Other key lawyers:
Gillian Carty; Paul Hally; Hamish Patrick; John Gallacher
Testimonials
‘An exceptionally high level of technical legal knowledge combined with a very practical and commercially focused attitude’.
‘Fiona McKerrell has for a decade now been one of Scotland’s stand out corporate restructuring solicitors’.
‘Their continued support is excellent, their technical ability superb, and they are extremely personable, making them a delight to work with’.
‘Fiona McKerrell stands out and is a superb lawyer’.
‘Fiona McKerrell knows the law inside out and is a very strong technical practitioner’.
‘Gillian Carty will ensure that the work is delivered to the specification whether the constraints are costs, urgency or complexity, whilst always maintaining oversight of the delivery of the outcome’.
‘Fiona McKerrell is well established and known for her technical prowess’.
‘One of the strongest and most experienced teams in the restructuring market’.
Key clients
KPMG LLP
FRP Advisory
Deloitte
PwC
Ernst and Young (EY)
Leonard Curtis
David Rubin and Partners
BDO
RSM Restructuring Advisory
Johnston Carmichael
Grant Thornton
Work highlights
- Advised the administrators of David Rubin and Partners, which operated a trading biogas plant (Lake District Biogas Limited (in administration), in relation to a complex and bespoke transaction involving a CVA, share sale, exercise of drag-along rights, compromise agreements binding more than 70 loan note holders and interim trading arrangements.
- Acting for the administrators of Killean Estate Ltd, in relation to a wide variety of contentious insolvency matters necessary to be resolved in order to realise the value of the multi-million pound estate.
- Acting for the administrations of four group companies in a sale of motorbike dealerships and related business and assets of the companies.
BBM Solicitors
Well-regarded boutique firm BBM Solicitors has a focus on high-value, contentious and cross-border insolvency matters. It is often instructed by large London and international firms on the Scots law aspects of cross-border insolvencies. It also handles administrations, CVAs and restructurings, including advising clients on the commercial aspects of restructuring and insolvency decisions. Eric Baijal heads up the practice and Sheana Campbell is recommended for advice to bankrupt individuals.
Practice head(s):
Eric Baijal
Other key lawyers:
Jennifer Simpson; Sheana Campbell
Testimonials
‘Specialist insolvency lawyers with no other distractions of other practice areas.’
‘Eric Baijal is a tremendous operator: highly knowledgeable and committed to getting results’.
‘The individuals in the practice provide comprehensive technical and practical advice in respect of all Insolvency matters’.
‘The individuals have a wealth of knowledge in respect of Insolvency, including a great deal of knowledge in respect of Scottish insolvency law and practice’.
‘BBM displayed a welcomed level of commercial acumen alongside sound legal advice, were responsive and also pleasant to work with’.
‘Eric Baijal is clever, calm and collaborative’.
‘The team at BBM are very approachable, they listen carefully to what is being said to gain a good understanding of the issues at hand’.
‘Their advice is clear and understandable’.
Key clients
Manolete Partners PLC
FRP Advisory
Johnston Carmichael
RSM
French Duncan
CMS
Siân Aitken is the key contact in CMS' corporate recovery team, and advises insolvency practitioners, banks and businesses on the full spectrum of restructuring and insolvency mandates.
Practice head(s):
Siân Aitken
Harper Macleod LLP
The restructuring and insolvency team at Harper Macleod LLP is ‘very approachable and great to work with’. Its broad expertise includes bank-led restructures and refinances, administrations, CVAs and liquidations. The team is jointly led by Gordon Hollerin and James Lloyd; Hollerin counts banks and financial institutions, administrators and liquidators, directors and creditors among his clients, while Lloyd is a leading practitioner in personal insolvency.
Practice head(s):
Gordon Hollerin; James Lloyd
Other key lawyers:
John Pringle
Testimonials
‘Gordon Hollerin is undoubtedly one of the most experienced and knowledgeable individuals in the market’.
‘Gordon Hollerin is a stand out individual; he is vastly experienced, knowledgeable, commercially minded, and justifiably held in high regard by colleagues, peers and clients’.
‘The speed of response, commercial expertise and quality of advice stand out’.
‘The team at Harper MacLeod are very approachable and coupled with their knowledge and experience make them a great firm to work with’.
‘Key strengths include their commercial appreciation and straight forward advice’.
‘Gordon Hollerin is highly experienced and his advice is always pragmatic and practical’.
‘Very well respected from a restructuring and insolvency aspect’.
‘Gordon Hollerin in particular stands out as having a significant level of experience in dealing with both contentious and non-contentious assignments’.
Key clients
Accountant in Bankruptcy
KPMG LLP
RSM UK
BDO
FRP Advisory
Leonard Curtis Business Solutions Group
Campbell Dallas
Johnston Carmichael
Benedict Mackenzie
Lloyds Banking Group Business Support Unit
Clydesdale Bank Strategic Business Services
Allied Irish Bank Financial Solutions Group
Work highlights
- Acted for M&Co Trading Limited in the pre-pack administration transaction with Mackays Stores Ltd.
- Instructed by FRP Advisory to deal with all Scottish aspects of the administration of Edinburgh Woollen Mill Limited.
- Continued to act as sole legal services suppliers to the Accountant in Bankruptcy, the Scottish Government office responsible for the administration of personal insolvency in Scotland.
Aberdein Considine
Aberdein Considine is well regarded for its insolvency and corporate recovery work in the real estate sector. The practice counts high-net-worth individuals, SMEs, large corporations, insolvency practitioners and financial institutions among its clients. Areas of focus include corporate restructurings, employment issues, contentious insolvencies and asset realisation work. Ross Webb heads up the team.
Practice head(s):
Ross Webb
Other key lawyers:
David Orr
Testimonials
‘It has strong relations with major lenders and a good understanding of that market’.
‘I’ve mainly dealt with Ross Webb as an instructing partner; he provided clear and well organised instructions.’
‘Excellent commercial and legal advisors’.
‘Their team has an exceptional breadth and depth of experience across the litigation field’.
‘Ross Webb has a particularly strong expertise in advising on both pre and post appointment issues’.
‘Ross Webb has an exceptionally personable nature and makes the client feel at ease when asking questions’.
‘Ross Webb is also commercially aware and will go that extra mile to find a solution’.
‘Ross Webb is honest and realistic in the advice that he gives’.
Key clients
KPMG LLP
Grant Thornton UK LLP
Griffins
The Royal Bank of Scotland
Santander
Lloyds Banking Group
Begbies Traynor Central LLP
French Duncan LLP
Johnston Carmichael
RSM Restructuring Advisory LLP
Azets
Moorfeild Advisory Limited
Middlebrooks
Meston Reid
Shepherd Surveyors
Hardies LLP
Watershed (Scotland) Limited
DASH Properties Limited
Work highlights
- Advising Griffins as liquidators for FEP Heatcare Limited.
- Advised DASH Properties Limited on the winding up of the company.
- Advising Moorfield Advisory in relation to the insolvency of a lease-holding property company with two large industrial assets in the north-east of Scotland.
Anderson Strathern
Anderson Strathern is well known for handling the contentious aspects of corporate insolvencies. Under the leadership of Katrina Lumsdaine, the practice continues to provide advice to high-profile clients, including HMRC and The Accountant in Bankruptcy. It also deals with a steady flow of insolvency litigation, distress conveyancing sales, corporate sales and acquisitions work.
Practice head(s):
Katrina Lumsdaine
Other key lawyers:
Gillian Jamieson
Testimonials
‘Good multi-disciplinary approach’.
‘Katrina Lumsdaine is consistently good to deal with in relation to insolvency and restructuring matters’.
‘Katrina Lumsdaine always has a very knowledgeable approach, excellent experience and is also a pleasure to work with on assignments’.
‘Anderson Strathern are a good firm to deal with – the partners are all very experienced in their fields and they have innovations such as their access to debt recovery options’.
‘Katrina Lumsdaine is always extremely approachable and knowledgeable’.
‘Experienced well established team’.
‘Anderson Strathern is a full service firm with Scotland wide coverage’.
‘Katrina Lumsdaine is a solicitor advocate which allows her to appear in the Court of Session thereby avoiding any delay and cost in instructing counsel’.
Key clients
HMRC
Accountant in Bankruptcy
BDO LLP
Begbies Traynor (Scotland) LLP
Johnston Carmichael LLP
RSM Tenon
Wylie & Bissett
MLM Solutions
FRP Advisory
KPMG
Grainger Corporate Rescue and Recovery
Work highlights
- Instructed by Charles Russell Speechlys LLP to deal with all Scottish aspects of the UK wide restructuring of JB Global Ltd (trading as Oak Furnitureland).
- Acting for the administrators, then liquidators of a company valued at £180m in a complex insolvency resulting in court proceedings post liquidation.
- Acting for the trustee in relation to all aspects of a long-running, contentious sequestration including all litigation matters.
Blackadders LLP
Blackadders LLP handles contentious and non-contentious insolvency matters for corporates and individuals. Areas of focus include administrations, liquidations, receiverships, CVAs, sequestrations and trust deeds. Ryan McKay leads the team and has considerable experience in property litigation, agricultural disputes, commercial disputes, insolvencies and debt recovery issues. Stephanie Carr is also recommended.
Practice head(s):
Ryan McKay
Other key lawyers:
Stephanie Carr; Richard Godden
Testimonials
‘An excellent firm, strong commercially and they provide excellent advice’.
‘Stephanie Carr has a strong practical and commercial understanding of the issues being faced by insolvency practitioners in their business’.
‘Stephanie Carr is a pleasure to work with and understands clearly what an insolvency practitioner needs from their solicitor when it comes to advising upon asset realisation strategies’.
‘Stephanie Carr is very experienced and personable’.
‘Stephanie Carr has very significant experience working in insolvency litigation’.
‘I always receive clear, concise advice when dealing with the team and as such have a confidence that the advice provided can be fully relied upon’.
‘Stephanie Carr is an excellent example of a lawyer who makes herself available to clients; she understands the demands on insolvency practitioners and is able to offer pragmatic and commercial solutions’.
‘Stephanie Carr is my go to solicitor for advice and action when dealing with personal insolvency related matters’.
Key clients
William Duncan (Business Recovery) Ltd
Azets (formerly Campbell Dallas)
180 Advisory Solutions
Condies
KPMG
Johnston Carmichael
FRP Advisory
Grant Thornton
BTO Solicitors LLP
BTO Solicitors LLP is recommended for insolvency litigation, shareholder and boardroom disputes, pre- and post-insolvency advice, and matters of personal liability. It acts for clients in the financial services, real estate, leisure and agricultural sectors. Grant Hunter and Alastair Dunn head up the team, which was recently bolstered by the arrival of Angus Wood from MacRoberts LLP. Former practice co-head Dorothy Hatfield retired in autumn 2020.
Practice head(s):
Grant Hunter; Alastair Dunn
Other key lawyers:
Angus Wood; Kirsteen MacLean
Testimonials
‘An excellent, proactive team who provide first class advice’.
‘Very approachable and down to earth’.
‘Interested in forming strong relationships with clients’.
‘They always make me feel that they appreciate the work they are doing for me and that it is important to me, no matter the size of their fee’.
‘Grant Hunter and Kirsteen MacLean form an excellent team on the insolvency and debt recovery side and are highly regarded.’
Gilson Gray
Gilson Gray handles both contentious and non-contentious issues for a range of insolvency practitioners in Scotland. Steven Jansch co-heads the team and is a specialist in insolvency. Craig Darling, who jointly heads the team, bridges the gap between insolvency, restructuring and recovery matters, with a background in corporate and banking law.
Practice head(s):
Steven Jansch; Craig Darling
Other key lawyers:
David Alexander
Testimonials
‘Strong team who take a collaborative approach to finding the best solution to you problems’.
‘Steven Jansch offers practical suggestions to the issues faced’.
‘Steven Jansch is never in a rush to litigate unless absolutely necessary’,
‘I always feel assured that the advice received can be fully relied upon’.
‘The team at Gilson Gray are highly professional and always give useful and valuable advice’.
‘Very knowledgeable and solution-focused professionals’.
‘They are quick to act and more often than not will effect a recovery’.
‘It is always possible to get hold of one of the partners and their assistance is always invaluable’.
Key clients
Manolete Partners
Quantuma
Anderson Anderson Brown
Armstrong Watson
Begbies Traynor
Condies
French Duncan
Grainger Corporate Recovery
Grant Thornton
GTS Solutions CIC
Leonard Curtis
Middlebrooks
RSM UK
Work highlights
- Advising the administrators of Watt Brothers (Edinburgh and Glasgow) Limited on all matters arising in the ongoing administration.
- Advised various landlord clients on their rights in the lead up to, and then the appointment of, administrators to the Edinburgh Woollen Mill.
- Provided advice to Anderson Anderson Brown around director of duties, pre-appointment, in light of the first Covid-19 lockdown, and on options for implementing a turnaround strategy, obtained subsequent liquidator appointment, and dealt with various post-appointment issues.
MacRoberts LLP
MacRoberts LLP is well known in the market for its contentious insolvency advice and continues to be instructed on high-profile non-contentious insolvency matters. With ancillary support from its corporate, real estate and pensions groups, the practice advises clients on litigation, cross-border insolvencies, and the sale and purchase of a variety of businesses from and on behalf of insolvency practitioners. Leon Breakey leads the team.
Practice head(s):
Leon Breakey
Other key lawyers:
Ian Bowie
Testimonials
‘A really friendly and supportive group of professionals, who always make me feel that they value our working relationship’.
‘Leon Breakey always provides excellent service’.
‘Leon Breakey is a great communicator and is always in control of the process he is dealing with’.
‘Leon Breakey is an extremely safe pair of hands in a crisis’.
‘The members of the team with whom we deal have a very practical and commercial outlook’.
‘Leon Breakey is the main contact for litigation and he has a very practical outlook’.
‘Leon Breakey is a very good lawyer, combined with a very client-focused, commercial outlook, which ties in very well with our ethos’.
Key clients
KPMG LLP
French Duncan LLP
Leonard Curtis Business Rescue & Recovery
Quantuma
Johnston Carmichael
Wylie & Bisset
FRP Advisory
Mazars
Moorefields Advisory Limited
Shoosmiths
Shoosmiths’ insolvency and restructuring group was recently bolstered by the arrival of Fiona Cameron from Brodies LLP. The cross-departmental team is headed up by Stuart Clubb and draws on strength from practitioners in the corporate, banking and finance, employment and real estate groups. Clubb regularly counsels insolvency practitioners in applications in both the Sheriff Courts and the Court of Session. The team is also experienced in cross-border insolvencies, restructurings and litigation.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Kim Pattullo; Andrew Foyle; Fiona Cameron
Testimonials
‘The team is well regarded in the sector, and is experienced in acting for creditors and insolvency practitioners’.
‘Stuart Clubb is a well regarded individual with good legal knowledge and sound commercial judgment’.
‘Stuart Clubb is well regarded by insolvency practitioners and creditors alike’.
‘A first-class firm providing excellent legal and commercial advice’.
‘Andrew Foyle and Stewart Clubb are excellent technically and commercially’.
‘Shoosmiths have built a practice to rival more established Scottish firms’.
‘Stuart Clubb is excellent and his commercial approach to dealing with his clients makes him a lawyer that clients will return to time and again’.
‘Great people who care about their clients and building long-term relationships founded on trust’.
Key clients
KPMG
Grant Thornton
Azets
Middlebrooks Business Recovery & Advice
BDO
Johnston Carmichael
French Duncan
Quantuma
Work highlights
- Acting on behalf of a specialist insolvency claims acquisition company in the pursuit of a high-value gratuitous alienation claim in the Court of Session.
- Acting on behalf of administrators in the disposal of a property portfolio comprising a number of commercial properties and development land.
- Advising the liquidator of a company in relation to potential challengeable transactions and claims against the company’s directors.
TLT
TLT’s restructuring and insolvency practice was strengthened by the arrival of legal director Ainslie Benzie from Pinsent Masons LLP in October 2020. Alan Munro leads the practice and is well versed in acting for lenders and accountancy firms on corporate and personal insolvency matters, with a focus on insolvency litigation. The team regularly acts on a cross-office basis, with support from colleagues in Manchester and Bristol.
Practice head(s):
Alan Munro; Ainslie Benzie
Testimonials
‘They consistently punch above their weight in terms of scope and coverage of advice’.
‘I would have no hesitation in approaching the team with a problem that would typically be more traditionally addressed to a larger firm’.
‘Alan Munro is well known in the industry and highly thought of’.
‘Of all the solicitors in the industry, I find Alan Munro to be the most approachable in my experience’,
‘Alan Munro and Ainslie Benzie in particular always offer a great range of experience and are a pleasure to deal with’.
‘Commercial considerations are at the forefront of their thinking’.
‘Ainslie quickly assesses her client’s needs, provides assistance where required and never lets anyone down’.
Key clients
boohoo
NatWest
FRP Advisory LLP
KPMG LLP
Quantuma LLP
Begbies Traynor
Deloitte LLP
Work highlights
- Acted for fashion retailer boohoo on its purchases of the IPR and digital assets of Dorothy Perkins, Burton and Wallis from its administrators.
- Acted for the joint administrators on their appointment to Rileys Sports Bars (2014) Limited, which operated a chain of around 20 snooker halls across the UK.
- Acted for FRP as administrators on an accelerated sale of the assets of Allander Print Limited, a long-established printing company.