The Legal 500 > United Kingdom - Solicitors > South East > Insolvency and corporate recovery

Boyes Turner's insolvency team offers  a 'comprehensive' service, carrying out  a range of work involving complex contentious and non-contentious insolvencies, often with cross-border elements. Clients include a wide range of insolvency practitioners based nationwide, from both large and smaller practices. Recent work highlights include acting for an insolvency practitioner in a £2m claim in the liquidation of a cash and carry. Phil Smith heads the team and boasts over 20 years' experience as an insolvency lawyer. Chris Branson, who specialises in contentious insolvencies, asset-tracing, fraud and bankruptcies, is another key name to note, as is the 'excellent' Ollie Fitzpatrick.

Described as 'an insolvency and restructuring team at the top of their game', Charles Russell Speechlys LLP 's Guilford based team carries out a full range of contentious and non-contentious work, acting for insolvency practitioners, lenders and financial institutions, companies, directors and stakeholders. The team specialises in a number of sectors including pharmacy, retail, sport, private wealth and real estate. James Hyne heads the practice and holds significant international insolvency expertise. Senior associate Daniel Moore is another key name to note.

Cripps Pemberton Greenish's Tunbridge Wells based team  specialises in contentious work as well as acting for companies and insolvency practitioners in relation to administrations, liquidations and company voluntary arrangements. Headed by James Beatton, the firm works across a variety of sectors, including advertising, technology and media, healthcare, financial services, and retail, leisure and hospitality. Recent work highlights include acting for a creditor of a satellite internet company, which entered members’ voluntary liquidation.  Described as 'approachable, empathetic, commercial and forward thinking', Joanna Ford is a key name to note at the practice.

The 'pragmatic' and 'knowledgeable' insolvency team at Gateley Plc's Reading office boasts considerable experience across the full-range of transactional and contentious matters, acting for insolvency practitioners, banks, VCs, asset based lenders, other lenders and investors, directors, shareholders, other business stakeholders and intermediaries. The team is headed by the 'personable and approachable' Nicola Kirk who specialises in contentious and non-contentious insolvency, restructuring, turnaround and dispute resolution matters. Kirk recently led a team acting for the joint trustees in the bankruptcy of a former hedge-fund manager. Another highlight includes acting for a client in the professional services sector in the restoration of a limited liability partnership.

Led by specialist insolvency lawyer Heather Dobson, the insolvency and restructuring team at Moore Blatch LLP's Southampton office has rapidly grown its client base and volume of instructions over the last 12 months, doubling its turnover and exceeding its targets. The team undertakes the full spectrum of contentious and non-contentious restructuring and risk advisory work. The team is also able to work in many complementary areas that cross over into insolvency, including financial services, banking and professional negligence, charity, property, family and probate.

The 'very strong' insolvency and corporate recovery team at Stevens & Bolton LLP's Guildford office has gone from strength to strength over the last year. Under the leadership of practice heads Tim Carter and David Steinberg, the team attracts complex and high profile matters, covering the full range of restructuring and insolvency matters. Recent work highlights include taking instruction from the administrators and then the liquidators of a telecoms company in relation to the ongoing trading of the company in administration and post-completion issues, including liquidation-only disclaimer of lease property.

Described by one client as a, 'forward thinking practice, of both technically competent and commercial individuals', Coffin Mew LLP joins Tier 2 this year. Led by Ian Dawes, the restructuring and insolvency team specialises in corporate and financial restructuring, working with lenders, investors, boards and insolvency practitioners. The team is also working with an increasing number of private equity houses. The 'excellent' Alexander Wood  is a key member of the Coffin Mew team. With over 15 years' experience in corporate and financial restructuring, Wood often leads multi-disciplinary teams advising on complex transactions, including contentious matters within the UK, internationally and cross-border.

Irwin Mitchell's restructuring and insolvency team in Gatwick comprises  dedicated restructuring and insolvency lawyers who carry out the full-range work in the practice area. The team is headed by Andrew Walker who deals with both contentious and non-contentious matters, advising on high value and complex restructuring work. He has particular experience in restructurings involving defined benefit pension schemes and work involving banks and asset based lenders.

With 'a good mix of technical knowledge and practical application', the Insolvency and Corporate Recovery team at Lester Aldridge LLP's Southampton office joins tier 2 this year. Led by the 'first class' Nick Keitley, the practice is best known for its non-contentious work, acting mainly for insolvency practitioners. The practice has a particular focus in advising and assisting on the appointment of administrators acting on trading administrations and insolvency transactional work.  With 13 years’ of experience advising exclusively on corporate restructuring and insolvency matters, Melia Hirst is another key name to note.

Paris Smith LLP's insolvency practice in Southampton acts for a number of major creditor and landlord clients but also maintains an extensive roster of owner-managed businesses. Key sectors in which the team are known for working include property, finance, retail, leisure, not-for-profit, SMEs, public sector, and recruitment. Mike Pavitt heads the team and is praised for delivering 'well thought out and thorough advice'. Pavitt also holds the respected post of Chair of R3 Southern.  Work highlights for the team include advising shareholders and loan note holders of the UK's largest wholesaler to the convenience and forecourts market, which went into administration in 2017.

With particular expertise  in contentious recovery work, the insolvency practice at Birkett Long LLP 's Colchester office has built a reputation in the region acting for both companies and individuals in nil-asset recovery actions. The team is also known as a 'directors friend', specialising in  defending directors facing proceedings under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986. Led by Kevin Sullivan, who has 20 years' experience in the field of contentious insolvency law, the team works for directors, partners, sole traders, creditors, debtors and bankrupts and their spouses, on a wide-range of corporate and personal insolvency-related issues.

Blake Morgan LLP's insolvency team in Reading regularly acts for banks, landlords, investors, insolvency practitioners and directors of distressed companies on the full spectrum of insolvency work. Working with other departments in the firm, the team is able to offer an all-encompassing service to clients. Leading the team is Katie James, who was promoted to partner in May 2018. James specialises in all forms of insolvency law and has particular expertise in distressed care homes, having previously dealt with the administration of eight different care home groups, comprising at least 50 care homes.

The Insolvency/Business Recovery team at Blandy & Blandy LLP covers the full range of contentious and non-contentious insolvency work, including corporate recovery and turnaround, company voluntary arrangements (CVAs), administration, receivership, liquidations, investigations and debt recovery. David Murray heads the team, which is also a member of the international Law Firm Network and receives recommendations and client instructions from a number of overseas companies with operations in the UK.

The insolvency team at Brachers LLP's Maidstone office is led by Michael Oatham who has over 20 years' experience working for insolvency practitioners. Under his leadership, the team offers the full suite of pre and post appointment services to insolvency practitioners and employs its own in-house insolvency practitioner, Tim Mayner, who specialises in bankruptcy appointments and connected assets recoveries.

Dentons' Watford based insolvency team continues to focus on working with the UK's leading clearing banks. Working in conjunction with the firm's London office, it is able to cover the whole range of insolvency and restructuring work. With international and cross-border experience, Andrea Dunsby heads the team along with property and personal insolvency expert Steven Mills, who also heads the Watford office and Dentons' regional banking litigation practice.

Since practice head Tim Symes joined the team in 2013, the restructuring and insolvency team at DMH Stallard LLP 's Gatwick office has become firmly established firm within the region for insolvency matters. The 'well-balanced' team acts predominantly for insolvency practitioners working on both contentious and non-contentious cases across corporate and personal insolvency.

The 'impressive' Chris Millar heads the 'experienced and knowledgeable' corporate recovery and insolvency team at Downs Solicitors LLP 's Dorking office. Millar spends most of his time working in this practice area  and is supported by staff from across the firm's offices who bring their specialist areas of expertise into the insolvency/corporate recovery field when required. In addition to advising individuals on personal insolvency matters the firm also advises businesses on matters including administrations, CVAs, bankruptcy and restructurings.

Field Seymour Parkes LLP's Reading-based team is well connected in the region with a range of professionals advising on corporate insolvency and restructuring matters. The team is regularly instructed by national firms of insolvency practitioners, as well as companies looking to restructure, investors, funders and company directors. With over 20 years' experience advising on corporate insolvencies and restructurings, Ian Wood-Smith heads the practice and has led his team on matters including the  appointment of administrators and sale of assets of an engineering company.

Freeths LLP 's Milton Keynes-based insolvency team  is particularly known for advising in relation to restructurings and insolvencies in the drinks and hospitality industries, in addition to advising across other industry sectors. Partners are often instructed by insolvency practitioners to advise on the disposal of assets of national pub chains, or by existing operators to purchase the assets of those in administration. The team is led by Simon Hobbs who has expertise in a broad range of contentious and non-contentious corporate and personal insolvency matters.

The insolvency and restructuring practice at PDT Solicitors advises on all aspects of insolvency including both contentious and non-contentious matters. On the non-contentious side, the firm's lawyers work with financiers on high-value restructuring and refinancing transactions, and on the contentious side, the firm assists with issues such as misfeasance and breach of statutory duties. Practice head William Angas  is 'always accessible and commercial in his advice'.

The insolvency team at Spratt Endicott's Banbury office deals with formal insolvency proceedings, as well as offering advice on debt restructuring and finance. Although the team is best known for contentious work, it also undertakes non-contentious work, working closely with the firm's Debt Recovery team. The team’s experience in working with creditors and insolvency practitioners means it is ideally placed to advise debtors and companies who face creditor claims or claims brought by insolvency practitioners. With a 'comprehensive knowledge of insolvency law', associate Petra van Dijk heads the team,

Clifton Ingram LLP Solicitors  regularly advises on all aspects of corporate and personal insolvency. The team, which is headed by Barry Niven, contains specialists in both contentious and non-contentious insolvency law and advises on all aspects of insolvency-based work ranging from administrations to receiverships and liquidations, through to voluntary arrangements and bankruptcies.The majority of instructions come directly from insolvency practitioners or the directors of insolvent companies.

The team at Furley Page Solicitors  provide a comprehensive and thorough service covering a range of corporate and personal insolvency matters. The team has a particular emphasis on clients in the manufacturing and construction sector. The 'well-seasoned' and 'highly intelligent' Peter Hawkes  leads the team.

Tees Law advises clients on a broad range of restructuring, corporate rescue and insolvency matters, with its lawyers handling matters including receiverships, administrations and liquidations. Examples of the type of work the firm carries out include obtaining an injunction to prevent the presentation of a winding-up petition, advising on complex claims against company directors and advising liquidators. The practice is headed by David Perry, who advises both insolvency practitioners and individuals or directors faced with proceedings against them.