Under John Whiteoak‘s leadership, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP has garnered a formidable reputation on behalf of corporate debtors—including board members—as well as officeholders on complex insolvency processes. With a strong foundation in commercial disputes and restructuring expertise, Whiteoak is particularly noted for his contentious work, including as it relates to director disqualification proceedings and preference claims. Leveraging the firm’s skills at the front end of projects and infrastructure matters, the team also regularly handles work when there is some distress, with Kevin Pullen having niche expertise on PFI/PPP restructuring matters. ’Established heavyweight’ John Chetwood is well-versed in many formal insolvency processes, including on restructuring plans, recently working as part of a cross office team for Sumitomo as one of the principal creditors of the Ambatovy Nickel Project in Madagascar in the successful use of a restructuring plan.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'It is an outstanding team with the ability to manage the necessary detail while at the same time be proactive and strategic in their case thinking.’
‘They have a phenomenal cross team working spirit. Seamless, legally precise and commercially on the money. A distinctive blend of grey hair and youthful energy, all playing at the top of their game.’
- ‘The team has a very strong blended team across litigation, corporate, restructuring and employment. Very easy to access the full service on any engagement, and there are some very experienced partners within the team with deep experience.’
- 'John Whiteoak is a strategic litigator with a high level of commercial pragmatism.’
‘Kevin Pullen is one of the most experienced insolvency lawyers in the market. He is a deep thinker and gets to the main points of value very quickly.'
‘John Chetwood is an established heavyweight with decades to give.'
Key clients
- Certain non-executive directors of Carillion
- Sumitomo Corporation
- Reaction Engines Limited
- Link Administration Holdings Limited
- Birmingham Highways Limited
- Joint Administrators of Park Place Plaza Ltd
- Exicom
Work highlights
Advising Sumitomo Corporation on restructuring approximately $2.3bn of debt for the Ambatovy Nickel Project in Madagascar.
Advising the Link Group on issues related to the Woodford Equity Income Fund.
Advising certain former non-executive directors of Carillion Plc in relation to director disqualifications proceedings brought by the Secretary of State as a result of the high-profile liquidation of the company.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
John Whiteoak
Other key lawyers
Kevin Pullen; Natasha Johnson; John Chetwood; Andrew Cooke; Philip Lis; Richard Mendoza