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England - London • Finance
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Corporate restructuring & insolvency

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Wedlake Bell LLP

More information
Under the expert guidance of the ‘knowledgeable and solutions-focused’ Frances Coulson, Wedlake Bell LLP has gained a particularly strong reputation in relation to contentious insolvency matters, including where allegations of fraud are made. The team is also active for IPs, creditors, and directors on consensual mid-market restructurings/insolvencies, with Coulson and Robert Paterson also regularly undertaking cross-border mandates for foreign and domestic officeholders, and for pension trustees.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'The team is well prepared, committed and solutions oriented.’
  • 'Good teamwork and knowledge. Proactive and helpful.'

  • ‘Frances Coulson is a delight to work with. She is practical, very knowledgeable and solutions focused.’

  • 'I have worked with many in the team at Wedlake Bell. Under the lead of Frances Coulson, each member of the team has been a delight to work with - well-prepared, committed and focussed on a solution.'

  • 'The insolvency practice is extremely well resourced and can turn its hand to anything. They often spearhead cases that end up being in the law reports - which means they can spot ground-making cases.'

  • 'Frances Coulson heads up the insolvency team. She is incredibly experienced - has a particularly strong feel for contentious work. Has a very strong nose for fraud and goes all out to get the "baddies". At the same time, she goes to extraordinary lengths when her client has done nothing wrong.'

Key clients

  • Azets
  • Begbies Traynor Group plc
  • McTear Williams Wood
  • MHA
  • Interpath Advisory
  • Grant Thornton LLP
  • EY Parthenon
  • Kroll
  • Moorfields Advisory
  • Moore Kingston Smith
  • RSM
  • Forvis Mazars

Work highlights

Advised provisional liquidators from Mazars in bringing claims against a director and associated companies in an alleged payroll fraud, which was the first case brought by HMRC as a winding up petition in respect of employers' NICs only.
Obtained an injunction to restrain a winding up petition on the basis that the applicant had a cross-claim against the would-be petitioning creditor of £44m.
Advising an investor on the strategic application for an administration order following concerns of mismanagement of a group of companies manufacturing and globally retailing a hi-tech consumer leisure vehicle.

Practice head

Frances Coulson

Other key lawyers

Ed Starling; James Latham; Robert Paterson; Sam Fenwick; Edward Saunders; Richard Saunders; Christopher Burt; Simon Duncan; Sara Crystal