Profile
Work Department
Position
Partner – Head of Restructuring
Career
1989 – 91: Cuff Roberts Solicitors in Liverpool - Trainee Solicitor (Articled Clerk as then was) with
1991 – 94: Cuff Roberts Solicitors in Liverpool - Solicitor with Cuff Roberts in Insolvency team.
1994 – 2005: Cuff Roberts Solicitors in Liverpool - Partner Head of Insolvency and Debt Recovery team.
2005 – 2010: Halliwells LLP (following merger with Cuff Roberts) – Partner in Insolvency team.
2010 – Date: Hill Dickinson LLP in Manchester – Partner and Head of Restructuring team.
I have practised in the area of insolvency and restructuring for my entire career. I am a member of the Law Society, R3 (the insolvency and restructuring trade association) and NARA (the association of fixed charge receivers). I served a term on the national Council for NARA and have sat on the interview panel and currently sit on the membership committee.
I have lectured on insolvency matters for the Quality Law Group and Liverpool Law Society, chaired Halliwells national insolvency conference on three occasions and the Hill Dickinson insolvency conference. I have conducted in house training seminars on various aspect of UK insolvency law at the EC in Brussels and to various financial institutions including Nationwide Building Society and Lloyds Bank Commercial Finance.
I was successful in achieving panel status for all three firms worked for for insolvency work for Nationwide Building Society, Bank of Ireland, Anglo Irish Bank, Investec Bank and several second tier funders and bridging finance companies.
Whilst I have a broad restructuring practice and have acted on numerous notable mandates, my noted specialism is on distressed real estate matters and that has led to my involvement with NARA. I was the lead partner on the recently reported case of Re Fox Street Village Ltd (in administration) [2020].
Languages
Memberships
Education
Manchester Metropolitan University – LLB (Hons) 1986
Manchester Metropolitan University – Law Society Finals 1989
Content supplied by Hill Dickinson LLP
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Having worked with many insolvency lawyers over the years, we find that the Hill Dickinson team stands out because they offer practical, commercial advice, and are able to think outside of the box to find creative solutions for us.' 'Paul Spence has an amazing depth and breadth of knowledge and experience, so he is able to provide brilliant and technical advice, including in relation to very complex and novel scenarios that arise in the course of recovery transactions. He is a pleasure to deal with and is quickly becoming our go-to lawyer.' 'Excellent legal service in the area of contentious personal insolvency. Has the interest of the client at heart given the high risk nature of the work ensuring that the client is protected insofar as it is possible, and the correct advice is given.' 'Laura Smith is a standout lawyer. She is much more than just a safe pair of hands, she sees the big picture, provides timely, technically excellent advice, is always available to discuss developments on the case and her turnaround time is second to none. Laura provides a top quality service.' 'Chris Parry is excellent. He is calm, thorough, commercial and engaging and can unlock logjams on difficult transactions. His understanding of relatively complex situations is first rate.'
Key clients
- A2E Industries Limited Alexander Lawson Surveyors Ltd Alvarez & Marsal Europe LLP Azets BDO LLP Campbell Crossley & Davis Cushman & Wakefield Cynergy Bank Limited Dow Schofield Watts Business Recovery LLP FRP Advisory Trading Limited Interpath Ltd KBL Advisory Limited Kroll Advisory Ltd Leonard Curtis Recovery Limited Parker Andrews Ltd KSEYE Capital Holdings Ltd Watling Real Estate Limited Mazars LLP Grant Thornton LLP Menzies LLP