
Lenders, accountants, corporates, life insurers and investment funds are regularly advised by the Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP restructuring team in distressed acquisitions, distressed debt and enforcement, loan portfolio sales and underperforming investments, as well as advice on directors’ duties. Sarah Duignan and David Gray jointly lead the practice, with the former handling all aspects of equity and debt restructuring, including pensions restructurings and the latter on complex restructurings, directors’ duties and portfolio debt sales. Key associates in the Manchester team are Max Morrison and Courtney Lonsdale.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'The team has a depth of experience it is able to apply to its commercial and technical expertise. The team were able to deal with complex issues and utilise expertise to deliver value to the service provided.'
- 'Clients value the delivery of quality services by individuals.'
- 'They have technical expertise and engagement quality.'
- 'Expertise in their field and willingness to work to find a pragmatic solution. Courtney Lonsdale has been very good.'
- 'It was a pleasure working with the team and I was pleased to be asked to give them a reference so that I can sing their praises. They are a very knowledgeable team at all levels and can be relied upon to provide advice with a commercial and practical lens, which is very helpful when problem-solving during a complex transaction.'
- 'Really high quality and full service firm with a lot of capacity and capability in all regional offices.'
- 'I worked closely with Max Morrison on this assignment, who I found to be technically strong and commercial in his approach. We had a particularly challenging area of law where David Gray recommended a pragmatic route forwards.'
- 'Courtney Lonsdale as associate has been very good.'
- 'They were also able to scale up the team at short notice and pull in team members from different offices and with specific specialisms to meet the changing needs of the project. I don't think that there are many other firms which could have done this at such scale and pace.'
Key clients
- Interpath Limited
- Teneo Financial Advisory Limited
- Ernst & Young LLP
- PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
- Begbies Traynor LLP
- Quantuma LLP
- Toorak Capital Partners (UK) Ltd
- Pricoa
- Hampshire Trust Bank Plc
- Romaco limited
Work highlights
Advised PwC as administrators of Stanley Gibbons Limited and its associated company, AH Baldwin Limited, on the pre-pack administration sale of all of its business and assets.
Advising Interpath as administrators of Pexion Group on the simultaneous pre-pack administration sale of six separate businesses, in a process complicated by the need for a court application to release the security of an uncooperative secured creditor.
Advising Pricoa as secured creditor in relation to the restructuring and eventual administration of the UK franchisee of Pizza Hut.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Sarah Duignan; David Gray
Other key lawyers
Max Morrison; Courtney Lonsdale