The insolvency practice at Addleshaw Goddard is headed by its national and international head of restructuring Ged Barnes, who has significant experience advising key clients on the full array of often cross-jurisdictional and consistently high-stakes corporate insolvency matters, particularly in non-contentious contexts, a focus shared by Tim Taylor. Sarah Foster is a key team member, who also stands out for her capabilities handling the spectrum of restructurings and related issues. Notably, the team was bolstered in August 2022 with the arrival of managing associate Peter Speight who has particular expertise in administrations, receiverships and liquidations, from Hill Dickinson LLP. Contentious-focused legal director Jean Boldero departed to an insolvency litigation financing company in January 2023.

DLA Piper‘s ‘high-quality and personable’ team is well-known for its multi-jurisdictional capabilities in significant restructuring and insolvency matters, which are consistently of high-value. The practice is co-led by north west head Christopher Roberts, who has expertise in non-contentious corporate restructuring, and national head of the firm’s restructuring offering Robert Russell; ‘both excellent technical lawyers’. A key example of its high-profile work is its advising Alteri Partners LLP on its £55m debt and equity investment into the Missguided Group. Legal director Katy Seago has particular expertise handling the array of non-contentious work, whilst senior associate Rob Lyons heads the contentious side of the team.

The firm’s national head of restructuring and insolvency Joey Byrne, who is noted as a ‘leader in the field’, heads Freeths LLP‘s practice, which is formed of numerous solicitors who are dual-qualified insolvency practitioners. It has a strong reputation for its work for its extensive portfolio of clients in both contentious and non-contentious contexts. Expert in non-contentious work Kevin Pinkerton, who leads on many of the team’s most prominent matters, is recognised for his ability to form ‘outstanding client relationships’, whilst associate Miles Hacking, who ably handles high-value court applications and administration proceedings, is noted as ‘excellent’.

‘Standout partner’ Andrew Buchanan, who has expertise handling complex restructuring assignments as well as advising key bodies on directors’ duties and trading issues, is at the helm of Gateley Legal‘s ‘exceptionally skilled’ offering. The team frequently advises its notable portfolio of clients on high-value matters, many of which are multi-jurisdictional in nature, such as its management of the interests of secured creditors’ in connection with the failure of the Domus Group. It advises across the range of industry sectors, including energy, construction and healthcare. Stuart Tait has particular experience realising and maximising values for clients in distressed situations. Legal director Aneesh Prasad is considered ‘outstanding’.

Pinsent Masons LLP‘s practice, which has strong capabilities in handling complex restructuring, distress, corporate recovery and insolvency-related matters across a variety of sectors, has ‘standout’ James Cameron at its helm, who is renowned for his expertise in pension restructuring work in particular, such as his advising the Trustees of the Findel Group Pension Fund when its sponsor Studio Retail Group plc entered financial distress. The team specialises in key sectors, being education; charities; and energy, which associate Samantha Poulton has a developing focus on. Senior associate Samantha Latham frequently advises on high-stakes corporate restructurings, namely for well-known banking clients.

The ‘truly diverse’ team at Shoosmiths LLP has the ‘incredibly helpful’ Sarah Teal at its helm, who notably ‘champions the role of women, especially in the workplace’. It is well-equipped to act and advise on high-profile administrations, particularly in the retail sector, such as that of the four Joules entities which were sold to Next, a matter with a value of £40m; senior associate Hollie Wrigley was a key advisor on this. Bethan Moore, noted as ‘technically strong’, has significant experience advising clients, being large clearing banks, alternative lenders and distressed companies, on non-contentious restructurings.

The ‘high-calibre’ offering at TLT, which is on the restructuring panel for all UK clearing banks, is led by ‘top-notch lawyer’ and corporate restructuring specialist Alastair Lomax. The team is well-equipped to advise on all stages of issue, an example being its work on all aspects, from pre-package sale to post-sale lease transfers, of the well-known retail company Go Outdoors to JD. Its workload frequently involves matters in the multi-millions in value, for both professional services and public sector clients. Claire Graham was, in 2022, notably appointed as chairperson of the board of the new North West Fraud Forum.

The ‘high-quality’ practice at Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP is well-equipped to advise its broad range of clients on an array of matters, from distressed acquisitions and trading issues therein, to matters involving the validity of debts and securities. The team’s workload is consistently high-value, a notable example being its advising the Administrators on the £80m administration of seven companies within the Urban Splash Group. Sarah Duignan was promoted to partner in May 2022, and she co-leads the team alongside David Gray, who continues to focus also on the building of the firm’s Yorkshire practice.

The cohort at Hill Dickinson LLP is led by Paul Spence, who has noteworthy expertise handling high-value distressed real estate matters. The team ably handles high-value work for such well-known clients as Alvarez & Marsal and Leonard Curtis, on work ranging from the disposal of significant assets, to pre-pack sales. Will Jones is an experienced team member who regularly advises on high-profile administrations. The team was bolstered in May 2022 with the arrival from Kennedys of legal director Laura Smith, who now heads up the personal insolvency-related side of the practice. Senior associate Peter Speight departed to Addleshaw Goddard in August 2022.

The ‘experienced and diligent’ team at JMW Solicitors LLP has Gavin Jones at its helm, who is marked as having ‘a depth of experience unrivalled by many in Manchester’. It has broad focus on acting on matters in the accountancy and real estate sectors; ‘tenacious advisor’ James Williams has capabilities acting for lenders and practitioners on matters in the property sector in particular. The team has further strengthened its contentious capabilities with the joining of Simon Gerrard, experienced insolvency litigation partner and former team lead at Prosperity Law LLP, in May 2023.

‘Great strategist’ Mark Davies is the leader of Aaron & Partners LLP‘s Chester-based team. It ably advises its portfolio of clients on the full range of matters arising from administration proceedings, predominantly the sale and purchase of assets. Additionally, the team has capabilities acting on bankruptcy matters of considerable value. Contentious specialist Chris Mitchell, described as having ‘supreme technical expertise and fantastic market knowledge’, is a key name to note.

The team at Bermans is headed by Phil Farrelly who has a strong reputation for his work on the remit of complex contentious and non-contentious work. Martin March is a name to note for his experience in corporate recovery and restructuring, and his recent involvements include advising on numerous failed investment fund property schemes. Senior associate James Whittaker is noted as a ‘standout individual’.

Brabners LLP‘s ‘well-established’ north west team has a strong reputation for its ability to advise on all aspects of administrations of significant value for its plethora of clients who span industry sectors including construction, financial services and energy. Experienced insolvency specialist Robert Turner leads the team and works from the Manchester office. Liverpool-based Jennifer Lockhart is also a name to note for her contentious capabilities.

Clarke Willmott LLP‘s contentious-focused restructuring and insolvency practice is led by Chris Keane who is noted as a ‘client-focused problem solver’. Its workload predominantly consists advising on the complex and often cross-jurisdictional issues involved in both personal and corporate insolvencies, a key example being its acting for liquidators of a company involved in large-scale CIS fraud in the value of £11.7m. Rachael Bentley has left for Leonard Curtis Legal.

Harrison Drury & Co‘s Preston-based team is headed by James Robbins who is described as ‘one of the best insolvency lawyers in the north west’. It advises its growing client list across a range of industry sectors on matters including acquisitions of liquidated companies; advising in the administration and sale of businesses and their assets; and related disputes therein.

The litigation-focused insolvency practice at Mills & Reeve LLP is led by London-based national insolvency head Neil Smyth, who is experienced in both advising companies in administration and preventing them from it. It advises such key clients as the Insolvency Service and the national Official Receiver from the Manchester office, where the key names to note in the team are Richard Dawson-Gerrard who manages these relationships, and disputes and insolvency-focused ‘standout’ senior associate Jacob Walker. Additionally, Mark Hovell is notable for his niche specialism in sports-related insolvency matters.

The ‘highly capable and responsive’ practice at Napthens LLP is led from the firm’s Preston office by ‘brilliant technical lawyer’ Grahame Love. The ‘excellent’ Laura Hartley-Williams is an associate to watch in the team with a developing specialism in the array of business recovery work. The team does significant recovery work for its clients, namely insolvency practitioners and commercial bodies. Legal director Stuart Beatson notably bolstered the strength of the team in August 2022 with his arrival from Taylors LLP.

Trowers & Hamlins LLP‘s cross-departmental and ‘technically gifted’ offering is well-equipped to handle contentious, advisory and transactional work for its portfolio of clients. Specialist in commercial litigation Dan Butler established and leads the team from Manchester, and has a contentious focus, having advised on high-profile work such work, as well as notable expertise in asset recovery. There is a strong capability within the team to handle the advisory; turnaround specialist senior associate Seb Lang is adept in this area.

Dual-qualified solicitor and insolvency practitioner Richard Thomas, who works across the firm’s Liverpool and Chester offices, leads DTM Legal LLP‘s practice. It is well-equipped to handle high-stakes contentious work as well as advisory, noted as ‘able to handle a wide-range of insolvency disputes’. Kate Roberts has particular expertise in this area and a strong ability in this context to handle business recoveries and restructurings.

The corporate recovery offering at Farleys Solicitors LLP is led by the ‘extremely motivated’ Mark Hague from the firm’s Preston office. The ‘strong team’ has a varied workload which includes advising administrators in the disposal of property of significant values. ‘Excellent’ Ella Holden is a key name to note.

Daniel Clarke, noted as ‘excellent technically and commercially’, is the corporate specialist team lead at Pannone Corporate LLP. The team assists its company clients on factors surrounding insolvency and in managing the relevant processes involved in liquidations and administrations involving significant sums. Richard Wolff departed to Myerson Solicitors LLP in April 2022.

Primas‘ ‘unique’ practice was bolstered in March 2022 with the joining of ‘efficient and effective’ specialist consultant Dylan Quail from a private insolvency company , in addition to the May 2022 arrival of ‘responsive’ debt recovery and insolvency solicitor Alexia Savar from Bailoran Solicitors. ‘Experienced contentious insolvency partner’ Christopher Love leads the team from Manchester, which is active in advising companies in administration of the sale of their business and assets and related issues.