Devonshires Solicitors LLP retains its market-leading position for debt recovery, maintaining a steady flow of instructions spanning from the UK and internationally. Spearheaded from London by Robert Edge and Jim Varley , the full-service practice has demonstrable strength acting for financial institutions, large multinational firms, city-based SMEs and local authorities in pursuing payment from debtors and contentious insolvency related matters, particularly, forensic recovery. The team has a track record in recovery services across the recruitment, retail and construction sectors, which is enhanced via its secure debt collection portal designed to give real-time updates on cases. Ann Dixon is the name for high-level recoveries pertaining to commercial contracts and corporate disputes.

DWF's team is overseen by national practice heads based in Leeds, and has a track record of acting for blue-chip companies, banks, central government departments and local authorities. The group is active in civil litigation, loss prevention, asset recovery matters and insolvency related work, and has strength across the energy, financial services and insurance sectors. Senior director Kevin Feehan holds various utilities companies as key clients, and is the key name alongside Jefferson Gledhill who has a specialism in fraud. Ryan Jurgelis-Hinnells is recommended for credit control and debt litigation. The firm also has a large contentious offering, advising on contested insolvency matters.

At Shoosmiths LLP, the national debt recoveries practice is led by Paula Swain based in the Solent office - it manages complex asset recoveries, fraud claims as well as pre-collection litigation for clients operating in the utilities, technology and financial services sectors. The firm has a joint venture business, Equivo, working alongside national recoveries and enforcement business, Chartsbridge from bases in London, Northampton and Manchester. The team has a tracks record of cases before the County and High Courts and has strong experience in insolvency work. Director of client services at Equivo, Melanie Chell,  is the key name for asset-based lending litigation and consumer credit issues.

Wedlake Bell LLP is singled out for its strength operating in the utilities sector, with skill in the electricity and gas industry, spearheaded by highly rated Charles Robinson . Bolstered by its merger with Moon Beever, the team continues to be instructed on high value debt recovery matters, with specialisms in countering fraud and contentious insolvency work; Frances Coulson is the key contact for the former while financial services expert Graham Mcphie is recommended for the latter. The group works closely with its commercial litigation practice to provide a full service offering to clients. Other areas of activity include consumer collections.

At Clarke Willmott LLP, the national practice is led by Philip Roberts out of Somerset, and acts for a steady client roster comprising local authorities, utility companies and government departments. The team advises on pre-debt collections, litigation and insolvency actions, including bankruptcy and enforcements. Anna O’Reilly focuses on the recovery of service charge arrears for residential managing agents while senior associate Stuart Hoysted handles complex insolvency instructions and has appeared before the Country Court.

The debt recovery practice at Duncan Lewis Solicitors sits within the firm's litigation group and handles claimant and defender side actions against financial institutions and fraudsters. The group is jointly managed by commercial litigators Anthony Okumah  and Sobashni De Silva, who specialises in cross-border jurisdiction claims and receives instructions from the Middle East. Areas of activity include insolvency matters, including bankruptcy and winding up proceedings, banking litigation and enforcement actions. The team strengthened its bench at the associate level with the hire of civil litigator Oliver Subhedar from Hill Dickinson LLP.

Judge & Priestley LLP’s debt recovery group showcases strength in the utilities sector and holds leading gas companies and local authorities as key clients. Experienced litigator Uday Patel oversees the collections and enforcement group alongside Rachel Addai  who specializes in recovering debts for local authorities including on council tax. The team also handles commercial disputes and insolvency work. Associate Frances Boxall focuses on adult social care sundry debts, focusing on deceased debtors.