Restructuring & Insolvency Solicitors & Lawyers
Our team advises insolvency practitioners, corporates, boards of directors, lenders, investors, business purchasers and individuals in respect of all issues that can arise as a result of financial pressure and distress. We are renowned for our expertise and experience.
Specialist restructuring & insolvency lawyers
We are a national team of specialist restructuring & insolvency lawyers, renowned for our expertise and experience.
Our team advises insolvency practitioners, corporates, boards of directors, lenders, investors, business purchasers and individuals in respect of all issues that can arise as a result of financial pressure and distress.
We assist affected parties in relation to restructurings, reorganisations, solvent and insolvent liquidations, administrations, voluntary arrangements and receiverships. Our restructuring and insolvency experts work to achieve a solvent solution where possible and will collaborate with all stakeholders to achieve the optimum outcome.
The reasons behind financial distress are often far reaching – a true understanding is a necessity. Our pragmatic restructuring lawyers have an in-depth knowledge of many different areas. This means that all potential issues can be considered and assessed before the right solution is put forward.
Acting for insolvency officer holders
We are highly experienced in all types of transactional avoidance claims, acting on behalf of office holders that arise from both corporate and individual insolvencies.
Also, we draw upon expertise in other areas such as real estate, employment, intellectual property, environmental and tax to assist in both contentious and non-contentious matters.
Sector expertise
We have experience in a wide range of sectors including media, technology, engineering, construction, manufacturing, leisure and hospitality, retail, and transport.
In addition to advising private entities, we have assisted public sector bodies in large scale and high profile restructurings. Our team prides itself on thinking outside the box and coming up with creative solutions to meet our clients’ needs.
Key contacts
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Our accreditations
We are celebrating another year of accreditations and rankings.
Worldwide asset tracing & recovery
Our team can assist with worldwide asset tracing and recovery, having set the case law on a number of areas of international co-operation – including representing the first party to obtain interim relief via the United Nations Model law on insolvency (UNCITRAL).
Dedicated creditor services division
We also have a dedicated creditor services division which advises unsecured creditors in relation to their position when one of their customers enters an insolvency process. This has resulted in the wider insolvency team gaining experience of a very wide breadth of different sectors.
Dual qualified experts
Three of our team are dual qualified as insolvency practitioners as well as being lawyers, having successfully passed the Joint Insolvency Examination Board exams.
Notable work & other expertise
- Advising the board of a group of companies with an annual turnover in excess of £200 million on contingency planning and cash flow issues and subsequently advising the companies on the appointment of administrators.
- Advised the board of directors of a large port operating company in relation to various restructuring options available following the insolvency of one of the company’s two shareholders. Freeths provided critical restructuring advice and assisted the directors in negotiations with the liquidator of the insolvent shareholder, the directors of the solvent shareholder (which was a large international conglomerate) as well as other significant stakeholders in the port. Freeths provided the directors with advice in relation to their existing contractual arrangements and strategic advice in negotiating with the various parties.
- Advising in relation to the complex restructuring of a large port operating company.
- Advising an administrative body in local government in relation to a high profile and confidential restructuring. This has involved advising the client on strategy in negotiating with high profile customers, suppliers and other local authorities and preparing commercial agreements to be entered into between the various stakeholders in relation to the restructuring.
- Advised on the restructuring of a hotel operating group of companies. Advice included the review of banking and finance arrangements, advice on restructuring strategies and options, negotiations with lenders and creditors and leading the restructuring discussions.
- Acting on a large restructuring in the sports sector and dealing with the key customers, suppliers and local authorities.
- Acting for the Joint Administrators of a large wholesaler to the food service industry dealing with their appointment and a sale of the business and assets
- Acting for the Trustee in Bankruptcy in the successful decision in Jackson v Ayles and another [2021] EWHC 995 (Ch) where following a contested trial we obtained a declaration and consequential order that the main security against the property was unenforceable pursuant to section 26 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 allowing the Trustee to sell the property free from that security to the benefit of the bankruptcy estate.
- Acting for the Joint Administrators of a solicitor’s practice which involved a hostile qualifying floating charge holder appointment, a subsequent sale of the business and assets, an investigation into the director’s conduct, a proprietary injunction, misfeasance proceedings, judgment, an appeal and enforcement
- Acting for the Joint Trustees in Bankruptcy of a well known soap actor, dealing with the realisation of assets which enabled a substantial dividend being made to creditors
- Acting for the Administrator of a national service provider in the education sector with 890 staff, dealing with the administrator’s appointment and the legal issues arising in the administration
- Acting for the Administrator of a travel company dealing with the administrator’s appointment and the legal issues arising in the administration
- Acting for the Administrators of a large manufacturer in the aerospace industry dealing with their appointment, the sale of assets and ancillary matters including employment and property matters.
- Stanley and Barber v Wilson [2017] BPIR 227 – This is the first ever successful claim by a Trustee in Bankruptcy to recoup excessive pension contributions under Section 342a of the Insolvency Act 1986.
- Sports Management Group Ltd – In Liquidation [2016] BPIR 1224 – This case required the Liquidator to establish that an individual was a de facto director having not been registered as a director at Companies House and also the issues of preference and transaction at undervalue. The claim was ultimately successful.
- GP Aviation Group International Limited [2017] BPIR 95 – Complicated issue relating to the interaction between tax appeals, liquidation and misfeasance claims which was resolved in our client liquidator’s favour.
Testimonials
"Joey Byrne has provided insolvency services to me and my firm for many years. His response and ability to offer a complete service to both me and...
Client testimonial, Partner, Oury Clark
"Kevin Pinkerton has been providing insolvency legal services for Robson Scott since its inception. His work has always been top-notch, whilst he h...
Client testimonial, Managing Director, Robson Scott Group Limited
"Freeths demonstrate excellent customer service and deliver what they say they will, on time. Their team has a good spread of expertise and seniori...
Chambers & Partners, 2025
"It's an excellent team all round and they are always on hand to answer queries."
Chambers & Partners, 2025
"They're a fantastic national practice that we've seen grow over the years."
Chambers & Partners, 2025
"Freeths have extensive knowledge of insolvency legislation."
Chambers & Partners, 2025
"They are personable and very easy to work with. Restructuring and insolvency knowledge and expertise is second to none without the jargon and they...
The Legal 500, 2024
“The team are experienced, knowledgeable, commercial and pragmatic.”
Chambers & Partners, 2024
"A growing team that has managed to retain all of its talent in a competitive market over the last decade. Every individual is a specialist in inso...
The Legal 500, 2024
"First-class legal advice, a firm which understands its clients and fosters an exceptional working relationship."
The Legal 500, 2024
“They demonstrate a wide variety of specialisms, which means that insolvency practitioners can ask the many questions on the cases they have and kn...
Chambers & Partners, 2024
PM
"The Late-Night sector has had some particularly difficult trading conditions over the last year, which meant unfortunately we had to take on board...
Peter Marks, Chairman
REKOM
Meet the team
Jacqui Murphy
Managing Associate & Knowledge Management Lawyer
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