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Freeths - Law firm

Restructuring & Insolvency

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.

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.

Contact us

For more information please contact one of our restructuring and insolvency lawyers below.

Chambers & Partners 2024 logoGreener Litigation logo

Key contacts

Joey Byrne

Joey Byrne
Partner

0345 634 2543

Kevin Pinkerton
Partner

0345 634 2560

Alternatively complete the form below:

Contact Us

Meet the team

Restructuring & Insolvency Lawyers


Chris Ali
Partner

0345 634 2609

Helen Bates

Helen Bates
Partner

0345 126 4376

Joey Byrne

Joey Byrne
Partner

0345 634 2543

Graeme Danby
Partner

0345 634 2545

Mike Gilmour

Mike Gilmour
Partner

0345 274 6944

Graham Greenfield

Graham Greenfield
Partner

0345 274 6904

Oliver Jackson

Oliver Jackson
Partner

0345 128 7985

John Jeffreys

John Jeffreys
Partner

0345 126 3761

Kevin Pinkerton
Partner

0345 634 2560

Henry Clappison

Henry Clappison
Director

0345 634 2571

Martin Cork

Martin Cork
Director

0345 077 9617

Jade Flint

Jade Flint
Director

0345 050 3698

Miles Hacking

Miles Hacking
Director

0345 073 8553

Matthew Kelly
Director

0345 634 2564

Barry Sharples
Director

0345 077 9609

Isobel Callaghan

Isobel Callaghan
Managing Associate

0345 404 4175

Danielle Dale
Managing Associate

0345 077 9644

Laura Lucas

Laura Lucas
Managing Associate

0345 050 3693

Jacqui Murphy
Managing Associate

0345 340 4232

Thomas Childs
Senior Associate

0345 404 1746

Hannah Dunn
Senior Associate

0345 166 6256

Grace Millar
Senior Associate

0345 274 6940

Hannah Sultan

Hannah Mutch
Senior Associate

0345 634 2541

Gregg Parkin
Senior Associate

0345 274 6876

Alex Brown
Associate

0345 050 3691

Image of Jaskiran Deol

Jaskiran Deol
Associate

0345 274 6830

Harrison Jones
Associate

0345 634 2547

Min Noor
Associate

0345 272 5737

Manisha Rajshakha
Associate

0345 634 2544

Alex Nicholls

Alex Nicholls
Executive

0345 077 9615

Related news
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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 a number of my creditor clients has not been good, it has been exceptional. I know that whether I am embroiled in legal proceedings or seeking advice that I am in safe hands and dealing with someone that I can rely on and who will address, respond to and formulate solutions to the legal challenges that I face."

(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 has kept fees to a minimum. I do not hesitate in recommending Kevin to anyone."

(Managing Director, Robson Scott Group Limited)

‘They are personable and very easy to work with. Restructuring and insolvency knowledge and expertise is second to none without the jargon and they work hand in hand to solve matters.’

(The Legal 500, 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 insolvency with their own further specialised skillset within the field.’

(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 know they are getting the response tailored to the particular circumstances.”

(Chambers & Partners, 2024)

“The team are experienced, knowledgeable, commercial and pragmatic.”

(Chambers & Partners, 2024)

“Freeths are quick to respond and always gave appropriate, concise and considered responses.”

(Chambers & Partners, 2024)

"Freeths demonstrate deep knowledge and a target-oriented approach. They are very able to provide commercially viable solutions.”

(Chambers & Partners, 2023)

"All their staff are knowledgeable and approachable. They answer complex queries quickly and efficiently regarding a wide range of subjects.”

(Chambers & Partners, 2023)

Notable Work
  • 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.

Client service

‘Doing the right thing’ is at the heart of Freeths. Find out more about our excellent client service and the strong set of values that guide the way we work.

Our values

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Talk to us

Freeths are a leading national law firm with 13 offices across the UK. If you have a query about our services or just want to find out more, why not give us a call?

Contact: 03301 001 014

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