Legal 500 London Bar Insolvency

“Fraser Ritson is very experienced and has a very detailed legal knowledge. He is able to hold back, see the big picture and ensure that relevant options and possible solutions are always being considered. Takes the time to explain things to stakeholders who are not familiar with insolvency and is always available 24/7. Mayer Brown International LLP has “extensive knowledge of multiple sectors, regions and financing products” and ensures that it is well positioned to advise countless stakeholders, including lenders, funds, IPs, boards of directors and securities trustees and agents, on complex restructurings and insolvencies in multiple jurisdictions. Devi Shah, a permanent member of the team, “offers innovative solutions that lead to profitable results” and is particularly efficient in managing insurance and pension mandates. She leads the team alongside Michael Fiddy, a “highly experienced and efficient problem solver”, and Amy Jacks, who has “detailed expertise in UK insolvency”. Barry Cosgrave`s arrival in late 2020 from K&L Gates LLP broadens the team`s expertise given its “experience with challenging jurisdictions and emerging market modus operandi.” Dechert LLP`s growing team, which has recently welcomed the arrival of “laborious and dedicated” special situations, and Kay Morley, Jones Day`s cross-border restructuring expert, offers “world-class restructuring and insolvency expertise in UK and cross-border situations”. Recognised by one client as “one of London`s top restructuring lawyers”, Adam Plainer leads a “technically sound” team that includes Solomon Noh, who “brings unique skills to the London market with his US restructuring experience”. “Linklaters has a world-class restructuring and insolvency team in London – the team is incredibly responsive, commercial, practical and solution-oriented.” Reed Smith LLP`s multidisciplinary offering, which combines pure insolvency expertise with financial and corporate expertise, benefits from a “deep in-depth knowledge of different sectors and geopolitical scope” and provides “outcome-oriented” advice to a range of investors, creditors, debtors and IPs. Kathleen Garrett`s arrival of Arthur Cox is based on “sharp legal intelligence” and “an excellent understanding of commercial matters” and adds weight to the practice in special situations due to her long experience in the fund industry. It also strengthens the company`s strength in dealing with aviation-related issues.

Lawyer Patrick Schumann has “extensive knowledge of English insolvency law, which he uses to structure complex transactions”. Led by “technically very knowledgeable” Julian Cahn and complemented by a strong civil fraud group, Stephenson Harwood is best known for advising NPs on contentious insolvency matters, including aspects of asset identification and recognition of foreign judgments. This part of the practice was further strengthened in November 2021 with the arrival of Tal Goldsmith, “incredibly intelligent and knowledgeable” from Wedlake Bell LLP. Tim Crocker`s arrival in September 2021 from Allen & Overy LLP is also a letter of intent on the non-litigious restructuring front and expands a growing offering in this area, which includes Ian Benjamin, who has extensive experience advising on corporate restructurings and creditor and debtor restructurings. Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP, co-led in London by Andrew Wilkinson and Neil Devaney and also with a leading market presence in the US, “operates at an extremely and intensely high level” on behalf of a balanced mix of creditor, investor and debtor clients. In this context, clients appreciate not only the “highest level of legal advice”, but also the ability and willingness to act as a “true business partner”. Wilkinson is recognized as a “great tactician” and continues to focus on debtor work both on the corporate side, where clients benefit from Chapter 11 expertise when needed, and in terms of sovereign/state mandates. The “impressive” Devaney remains the driving force behind the creditor practice, having taken on high-profile work for creditors in a number of high-profile cross-border restructurings. “Calm and unwavering in a crisis,” Mark Lawford “combines incredible insolvency knowledge with solution-oriented advice,” even in the context of demanding insolvency proceedings. Gemma Sage is recommended along with Lois Deasey, who joined the team in the summer of 2022 as a partner in the London branch of Akin Gump LLP. “A wide range of lawyers qualified to handle a wide range of insolvency matters.” Latham & Watkins benefits from a “highly skilled and well-resourced” core restructuring team and is also able to leverage the company`s broader funding platform, including its impressive leveraged financing offering, and international network.

“Yen Sum is one of the foremost restructuring and turnaround lawyers in the UK and Europe” and leads much of the firm`s key work with respect to bondholders, reflecting its strong fund relationships and excellent record in transactions, including loans in special situations. The arrival of Bruce Bell from Linklaters in June 2021 further strengthened the team`s strength and he exerted direct influence on the debtor and creditor fronts and is known for his “excellent legal knowledge and ability to maneuver both debt and equity documents”. Jennifer Brennan “has a keen mind” and is praised for her ability to provide “highly innovative and commercial” advice to bondholders and alternative investors in large-scale cross-border transactions. Praised for her “responsiveness, clarity of thought and commercial nature,” Jessica Walker is also a key member of the team, covering contentious and non-contentious issues, particularly with respect to distressed transactions, pension plan restructurings, CVAs and settlement plans. Team principal Simon J Baskerville is also recommended. “Practical and business-oriented in its approach”, Charles Russell Speechlys LLP provides “user-friendly” advice to debtors and creditors in a range of formal domestic and cross-border insolvency and restructuring transactions, both in a corporate and personal insolvency environment. In particular, the firm acts on behalf of IPs who regularly engage it in complex matters that often involve difficult contentious aspects. In this regard, Jason Freedman is a “very strong advisor,” especially when it comes to allegations of fraud. Hanh Nguyen “is extremely smart and commercially savvy” and regularly advises incumbents on the sale of the business and assets of an insolvent company, as well as buyers of troubled companies.

James Hyne of Guildford leads the team. “Maitland Chambers is our preferred law and insolvency firm. All the silks and juniors seem to be good and the clergy team is also commercial and helpful. “They have extensive talent in insolvency matters and are equally proficient in related areas such as commercial disputes and real estate.” Drawing on a “combination of in-depth legal and industry knowledge while remaining commercial and practical,” Goodwin continues to gain traction in the London restructuring market both in stand-alone national mandates and in cross-border matters – where she often works with practitioners in the firm`s more established New York office. Simon Thomas “demonstrates an excellent mix of technical skills and a commercial approach” and has close ties with the IP community in particular. The team also effectively leveraged the firm`s expanded private equity and fund expertise and began taking on a significant amount of work for their distressed or distressed investments. This aspect of the practice has also recently been reinforced by the arrival of Tony Horspool, an attorney at Brown Rudnick LLP. “Creative, responsive and focused” Geoff O`Dea leads the team alongside Thomas and poses a dual threat, as he is not only due to his core restructuring skills (which include extensive knowledge of restructuring plans and plans), but also to leveraged financing transactions. Maitland Chambers is “an excellent set of rooms with enormous banking soundness”. Complementary expertise in related areas such as offshore, insolvency and fraud make it a target for high-profile commercial disputes. David Mumford KC and Thomas Munby KC are part of the team representing the Qatari government in Qatar against Banque Havilland SA, a lawsuit over an alleged plot by the bank and the UAE government that severed diplomatic relations with Qatar between 2017 and 2021 to provoke a run on the value of Qatar`s riyal and sovereign debt.

In addition to Duncan McCombe, Munby KC was also led by Andrew Twigger KC on behalf of the plaintiff in Bugsby Property v. LGIM Commercial Lending, which involved a claim for damages against a Legal & General group company for an alleged breach of an exclusivity agreement that ended in a four-week trial. “The team is practical and solution-oriented. They are able to think outside the box, understand the dynamics of transactions, and make practical suggestions to find a way forward. “Mark Fennessy is one of London`s most experienced insolvency and restructuring practitioners, versed in leading large cross-border cases.