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OUR SPEAKERS
View all speakers below and click on their image to read their bio.
Don't forget, you will have a chance to ask our speakers questions at the
end of each session as well as connect with them in our Meeting Hub.
Christina Fitzgerald
Conference Co-Chair, R3 Vice President and Partner, Edwin Coe LLP
Christina joined Edwin Coe’s top ranked Restructuring & Insolvency team in February 2021 and deals with all aspects of contentious and non-contentious corporate and personal insolvency.
She is a Licensed Insolvency Practitioner and advises insolvency practitioners, accountants, banks, asset based lenders and other commercial organisations. Christina has particular expertise in advising troubled professional practices and distressed charities, not for profit organisations and corporate simplification. She also acts for clients in a wide variety of disputes including corporate, shareholder and partnership litigation, complex contractual disputes and professional negligence.
Christina is the current Vice President of R3 (the trade association for the UK’s insolvency and restructuring professionals), becoming President in April 2021, and also a member of INSOL Europe.
Christina joined Edwin Coe’s top ranked Restructuring & Insolvency team in February 2021 and deals with all aspects of contentious and non-contentious corporate and personal insolvency.
She is a Licensed Insolvency Practitioner and advises insolvency practitioners, accountants, banks, asset based lenders and other commercial organisations. Christina has particular expertise in advising troubled professional practices and distressed charities, not for profit organisations and corporate simplification. She also acts for clients in a wide variety of disputes including corporate, shareholder and partnership litigation, complex contractual disputes and professional negligence.
Christina is the current Vice President of R3 (the trade association for the UK’s insolvency and restructuring professionals), becoming President in April 2021, and also a member of INSOL Europe.
Colin Haig
Conference Co-Chair, R3 President and Head of Restructuring, Azets
Colin Haig has a long career in the insolvency and restructuring profession and he is an expert in restructuring. In 1979 he joined the Insolvency Service, where he spent five years as an examiner in London. After that he joined Stoy Hayward, where he spent six years in Baker Street before joining Neville Russell in Luton as a Partner. From there, he moved to Baker Tilly around 1995, then did six years at BT before moving to PwC in London. In 2010 he joined KPMG for six years, then spent 3 years at BDO before recently in October 2020, joining Azets where he is the Head of Restructuring. Outside of work, Colin is married with 2 teenagers and he enjoys skiing and playing the bass.
Colin's sector interests include social housing, education, adult social care, student accommodation and anything manufacturing.
Colin has also served as the President of IPA in 2002 and is the current President of R3 (2020-2021), and in this way he is able to give back to the profession.
He " believes the UK Restructuring community has a vital role helping UK navigate Covid-19 and Brexit. There is no finer bunch of people for this critical challenge".
Colin Haig has a long career in the insolvency and restructuring profession and he is an expert in restructuring. In 1979 he joined the Insolvency Service, where he spent five years as an examiner in London. After that he joined Stoy Hayward, where he spent six years in Baker Street before joining Neville Russell in Luton as a Partner. From there, he moved to Baker Tilly around 1995, then did six years at BT before moving to PwC in London. In 2010 he joined KPMG for six years, then spent 3 years at BDO before recently in October 2020, joining Azets where he is the Head of Restructuring. Outside of work, Colin is married with 2 teenagers and he enjoys skiing and playing the bass.
Colin's sector interests include social housing, education, adult social care, student accommodation and anything manufacturing.
Colin has also served as the President of IPA in 2002 and is the current President of R3 (2020-2021), and in this way he is able to give back to the profession.
He " believes the UK Restructuring community has a vital role helping UK navigate Covid-19 and Brexit. There is no finer bunch of people for this critical challenge".
Liz Bingham
R3 CEO
Prior to retiring in June 2017 Liz was a Senior Partner at Big 4 firm EY. Liz held a number of important positions in the firm latterly as a member of the UK and Ireland Board as Managing Partner with responsibility for developing and delivering the firm’s highly successful strategy for employer brand, talent development and Diversity and Inclusion.
Liz is also 30+ year experienced commercial Restructuring professional having led the UK firm’s Restructuring business of £100m with 500 people through the global financial crisis. This required strong inclusive leadership skills in order to manage demand and resource through a period of exponential growth whilst also enhancing profit margins. Throughout her career, Liz has had prolific success in building client relationships and securing new restructuring projects as well as coaching teams and other Partners to be successful in winning new accounts, projects and relationships.
In 2013, Liz was elected by her industry peers to be President of R3 the Association of Business Recovery Professionals, representing the interests of restructuring firms large and small all over the UK.
In the last 5 years of her career at EY, Liz sat on the UK&I Board supporting Partners and staff across the firm in all aspects of the employee lifecycle and Partner admissions. Liz also enhanced the firm’s brand with clients and non-clients alike, helping them to achieve the best from their workforce and creating environments where it was possible for everyone to succeed regardless of background. This strategy not only enhanced EY’s reputation but also resulted in Liz being recognised by HM Queen with the honour of OBE for services to equality in the workplace.
In the period since retiring, Liz held the position of Interim CEO for the Insolvency Practitioners Association, a regulator for the profession. Following her success in this role, in March 2020, Liz was appointed as interim CEO of R3 – the trade body for restructuring professionals in the UK.
Prior to retiring in June 2017 Liz was a Senior Partner at Big 4 firm EY. Liz held a number of important positions in the firm latterly as a member of the UK and Ireland Board as Managing Partner with responsibility for developing and delivering the firm’s highly successful strategy for employer brand, talent development and Diversity and Inclusion.
Liz is also 30+ year experienced commercial Restructuring professional having led the UK firm’s Restructuring business of £100m with 500 people through the global financial crisis. This required strong inclusive leadership skills in order to manage demand and resource through a period of exponential growth whilst also enhancing profit margins. Throughout her career, Liz has had prolific success in building client relationships and securing new restructuring projects as well as coaching teams and other Partners to be successful in winning new accounts, projects and relationships.
In 2013, Liz was elected by her industry peers to be President of R3 the Association of Business Recovery Professionals, representing the interests of restructuring firms large and small all over the UK.
In the last 5 years of her career at EY, Liz sat on the UK&I Board supporting Partners and staff across the firm in all aspects of the employee lifecycle and Partner admissions. Liz also enhanced the firm’s brand with clients and non-clients alike, helping them to achieve the best from their workforce and creating environments where it was possible for everyone to succeed regardless of background. This strategy not only enhanced EY’s reputation but also resulted in Liz being recognised by HM Queen with the honour of OBE for services to equality in the workplace.
In the period since retiring, Liz held the position of Interim CEO for the Insolvency Practitioners Association, a regulator for the profession. Following her success in this role, in March 2020, Liz was appointed as interim CEO of R3 – the trade body for restructuring professionals in the UK.
Mandy Hickson
Motivational Speaker & Former Fast Jet Pilot
Mandy Hickson’s long-time ambition to be a Royal Air Force pilot once seemed impossibly out of reach; but many a multi-million pound fast jet later, her impressive flying career proves that obstacles can be overcome to achieve dreams. Now a civilian, Mandy inspires others to achieve their goals and fascinates with anecdotes from her exhilarating times spent on the front line.
After joining the Air Training Corps at school, Mandy’s interest in the military gathered supersonic speed; at the age of just 17, she was awarded an RAF flying scholarship, followed by a private pilot’s license.
Studying Geography and Sports Science at Birmingham University, Mandy continued to foster her flying aspirations with the University Air Squadron, and eventually became its president. In her final year, she won several inter-squadron national aerobatics competitions.
It was early on that Mandy learned not to shy away from failure. After two unsuccessful attempts at the RAF flying aptitude tests, reaching the limit of times that they can be taken, her goals appeared to be unattainable. Undeterred, Mandy went on to join the RAF as an Air Traffic Controller and continued to make her case for becoming a pilot throughout her officer training. Finally, the RAF decided to offer her pilot training as a test case, having observed her skills in the real world.
The only female aircrew, Mandy trained on the Firefly, Tucano and Hawk aircraft, and was awarded many prizes for leadership. She was the second woman to fly the Tornado GR4 operationally and completed three tours of duty and flew 45 missions over Iraq. She continues to support the success of women founder and Co-Director of Inspiring Women for Work (IWFW) – a vibrant event designed to lead women towards gaining a more confident, motivated and focused mind set.
Since leaving the RAF Mandy has served as a school governor, on the board of trustees at the Victory Services Club, is ambassador for sport for Hampshire County Council and has been the Chairman of her local tennis club. She still supports the RAF as a Volunteer Reservist, flying Air Cadets in the Grob Tutor aircraft.
Stressing the need to remain calm under pressure, leading from the front, and how to make strategic decisions when faced with risk, Mandy shares how to communicate, empower and how to draw the best from herself and others. She never fails to engage audiences with her candour, humour and limitless energy.
Mandy Hickson’s long-time ambition to be a Royal Air Force pilot once seemed impossibly out of reach; but many a multi-million pound fast jet later, her impressive flying career proves that obstacles can be overcome to achieve dreams. Now a civilian, Mandy inspires others to achieve their goals and fascinates with anecdotes from her exhilarating times spent on the front line.
After joining the Air Training Corps at school, Mandy’s interest in the military gathered supersonic speed; at the age of just 17, she was awarded an RAF flying scholarship, followed by a private pilot’s license.
Studying Geography and Sports Science at Birmingham University, Mandy continued to foster her flying aspirations with the University Air Squadron, and eventually became its president. In her final year, she won several inter-squadron national aerobatics competitions.
It was early on that Mandy learned not to shy away from failure. After two unsuccessful attempts at the RAF flying aptitude tests, reaching the limit of times that they can be taken, her goals appeared to be unattainable. Undeterred, Mandy went on to join the RAF as an Air Traffic Controller and continued to make her case for becoming a pilot throughout her officer training. Finally, the RAF decided to offer her pilot training as a test case, having observed her skills in the real world.
The only female aircrew, Mandy trained on the Firefly, Tucano and Hawk aircraft, and was awarded many prizes for leadership. She was the second woman to fly the Tornado GR4 operationally and completed three tours of duty and flew 45 missions over Iraq. She continues to support the success of women founder and Co-Director of Inspiring Women for Work (IWFW) – a vibrant event designed to lead women towards gaining a more confident, motivated and focused mind set.
Since leaving the RAF Mandy has served as a school governor, on the board of trustees at the Victory Services Club, is ambassador for sport for Hampshire County Council and has been the Chairman of her local tennis club. She still supports the RAF as a Volunteer Reservist, flying Air Cadets in the Grob Tutor aircraft.
Stressing the need to remain calm under pressure, leading from the front, and how to make strategic decisions when faced with risk, Mandy shares how to communicate, empower and how to draw the best from herself and others. She never fails to engage audiences with her candour, humour and limitless energy.
Charles Turner
Partner, Begbies Traynor
Charles is an experienced restructuring and insolvency specialist, typically working with owner managed businesses and individuals, helping to manage financial stress. He has been a licensed appointment taker for over 20 years.
He acts as an IP adviser for R3, helping to develop policy and best practice with HMRC as well as contributing to consultation responses on recent legislation, including the 2020 pandemic inspired changes.
He is a specialist in legal practices, the Charity and not for profit sector and the Education sector. He leads for his firm on the Charity Commission Interim Manager panel and for Department for Education (DfE).
He is a member of R3 Council as well as Chair of the R3 Education, Courses and Conferences committee. He also serves as a member of IPA Disciplinary committee and is a former President of the IPA, a leading regulator.
Charles is an experienced restructuring and insolvency specialist, typically working with owner managed businesses and individuals, helping to manage financial stress. He has been a licensed appointment taker for over 20 years.
He acts as an IP adviser for R3, helping to develop policy and best practice with HMRC as well as contributing to consultation responses on recent legislation, including the 2020 pandemic inspired changes.
He is a specialist in legal practices, the Charity and not for profit sector and the Education sector. He leads for his firm on the Charity Commission Interim Manager panel and for Department for Education (DfE).
He is a member of R3 Council as well as Chair of the R3 Education, Courses and Conferences committee. He also serves as a member of IPA Disciplinary committee and is a former President of the IPA, a leading regulator.
Danny Waine
Head of Membership - ABTA - The Travel Association
Danny Waine is Head of Membership at ABTA – The Travel Association. With more than 4,300 travel brands in Membership, ABTA is the UK trade body for the travel industry, with Members comprising of outbound tour operators, travel agents, domestic coach businesses, cruise companies, OTAs and more. Danny is also Board Director at professional membership organisation The Institute of Travel & Tourism (ITT), Co-founder of the ‘ITT Future You’ careers initiative and Non-Executive Director at wellbeing social enterprise Talent Courtyard. Before joining ABTA in October 2020, Danny was Commercial Manager at the Swiss Cooperative’s Hotelplan Group Holiday Home Division (HHD), International Business Development Manager at PE-backed Italian fashion and design university Istituto Marangoni, part of Galileo Global Education and Co-founder & Director at overseas wedding specialist, Perfect Weddings Abroad; now part of US travel business DestinationWeddings.com
Danny Waine is Head of Membership at ABTA – The Travel Association. With more than 4,300 travel brands in Membership, ABTA is the UK trade body for the travel industry, with Members comprising of outbound tour operators, travel agents, domestic coach businesses, cruise companies, OTAs and more. Danny is also Board Director at professional membership organisation The Institute of Travel & Tourism (ITT), Co-founder of the ‘ITT Future You’ careers initiative and Non-Executive Director at wellbeing social enterprise Talent Courtyard. Before joining ABTA in October 2020, Danny was Commercial Manager at the Swiss Cooperative’s Hotelplan Group Holiday Home Division (HHD), International Business Development Manager at PE-backed Italian fashion and design university Istituto Marangoni, part of Galileo Global Education and Co-founder & Director at overseas wedding specialist, Perfect Weddings Abroad; now part of US travel business DestinationWeddings.com
Lucy Winterbourne
Associate Partner, Turnaround & Restructuring Strategy
Lucy leads EY's Turnaround & Restructuring Strategy team for the South West and South Wales region and has significant experience of working with mid-market businesses facing varying challenges from early stage cash constraints through to formal insolvency. Her work frequently involves advising a Board on its turnaround or growth strategy, facilitating a business in gaining access to the funding it needs and liaising with and advising funders.
During her career, she has spent time on working within the business support teams of Barclays Bank PLC and HSBC Bank Plc, giving her an invaluable insight into the internal workings of banks and in particular, their dealings with distressed businesses.
Lucy is a licensed insolvency practitioner and a committee member of the South West & Wales region of the Association of Business Recovery Professionals.
Lucy leads EY's Turnaround & Restructuring Strategy team for the South West and South Wales region and has significant experience of working with mid-market businesses facing varying challenges from early stage cash constraints through to formal insolvency. Her work frequently involves advising a Board on its turnaround or growth strategy, facilitating a business in gaining access to the funding it needs and liaising with and advising funders.
During her career, she has spent time on working within the business support teams of Barclays Bank PLC and HSBC Bank Plc, giving her an invaluable insight into the internal workings of banks and in particular, their dealings with distressed businesses.
Lucy is a licensed insolvency practitioner and a committee member of the South West & Wales region of the Association of Business Recovery Professionals.
Shaun Roy
Equity Partner, Knight Frank
Shaun is an Equity Partner at Knight Frank and leads the Hotels Team. He has worked in the capital markets arena for over 17 years. In that time he has been involved in the transaction of in excess of £7.5bn of commercial real estate.
Key areas of specialism within the Hotel space are Sale & Leaseback, ground rents, fixed lease hotels and development funding.’
Shaun is an Equity Partner at Knight Frank and leads the Hotels Team. He has worked in the capital markets arena for over 17 years. In that time he has been involved in the transaction of in excess of £7.5bn of commercial real estate.
Key areas of specialism within the Hotel space are Sale & Leaseback, ground rents, fixed lease hotels and development funding.’
Melanie Leech, CBE
Chief Executive, British Property Federation
Melanie joined the British Property Federation as Chief Executive in January 2015, following nine years as Director General of the Food and Drink Federation.
Melanie began her working life as a Police Constable in the Metropolitan Police Service. She joined the civil service (HM Customs) in 1988 and subsequently held senior roles in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Office of the Rail Regulator and the Cabinet Office. Her role is to champion UK real estate and to promote a long-term, sustainable partnership between governments and the sector to deliver a high quality built environment, and to create wealth.
Melanie is a Fellow of the RSA and a Trustee of LandAid, the property industry charity. In 2015, she was awarded a CBE for services to the food and drink industry.
Melanie joined the British Property Federation as Chief Executive in January 2015, following nine years as Director General of the Food and Drink Federation.
Melanie began her working life as a Police Constable in the Metropolitan Police Service. She joined the civil service (HM Customs) in 1988 and subsequently held senior roles in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Office of the Rail Regulator and the Cabinet Office. Her role is to champion UK real estate and to promote a long-term, sustainable partnership between governments and the sector to deliver a high quality built environment, and to create wealth.
Melanie is a Fellow of the RSA and a Trustee of LandAid, the property industry charity. In 2015, she was awarded a CBE for services to the food and drink industry.
David Baxendale
Partner, PwC
David Baxendale is a Partner at PwC in the London Mid Market BRS Team as part of PwC's Deals business in London and the South-East. He is a licensed insolvency practitioner with 20 years experience of working on both advisory and executory projects, initially in the Midlands, and since 2011 in London and the South-East. He has also spent time on secondment at a bank and at the Department of Health.
David has recently worked across a variety of sectors including retail, hospitality, real estate, manufacturing and professional services, providing advice to corporates, lenders and other stakeholders and also worked with the Homes and Community Agency as part of a working group to consider the introduction of a Special Administration regime for Housing Associations. David also provides advice to charities and not-for-profit organisations facing financial challenges.
In addition he has worked on both UK and international cases in Germany, India, Kuwait and Turkey covering manufacturing, oil and gas, steel and retail companies.
David is also a member of R3 and has chaired a number of technical training courses and away from work likes cricket and is a keen supporter of Stoke City.
David Baxendale is a Partner at PwC in the London Mid Market BRS Team as part of PwC's Deals business in London and the South-East. He is a licensed insolvency practitioner with 20 years experience of working on both advisory and executory projects, initially in the Midlands, and since 2011 in London and the South-East. He has also spent time on secondment at a bank and at the Department of Health.
David has recently worked across a variety of sectors including retail, hospitality, real estate, manufacturing and professional services, providing advice to corporates, lenders and other stakeholders and also worked with the Homes and Community Agency as part of a working group to consider the introduction of a Special Administration regime for Housing Associations. David also provides advice to charities and not-for-profit organisations facing financial challenges.
In addition he has worked on both UK and international cases in Germany, India, Kuwait and Turkey covering manufacturing, oil and gas, steel and retail companies.
David is also a member of R3 and has chaired a number of technical training courses and away from work likes cricket and is a keen supporter of Stoke City.
Alan Ryall
Head of UK Restructuring Solutions, Avison Young
Alan is the head of the UK Restructuring Solutions team at Avison Young. He advises on implementing strategic and operational property restructurings in both proactive and reactive scenarios as well as advising on individual assets / portfolios on behalf of clients including Corporates, Lenders, Accountants, Private Equity Houses and Public Sector Bodies.
Avison Young is the UK's leading and most diverse real estate advisory-led business. Headquartered in the City of London, Avison Young operate out of a further 18 regional city offices with our worldwide footprint providing a reach which extends across Europe, North America and beyond. With our in-depth knowledge of the national property market across all sectors, our advisory capabilities are comprehensive.
Alan is the head of the UK Restructuring Solutions team at Avison Young. He advises on implementing strategic and operational property restructurings in both proactive and reactive scenarios as well as advising on individual assets / portfolios on behalf of clients including Corporates, Lenders, Accountants, Private Equity Houses and Public Sector Bodies.
Avison Young is the UK's leading and most diverse real estate advisory-led business. Headquartered in the City of London, Avison Young operate out of a further 18 regional city offices with our worldwide footprint providing a reach which extends across Europe, North America and beyond. With our in-depth knowledge of the national property market across all sectors, our advisory capabilities are comprehensive.
Professor Christoph G. Paulus
Christoph G. Paulus has been a professor of law at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin/Germany from 1994 to 2019 – holding a chair for Civil Law, Civil Procedure Law, Insolvency Law and ancient Roman Law. Before that he was teaching i.a. at the university of Heidelberg and of Saarbrücken. He had studied law at the University of Munich and has done his LL.M. at the University of California in Berkeley. Being an expert primarily in insolvency law, Prof. Paulus has worked several times as a consultant of the IMF and of the World Bank. Moreover, from 2006 through 2011, he worked as an adviser of the German delegation on the UNCITRAL insolvency law sessions. He has lectured worldwide and has held guest professorships at various universities; additionally, he is member of various international institutions such as the American College of Bankruptcy or the International Insolvency Institute (of which he has been a Vicepresident until summer 2017). Since his retirement in spring 2019 he is Associate Member of South Square, London, and since September 1, 2019 Of Counsel with White & Case, Berlin.
Frances Coulson
Senior Partner, Moon Beever LLP
Frances Coulson is Senior Partner at Moon Beever LLP based in London where she heads the insolvency and litigation department leading a substantial team of lawyers in contentious and non-contentious work. A former SPG Chairman, she now chairs the R3 Fraud Group is a Board Trustee & Deputy Chairman of the Fraud Advisory Panel (the anti-fraud charity), a Special Constable with the National Crime Agency appointed under the Crime & Courts Act 2013. Frances is a member of R3 Council and Policy Group, and of the Council of Insol Europe and of their Fraud Group. Her work largely involves contentious insolvency, fraud and injunctive relief. She has acted in many injunctions for Claimants and as Supervising solicitor for over 30 years. She is also Deputy Chair of the Regulatory & Conduct Committee of the IPA. She is an enthusiastic lobbyist for the insolvency profession and for victims of fraud. She is an Honorary Fellow if the Chartered Institute of Credit Management and has given evidence several times to Parliamentary Committees on finance and lending and insolvency.
Frances Coulson is Senior Partner at Moon Beever LLP based in London where she heads the insolvency and litigation department leading a substantial team of lawyers in contentious and non-contentious work. A former SPG Chairman, she now chairs the R3 Fraud Group is a Board Trustee & Deputy Chairman of the Fraud Advisory Panel (the anti-fraud charity), a Special Constable with the National Crime Agency appointed under the Crime & Courts Act 2013. Frances is a member of R3 Council and Policy Group, and of the Council of Insol Europe and of their Fraud Group. Her work largely involves contentious insolvency, fraud and injunctive relief. She has acted in many injunctions for Claimants and as Supervising solicitor for over 30 years. She is also Deputy Chair of the Regulatory & Conduct Committee of the IPA. She is an enthusiastic lobbyist for the insolvency profession and for victims of fraud. She is an Honorary Fellow if the Chartered Institute of Credit Management and has given evidence several times to Parliamentary Committees on finance and lending and insolvency.
Vernon Dennis
Partner, Howard Kennedy
A highly experienced specialist in business transformation, Vernon Dennis is Head of the Business Recovery and Reconstruction group.
Vernon has over 25 years’ experience designing and implementing financial recovery and restructuring plans for business clients.
Leading our specialist group of experts he utilises the full resources available from within the firm, whether tax, employment, banking or real estate to provide pragmatic and commercially driven solutions for clients. And where applicable, he works in collaboration with leading industry experts.
Known for his technical expertise, but for making the complex, simple, Vernon advises insolvency practitioners, creditors, and debtors on a wide range of corporate recovery, reconstruction, and business rescue issues, both domestically and cross-border. He specialises in strategic and advisory support for company boards when planning programmes of business turnaround, restructuring, or transformation.
He has extensive experience in retail and restaurant distress, property portfolio restructuring, and cases known for their technical complexity.
Vernon is a Fellow of R3 (The Association of Business Recovery Professionals). A regular lecturer and commentator on insolvency, he is author of The New Law of Insolvency (2003), Insolvency Law Handbook (1st Ed 2005; 2nd Ed 2007 and 3rd Ed 2013), Administration (2010), Liquidation (2011), and Bankruptcy (2012). These have all been published by The Law Society.
A highly experienced specialist in business transformation, Vernon Dennis is Head of the Business Recovery and Reconstruction group.
Vernon has over 25 years’ experience designing and implementing financial recovery and restructuring plans for business clients.
Leading our specialist group of experts he utilises the full resources available from within the firm, whether tax, employment, banking or real estate to provide pragmatic and commercially driven solutions for clients. And where applicable, he works in collaboration with leading industry experts.
Known for his technical expertise, but for making the complex, simple, Vernon advises insolvency practitioners, creditors, and debtors on a wide range of corporate recovery, reconstruction, and business rescue issues, both domestically and cross-border. He specialises in strategic and advisory support for company boards when planning programmes of business turnaround, restructuring, or transformation.
He has extensive experience in retail and restaurant distress, property portfolio restructuring, and cases known for their technical complexity.
Vernon is a Fellow of R3 (The Association of Business Recovery Professionals). A regular lecturer and commentator on insolvency, he is author of The New Law of Insolvency (2003), Insolvency Law Handbook (1st Ed 2005; 2nd Ed 2007 and 3rd Ed 2013), Administration (2010), Liquidation (2011), and Bankruptcy (2012). These have all been published by The Law Society.
Will Wright
Head of Restructuring, Interpath Advisory
Will is Head of Restructuring at Interpath Advisory (formerly KPMG’s Restructuring practice). He has over 20 years’ experience advising businesses and their stakeholders in stressed and distressed situations. These include corporates across many sectors, clearing banks, asset based lenders and VCs.
He also leads the team’s accelerated sales options process (Early Options) nationally and has responsibility for product development, leading relationships with our network of potential investors and supporting regional delivery teams.
He is also an active practitioner in the London and regional markets, having led on numerous restructurings in recent years, notably in the retail and casual dining sectors. Will has a special interest in CVAs and has acted as nominee and supervisor on numerous high profile cases over recent years.
Will is Head of Restructuring at Interpath Advisory (formerly KPMG’s Restructuring practice). He has over 20 years’ experience advising businesses and their stakeholders in stressed and distressed situations. These include corporates across many sectors, clearing banks, asset based lenders and VCs.
He also leads the team’s accelerated sales options process (Early Options) nationally and has responsibility for product development, leading relationships with our network of potential investors and supporting regional delivery teams.
He is also an active practitioner in the London and regional markets, having led on numerous restructurings in recent years, notably in the retail and casual dining sectors. Will has a special interest in CVAs and has acted as nominee and supervisor on numerous high profile cases over recent years.
Gareth Harrison
Deputy North East Agent, Bank of England
Gareth is the Bank of England's Deputy Agent in the North East.
He acts as the ‘eyes and ears’ in the region. His job is to meet people from companies of all sizes, and from all sectors, to understand the business conditions they face. He feeds this intelligence back to policymakers who use it to inform policy decisions on things like what Bank Rate we set.
Before he joined the Bank of England, Gareth worked for the manufacturing trade body EEF. Previously, he worked as a recruitment specialist.
He has a degree in Business and Economics and a Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resources Management.
Gareth has a largely unfulfilling lifelong obsession with Newcastle United and a love of travel and cookery.
Gareth is the Bank of England's Deputy Agent in the North East.
He acts as the ‘eyes and ears’ in the region. His job is to meet people from companies of all sizes, and from all sectors, to understand the business conditions they face. He feeds this intelligence back to policymakers who use it to inform policy decisions on things like what Bank Rate we set.
Before he joined the Bank of England, Gareth worked for the manufacturing trade body EEF. Previously, he worked as a recruitment specialist.
He has a degree in Business and Economics and a Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resources Management.
Gareth has a largely unfulfilling lifelong obsession with Newcastle United and a love of travel and cookery.
Tim Cooper
Partner, Addleshaw Goddard
Dual qualified in England & Wales and Scotland, with 23 years' experience in all aspects of business restructuring, recovery and insolvency cases, recent highlights including:
• Advising Moorfields Advisory, as administrators of the UK shopping centre assets of Jersey registered FREP (Belle Vale) Ltd, FREP (Ellesmere Port) Ltd, and FREP (Knowle) Ltd
• Advising private equity and distressed refinance restructuring specialist Cable Capital Partners on the administration funding of chemical plant demolition and site remediation of Avara Avlon Pharma Services Ltd (in administration)
• Acting for the Administrators of Penman Engineering Ltd, one of the largest employers in Dumfries, and designer and manufacturer of specialist hi-tech security and armoured vehicles
• Experience in leading on numerous environmental related insolvencies, including The Scottish Coal Company Ltd (in liquidation), Administration of Northburn Industrial Services Limited (waste manager of 80% of Scotland's waste oil product), Liquidation of Doonin Plant Limited and Administration of Oran Environmental Solutions Limited
• Acting for major US funds on recoveries of corporate and personal debtor and personal guarantee secured and unsecured recoveries in England and Scotland
Author for LexisPSL's Scottish Restructuring & Insolvency corporate insolvency content.
Tim is qualified in England and Wales, and Scotland, having practiced in Leeds and Manchester for over 16 years, and Scotland since 2012 as a registered Foreign Expert until admission as a Scottish solicitor in August 2019.
Tim is a full member of R3 – Association of Business Recovery Professionals; R3 Council Member for Scotland, Chair of the R3 in Scotland Regional Committee, and member of the R3 Scottish Technical Committee.
Dual qualified in England & Wales and Scotland, with 23 years' experience in all aspects of business restructuring, recovery and insolvency cases, recent highlights including:
• Advising Moorfields Advisory, as administrators of the UK shopping centre assets of Jersey registered FREP (Belle Vale) Ltd, FREP (Ellesmere Port) Ltd, and FREP (Knowle) Ltd
• Advising private equity and distressed refinance restructuring specialist Cable Capital Partners on the administration funding of chemical plant demolition and site remediation of Avara Avlon Pharma Services Ltd (in administration)
• Acting for the Administrators of Penman Engineering Ltd, one of the largest employers in Dumfries, and designer and manufacturer of specialist hi-tech security and armoured vehicles
• Experience in leading on numerous environmental related insolvencies, including The Scottish Coal Company Ltd (in liquidation), Administration of Northburn Industrial Services Limited (waste manager of 80% of Scotland's waste oil product), Liquidation of Doonin Plant Limited and Administration of Oran Environmental Solutions Limited
• Acting for major US funds on recoveries of corporate and personal debtor and personal guarantee secured and unsecured recoveries in England and Scotland
Author for LexisPSL's Scottish Restructuring & Insolvency corporate insolvency content.
Tim is qualified in England and Wales, and Scotland, having practiced in Leeds and Manchester for over 16 years, and Scotland since 2012 as a registered Foreign Expert until admission as a Scottish solicitor in August 2019.
Tim is a full member of R3 – Association of Business Recovery Professionals; R3 Council Member for Scotland, Chair of the R3 in Scotland Regional Committee, and member of the R3 Scottish Technical Committee.
The Hon. Mr Justice Richard Snowden
Mr. Justice (Richard) Snowden studied law at Downing College, Cambridge from 1981-1984, graduating with a first class degree. He was awarded the Joseph Hodges Choate Fellowship to Harvard University in 1984 and obtained an LL.M degree from Harvard Law School in 1985.
Mr. Justice Snowden was called to the Bar in 1986. He was appointed Junior Counsel to the Crown (A Panel) in 1999 and served as a member of the Insolvency Rules Committee between 2002 and 2012. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2003, a Recorder of the Crown Court in 2006 and was authorised to sit as a Deputy High Court Judge in 2008. He was appointed as a High Court Judge of the Chancery Division in April 2015.
Whilst at the Bar, Mr. Justice Snowden specialised in corporate, corporate insolvency and financial services litigation. He had an extensive practice in reconstruction and insolvency cases, including acting for the US Lehman Brothers companies in England, for the scheme company in Rodenstock and for the opposing creditor in Apcoa. Mr. Justice Snowden is one of the editors of Lightman and Moss on the Law of Administrators and Receivers of Companies.
Stephen Baister
Former Chief Bankruptcy Registrar
Former Chief Bankruptcy Registrar Stephen Baister joined Moon Beever as a consultant in November 2017.
A former solicitor and insolvency practitioner, Stephen practised as a litigator specialising in insolvency and financial litigation, much of it for German clients. He was appointed as a Bankruptcy Registrar of the High Court in 1996 and Chief Bankruptcy Registrar in 2004. Stephen is also President of the Chartered Institute of Credit Management.
Stephen is a popular and highly-respected figure in the insolvency profession. Whilst maintaining other roles, Stephen brings exceptional insolvency experience and expertise to the firm, as well as impressive language skills.
Former Chief Bankruptcy Registrar Stephen Baister joined Moon Beever as a consultant in November 2017.
A former solicitor and insolvency practitioner, Stephen practised as a litigator specialising in insolvency and financial litigation, much of it for German clients. He was appointed as a Bankruptcy Registrar of the High Court in 1996 and Chief Bankruptcy Registrar in 2004. Stephen is also President of the Chartered Institute of Credit Management.
Stephen is a popular and highly-respected figure in the insolvency profession. Whilst maintaining other roles, Stephen brings exceptional insolvency experience and expertise to the firm, as well as impressive language skills.
Stefan Ramel
Barrister, Guildhall Chambers
Stefan is a specialist insolvency and commercial barrister who accepts instructions in all aspects of insolvency and commercial litigation work.
He is recognised by the legal directories as a leading junior in both insolvency and commercial litigation work and is often instructed in substantial and complex insolvency and commercial litigation. Stefan is noted as a cross-border expert and has recently worked on two CJEU cases, and is regularly instructed directly by insolvency lawyers and practitioners from other jurisdictions.
Stefan is a member of the Chancery Bar Association, Insol Europe, the Insolvency Lawyers Association and R3. He is also a member of the Attorney General’s Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown (A Panel) and regularly acts for the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Official Receiver in director disqualification cases and bankruptcy restrictions order cases. He also acts for HMRC.
Stefan is a specialist insolvency and commercial barrister who accepts instructions in all aspects of insolvency and commercial litigation work.
He is recognised by the legal directories as a leading junior in both insolvency and commercial litigation work and is often instructed in substantial and complex insolvency and commercial litigation. Stefan is noted as a cross-border expert and has recently worked on two CJEU cases, and is regularly instructed directly by insolvency lawyers and practitioners from other jurisdictions.
Stefan is a member of the Chancery Bar Association, Insol Europe, the Insolvency Lawyers Association and R3. He is also a member of the Attorney General’s Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown (A Panel) and regularly acts for the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Official Receiver in director disqualification cases and bankruptcy restrictions order cases. He also acts for HMRC.
Sarah Paterson
Associate Professor of Law, LSE
Sarah Paterson is an Associate Professor of Law at the London School of Economics and Political Science where she teaches and researches corporate insolvency and restructuring law. Before joining the LSE, Sarah was a partner in the Restructuring and Insolvency Group of Slaughter and May, with whom she retains a senior consultancy. She has written widely on the topic of corporate bankruptcy and debt restructuring, including on bargaining in the shadow of restructuring law, the implications of increasing access to the US high yield market by UK issuers for debt restructuring, the implications of changes in the finance market in the UK and the US for debt restructuring theory and how fairness is assessed in large, small and finance company restructurings in both jurisdictions. She also co-authors the comparative US and UK corporate section of Debt Restructuring, published by OUP, with Alan Kornberg and edits McKnight, Paterson and Zakrzewski on the Law of International Finance (also published by OUP) with Rafal Zakrzewski. Recent work focuses on the ways in which the evolution of secured transactions law in the UK and the US has influenced distributional priority in corporate bankruptcy and restructuring. Sarah is a member of the Council of the Insolvency Lawyers’ Association, the technical committee of the Insolvency Lawyers’ Association, Chair of the Insolvency Lawyers’ Association Insolvency & Restructuring Scholarship Committee and a member of the General Technical Committee of R3.
Sarah Paterson is an Associate Professor of Law at the London School of Economics and Political Science where she teaches and researches corporate insolvency and restructuring law. Before joining the LSE, Sarah was a partner in the Restructuring and Insolvency Group of Slaughter and May, with whom she retains a senior consultancy. She has written widely on the topic of corporate bankruptcy and debt restructuring, including on bargaining in the shadow of restructuring law, the implications of increasing access to the US high yield market by UK issuers for debt restructuring, the implications of changes in the finance market in the UK and the US for debt restructuring theory and how fairness is assessed in large, small and finance company restructurings in both jurisdictions. She also co-authors the comparative US and UK corporate section of Debt Restructuring, published by OUP, with Alan Kornberg and edits McKnight, Paterson and Zakrzewski on the Law of International Finance (also published by OUP) with Rafal Zakrzewski. Recent work focuses on the ways in which the evolution of secured transactions law in the UK and the US has influenced distributional priority in corporate bankruptcy and restructuring. Sarah is a member of the Council of the Insolvency Lawyers’ Association, the technical committee of the Insolvency Lawyers’ Association, Chair of the Insolvency Lawyers’ Association Insolvency & Restructuring Scholarship Committee and a member of the General Technical Committee of R3.
Insolvency and Companies Court Judge Sally Barber
Sally Barber studied philosophy and law at King’s College Cambridge. She practised in London as a chancery barrister from 1989 to 2009 and was appointed a deputy bankruptcy registrar in 2007. She took a full time appointment as a bankruptcy registrar (now ICC Judge) in 2009.
She has been an active member of the Insolvency Rules Committee for many years, spanning the drafting of the Insolvency Rules 2016 and latterly the changes triggered by the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020. She is a specialist insolvency tutor for Judicial College and a contributor to the insolvency and company sections of the White Book. Her recent judgments include Re a Company – (Application to Restrain Advertisement of a Winding Up Petition) [2020] EWHC 1551, one of the first reported judgments on Schedule 10 to the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill.
James Stephen
Partner, BDO
James has over 20 years' experience in restructuring and insolvency.
James provides clear and constructive advice to a wide range of stakeholders, including financial institutions, management and creditors. His work includes stakeholder management, structured refinancing as well as performing business reviews, and balance sheet restructuring.
He has extensive experience in providing both advisory and formal insolvency solutions and has particular understanding of managing the business review process.
James also completed a secondment with the Bank of Scotland High Risk team, during which time he managed a portfolio of high risk connections within the Bank with a view to formulating strategy and returning a good book.
James is an insolvency license holder and where appropriate he takes formal insolvency appointments.
He has significant experience in the following sectors:
• Property
• Construction
• Care Homes
• Energy
James has over 20 years' experience in restructuring and insolvency.
James provides clear and constructive advice to a wide range of stakeholders, including financial institutions, management and creditors. His work includes stakeholder management, structured refinancing as well as performing business reviews, and balance sheet restructuring.
He has extensive experience in providing both advisory and formal insolvency solutions and has particular understanding of managing the business review process.
James also completed a secondment with the Bank of Scotland High Risk team, during which time he managed a portfolio of high risk connections within the Bank with a view to formulating strategy and returning a good book.
James is an insolvency license holder and where appropriate he takes formal insolvency appointments.
He has significant experience in the following sectors:
• Property
• Construction
• Care Homes
• Energy
Noona Barlow
Partner - FInancial Lines, McGill & Partners
Noona is the Head of Claims in our Financial Lines team.
After practising law in Toronto for a number of years, Noona moved to London and has held a number of senior claims roles – most recently as head of UK Claims and Head of International Financial Lines Claims with AIG.
If Noona wasn’t working with McGill and Partners, she would probably be independently wealthy and lying on her sofa reading a book.
Noona is the Head of Claims in our Financial Lines team.
After practising law in Toronto for a number of years, Noona moved to London and has held a number of senior claims roles – most recently as head of UK Claims and Head of International Financial Lines Claims with AIG.
If Noona wasn’t working with McGill and Partners, she would probably be independently wealthy and lying on her sofa reading a book.
Matthew Finnie
Associate, Addleshaw Goddard
Matt is an Associate in Addleshaw Goddard's Scottish Restructuring team, based in Edinburgh. He joined the team full time in August 2020, following a 2 year training contract with the firm in which he spent time in a wide range of departments across the Scottish offices, including restructuring, commercial contracts, data, construction, and commercial & financial disputes.
Matt specialises in corporate restructurings and works with lenders, insolvency practitioners and directors in relation to all aspects of formal insolvency processes. He also has experience and interest in corporate debt recovery and contentious insolvencies and litigations.
• Advises lenders on the appointment of administrators, dealing with applications to extend administration periods and advising insolvency practitioners in relation to all aspects of formal insolvency processes, including contractual disputes and landlord/tenant issues
• Advises insolvency practitioners and insolvency litigation funders on potential claims against companies and/or ex-directors
• Acts for the major UK lenders reviewing security and facility documents to assist with formulating recovery and enforcement strategies
• Acts on behalf of administrators in relation to distressed business and property sales in England and Scotland
• Familiar with data protection law and has past experience advising large companies on their obligations under data and privacy law
Matt is an Associate in Addleshaw Goddard's Scottish Restructuring team, based in Edinburgh. He joined the team full time in August 2020, following a 2 year training contract with the firm in which he spent time in a wide range of departments across the Scottish offices, including restructuring, commercial contracts, data, construction, and commercial & financial disputes.
Matt specialises in corporate restructurings and works with lenders, insolvency practitioners and directors in relation to all aspects of formal insolvency processes. He also has experience and interest in corporate debt recovery and contentious insolvencies and litigations.
• Advises lenders on the appointment of administrators, dealing with applications to extend administration periods and advising insolvency practitioners in relation to all aspects of formal insolvency processes, including contractual disputes and landlord/tenant issues
• Advises insolvency practitioners and insolvency litigation funders on potential claims against companies and/or ex-directors
• Acts for the major UK lenders reviewing security and facility documents to assist with formulating recovery and enforcement strategies
• Acts on behalf of administrators in relation to distressed business and property sales in England and Scotland
• Familiar with data protection law and has past experience advising large companies on their obligations under data and privacy law
CONTACT US
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