I am a specialist insolvency solicitor with over 25 years’ experience in: insolvency legal advice; insolvency litigation; transactions in an insolvency context. Formerly regional head of insolvency at (what is now) Blake Morgan, since 2011 I have been heading up the Corporate Restructuring & Insolvency team at Paris Smith, solicitors – a firm-wide grouping of solicitors across a range of specialist disciplines which are often needed where insolvency issues arise. I advise companies, individuals, creditors, debtors, lenders, borrowers, other insolvency stakeholders and professionals and insolvency practitioner accountants on all matters covered by insolvency legislation and relevant parts of company law. I am a Fellow, Director and Council Member (representing the Southern & Thames Valley region) of the Association of Business Recovery Professionals and a long-term Member of the Insolvency Lawyers’ Association. By training I am a commercial litigator and I support Paris Smith’s wider Dispute Resolution department and the firm as a whole on issues such as: corporate governance; director duties and disqualification; contractual interpretation; and issues with and enforcement of legal security. I help clients to minimise their exposure to insolvency risk and situations through planning and risk management, and by resolving issues as they arise, including through examination of evidence and court proceedings. I also help clients to find ways whereby profitable businesses, jobs, homes and/or livelihoods can be preserved notwithstanding the insolvency of one or more related businesses and/or individuals. I am recognised as an on-line thought leader on insolvency issues, I enjoy writing articles and attending and speaking at conferences and events. Outside the workplace, I am a former school governor and an active fundraiser for charities supporting research and awareness for childhood cancers. My hobbies include frequent amateur stage performances, and as a trained actor, singer and a performance coach, I take steps whenever I can to promote and protect the theatrical arts in Hampshire.
