Birketts LLP's insolvency team is known for 'big firm experience with local presence and have expertise in all areas'. The firm has 'excellent knowledge of insolvency and related legislation' and practice head Laurence Weeks in Cambridge is a trusted adviser to the region's most prominent insolvency practitioners. Key Cambridge-based partner Maria-Christina Peyman and, in Norwich, non-contentious specialist Greg Allan and qualified barrister Andrew Kinnison also play central roles in the firm's key matters. The firm recently assisted FRP Advisory LLP as administrators on the sale of the assets and business of an accountancy practice, thereby ensuring the survival of the practice and the protection of 20 jobs.

The insolvency practice at Howes Percival LLP 'always delivers the right balance of senior level input and supervision', and its 'experience of large, high-profile insolvency litigation for the government is unparalleled'. Head of insolvency and corporate recovery Michael Green in Cambridge and Norwich-based Morris Peacock, who 'commands the complete confidence' and leads the firm's work for the Insolvency Service, are the principal contacts. Green recently assisted Mazars LLP with the bankruptcy of a former Times Rich List entrant with a reputed wealth of over £42m. In Norwich, William Shirley and senior associates Leon Head and the 'firm but friendly' Patrick Manning all play key roles in the practice.

The national restructuring and insolvency group at Mills & Reeve LLP is led from London by Neil Smyth and from Cambridge by principal associate Lino Di Lorenzo, but it calls upon key resources in the firm's Norwich office, where Catherine Noble handles complex claims related to the recovery of assets for estates, and Lynne Lawn focuses on debt and asset recovery claims for the Official Receiver. The firm provides a full service offering to insolvency practitioners, directors, creditors and other key stakeholders of financially distressed companies and individuals. It is a member of the Insolvency Services Panel and acts on disqualification, investigations, public interest winding up mandates and asset recovery actions for Official Receivers nationally.

Mishcon de Reya LLP‘s insolvency team in Cambridge is led by partner and licensed IP Adam Bradley, who counts early stage companies, accountants, and insolvency practitioners among his clients. He is supported by experienced litigator Luke Hibbert, who is a key adviser to both creditors and debtors, and by James Slinger, who focuses on the property aspects of LPA receiverships and complex title issues.  Managing associate Sarah Ilic frequently handles the sale and purchase processes for IPs and purchasers of assets out of insolvent companies. Managing associate Rebecca Quick is another experienced adviser on corporate restructurings, working closely with accountants and tax advisors.

Ashtons Legal's insolvency practice is 'a small but very strong team, with excellent insolvency knowledge and brilliant client relationship management'. Practice head and qualified IP Fiona Stuart in Norwich is 'highly experienced with a commercial and strategic perspective'. She recently worked with associate Alice Trainor to assist McTear Williams and Wood with the pre-pack sale of vegan burger chain The Vurger Co Ltd.  Senior associate Ina Beurich is 'calm, measured and insightful in contentious matters'. Litigator Michael Frape in Cambridge plays key role in contentious matters.

Ipswich firm Barker Gotelee draws upon a multidisciplinary team to handle insolvency work. Practice head John Bradshaw works closely with litigation and business services partner Dermott Thomas, corporate and charities partner Clare Richards, and real estate litigation partner Mark Wrinch to advise Insolvency Practitioners, creditors and debtors, directors and stakeholders on a broad range of matters. Legal executive Sarah Mower is vastly experienced and specialises in business recovery cases. Bradshaw and Mower have 'a great deal of expertise and are able to give straight forward and direct advice'.

Buckles Solicitors LLP has a two-partner restructuring, turnaround and insolvency group led from Peterborough, which handles both contentious and non-contentious insolvency matters for companies and individuals. Practice head and insolvency specialist Rachel McCahill 'moves cases along and is creative about how to progress them', while Cambridge-based legal director Nick Porter is 'thoughtful and thinks outside of the box'. Porter has a broad-based litigation practice but has particular expertise in seeking and defending injunction proceedings, and regularly acts for clients in urgent proceedings in the High Court.

HCR Hewitsons joins the ranking this year having hired the highly respected Frank Brumby from Isadore Goldman. He leads the Cambridge team, though the national restructuring and insolvency practice is led from Birmingham by Sam Payne. Brumby's 'experience and knowledge are second to none', and he recently acted for Begbies Traynor in the £130m voluntary liquidation of Rockfire Capital Limited. He also advised McTear Williams & Wood as administrators of Nova Group Holdings Limited. Legal director Carly Moore-Martin , who works from both Cambridge and London, is a key adviser on contentious insolvency, commercial litigation, fraud and director disqualification.

Isadore Goldman is a specialist insolvency firm with a key outpost in Norwich, where the team led by director Sian Leonard 'provides an excellent level of personal service and is well respected within the industry'. Leonard, who 'frequently goes above and beyond to meet deadlines', recently handled a £1.5m CVA for a major insolvency practitioner. She is supported by associate Jenna Ansell, who manages day-to-day instructions under the firm’s contract with Aviva, and also handles claims by insolvency officeholders against directors and third parties. Frank Brumby left to join HCR Hewitsons.