Recognised for providing ‘excellent guidance and advice’, Addleshaw Goddard represents creditors, debtors, and directors on a broad range of insolvency matters related to deceased estates, administrations, petitions, bankruptcies, and insolvency disputes. Team head Andy Bates has extensive experience in corporate restructurings and insolvencies related to underperforming or distressed corporates. He is supported by Emma Sadler and Emma Atkinson; with Sadler acting for major clearing banks, asset-based lenders, and insolvency practitioners on corporate restructuring and finance matters, and Atkinson focusing on non-distressed acquisitions and disposals.

Clarion advises company directors on strategic duties, providing guidance on high-profile restructurings, as well as formal insolvency assignments and significant insolvency mandates. The Leeds-based practice is led by Ryan Millmore, who specialises in complex administration and restructuring assignments, with experience in retail, manufacturing, construction, and waste management sectors. The ‘outstanding communicator’ Roger Hutton is well-versed within pre-insolvency situations, restructuring turnarounds, and related disputes; while the ‘fantastic litigator’ Emma Lowe focuses on corporate and director misfeasance litigation issues. Another key member, Alice Pratt, is a name to note in relation to administrations, receiverships, and liquidations. Ben Slack is another key member of the team.

Praised as ‘the market-leader for insolvency’, Walker Morris LLP advises on the full spectrum of restructuring and insolvency matters, including contingency planning, turnaround strategies, lender advisory, directors’ duties, distressed M&A, and contentious insolvency issues. Gawain Moore and Duncan Lole jointly lead the practice; with Moore specialising in cross-border insolvencies, restructuring plans, and voluntary arrangements, and Lole focusing on the insolvency of FCA regulated businesses. Claire Askew advises on all areas of both contentious and non-contentious insolvency and restructuring, while Olivia Prescott has strong expertise in insolvency matters within the financial services and regulated sectors.

DLA Piper handles restructuring and insolvency work, with particular focus on complex corporate rescue and turnaround, especially in consumer facing sectors including retail, hospitality, and leisure. Team head James Davison advises corporates, investors, and financial institutions on corporate rescue and turnaround matters, as well as M&A transactions, debt, and capital restructurings. Davison is supported by Victoria Procter, who has experience in non-contentious financial and corporate restructurings, turnaround, and insolvency matters; and Susannah Dingley, who focuses on personal insolvency and contentious aspects of corporate insolvency.

Freeths LLP provides expert advice to clients throughout Yorkshire and across the UK, with focus on corporate restructuring and insolvency across sectors including retail, banking, hospitality, construction, energy, and technology. The practice is praised for its ‘excellent’ advice on matters related to enforcing securities and recovering distressed assets, and is also well-versed within commercial dispute resolution, high-profile business rescues, and complex restructurings, including those involving court proceedings. Helen Bates and Oliver Jackson jointly lead the practice from the Leeds and Sheffield offices, respectively. The ‘extremely good’ Bates is regarded for her wide range of experience, working on both contentious and non-contentious corporate and personal insolvency matters; while the ‘knowledgeable’ Jackson supports clients in high-profile cases, particularly in contingency planning and restructuring.

Companies, lenders, directors, and sureties turn to Gateley Legal for guidance on options, strategy, and responsibilities at every stage of the corporate stress and distress cycle, supporting turnarounds and assisting on restructuring plans, refinancing solutions, and insolvency litigation. Matthew Brown heads the Leeds-based office and brings extensive experience in developing and implementing solutions to restructure companies facing financial or operational challenges. Brown is supported by the ‘excellent technical lawyer’ Matt Leech, who specialises in all aspects of recovery, restructuring, turnaround, and insolvency issues.

Irwin Mitchell advises lenders, insolvency practitioners, businesses, and directors on turnaround, restructuring, CVAs, liquidations, receiverships, and commercial recoveries, while also providing corporate advisory services to financially distressed companies. The practice is jointly led by Doug Robertson from Leeds and Tom Paton, based in Sheffield. Robertson brings over 20 years of expertise across all areas of insolvency, with a particular focus on property-related matters, while Paton advises clients on major restructuring and pre-pack insolvency transactions in the Yorkshire market.

Pinsent Masons LLP offers a comprehensive restructuring and insolvency service to national and international lenders, private equity firms, insolvency practitioners, corporates, and directors. Headed by Dawn Allen, the practice is particularly noted for its ‘unrivalled expertise in dealing with stressed and distressed law firms’. Allen brings 20 years of market experience, with a strong focus on regulated businesses in the energy sector and the distressed legal market; while Faith James specialises in advising buyers and sellers of distressed businesses, as well as guiding directors on their duties and responsibilities during times of financial stress. Both are recognised as a ‘real asset to the Yorkshire market’.

Recognised for a ‘high level of expertise’, Squire Patton Boggs offers distressed companies, financial institutions, private equity firms, and insolvency practitioners assistance when dealing with complex restructuring and insolvency matters, including those with cross-border elements. The team is led by the ‘very experienced restructuring professional’, John Alderton, who brings over three decades of experience in all types of corporate restructurings and turnarounds, with particular focus on the retail, energy, construction, sport, and general manufacturing sectors. Jon Chesman is a name to note in relation to both contentious and non-contentious insolvency issues.

The ‘very experienced’ Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP assists a broad spectrum of stakeholders in distressed or insolvent situations and offers support to insolvency practitioners across all forms of restructurings processes and related litigation claims. The ‘top restructuring and insolvency lawyer’, Andy Stirk, specialises in advising banks and other financial institutions on turnaround businesses and property investments. Laura Beardsmore is well-versed within general insolvency appointments, while Sam Dixon brings experience in complex directors’ duties issues, with particular focus on charities and distressed providers of public service.

Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP delivers full-service insolvency and restructuring advice, complemented by specialist strategic guidance in key sectors including shipping, transport, logistics, and agriculture. The ‘extremely knowledgeable’ team head Azher Quyoom, who divides his time in between the York and Hull offices, offers two decades of experience in the market and acts for practitioners, creditors, businesses, and financial institutions on contentious and non-contentious insolvency issues. Mike Wilson and Grace Moreton are also key members of the practice.

The Hull-based practice at Gosschalks advises on a broad spectrum of insolvency matters, including the enforcement of bank securities for individual lenders, applications by insolvency practitioners to investigate, safeguard, and realise assets within insolvent estates, as well as guidance to companies and directors on restructuring strategies and post-insolvency concerns. Stephen Dillon heads the practice, specialising in insolvency advice, strategic planning, and insolvency litigation, frequently involving related shareholder and director disputes. Dillon is supported by Chris Adams, who brings particular expertise in office-holder claims, including breach of duty, preferences, and wrongful or fraudulent trading.

Hill Dickinson LLP handles corporate restructuring and advisory work, including insolvency practitioner support, lender advice, distressed real estate, contentious restructurings, and board-level guidance across sectors such as healthcare, shipping, and commodities. Team head Lemi McAuley specialises in contentious and non-contentious aspects of restructuring and corporate insolvency, with particular expertise in board advisory work and transactional matters. Elizabeth Wood is well-versed within contentious aspects of turnaround, restructuring, and corporate insolvency.

Schofield Sweeney offers expertise on issues related to corporate restructurings, personal insolvency, and distressed property matters, such as receiverships. The Leeds-based practice is headed by Richard Fergusson, whose expertise covers sales of distressed and stressed businesses, property insolvency and receiverships, and disguised remuneration claims. Fergusson is supported by Zoe Oates and Jo Smith; with Oates focusing on personal and property insolvency, and Smith handling administrations.

The ‘extremely knowledgeable’ Beverley-based practice at Wilkin Chapman Rollits handles matters arising from insolvency practitioner appointments, including bankruptcy, liquidation, and administration, as well as pre-appointment advice on potential appointments and regulatory compliance. Team head Gary Taylor specialises in administration of bankruptcy estates, while the ‘brilliant’ Louisa Shilleto handles contentious insolvency litigation, with focus on complex trust issues and antecedent transactions.

The ‘experienced’ DWF handles complex insolvencies and restructurings, with a focus on special administration regimes across financial services, sports, energy, education, and professional services. Team head James Moore advises insolvent practitioners, banks, secured and unsecured creditors, corporates, and directors on all aspects of corporate and personal insolvency.

Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP advises on pre-packaged administration sales, distressed property transactions, bank-led refinancing, and structured finance mandates. The team is led by the ‘first class addition’, Barney Smedley, who joined the firm in April 2024 from DLA Piper. Smedley advises financial institutions, investors, insolvency practitioners and boards of directors on a wide range of matters related to corporate and financial restructuring or insolvency. He is supported by the ‘detail-oriented’ Connor Atkinson.

Excello Law specialises in defending directors in insolvency-related claims, including misfeasance, statutory demands, and personal guarantees. Steve Thomas and Anna Shaw jointly lead the Leeds-based practice, with Thomas handling directors’ duties and disqualification proceedings, and Shaw dealing with contentious shareholder disputes.

McCormicks regularly acts on behalf of both debtors and creditors across a variety of insolvency matters at different stages, with particular expertise in the national sports sector. The Harrogate-based practice is led by David Birks, who handles matters related to defending directors in tax avoidance, fiduciary breach, and misfeasance claims. The ‘exceptional’ Peter McCormick is well-regarded for his football sector knowledge.

Jointly led by Ashley Jaques and Alistair McHenry, Tyr offers advice on both contentious and non-contentious insolvency issues. Jaques specialises in property-based insolvencies and receiverships, while McHenry focuses on post-appointment contentious work. They are supported by the ‘experienced’ Rebecca Dods, who handles corporate and personal insolvency litigation work.