Insolvency conference

Rachel has specialised in corporate recovery and insolvency law for over 25 years and is recognised as one of Scotland’s leading insolvency lawyers. Rachel is also an accredited mediator. Rachel advises on all aspects of insolvency law and practice (corporate and personal). She is one of the few solicitors in Scotland with experience of director disqualification work and regularly advises directors on their duties and liabilities. She acts for a wide range of clients including insolvency practitioners, lenders, government departments, corporates, partnerships and individuals and has been involved in several high profile insolvency cases.

Yvonne is a specialist insolvency and restructuring lawyer.  A member of the Law Society’s Insolvency Solicitors Committee, she has been named Scotland’s Star Individual in the field of corporate Recovery and Restructuring in the Chambers Directory 2016 (for the fourth consecutive year) and described as “the most experienced recovery lawyer in Scotland”. She deals with all forms of insolvency related issues ranging from complex bankruptcy to group restructuring, debt advisory and formal appointment work.  Yvonne has a particular interest in the SME sector and owner managed business across a number of sectors including football clubs, oil and gas servicing business; law firms (and other regulated businesses).  She is noted for her straightforward style and ability to deliver client outcomes with minimal fuss.

Steven was admitted to the roll of solicitors in 2002 and was admitted as Solicitor Advocate in 2013. Steven’s practice area is in litigation, debt recovery and insolvency. He has been heavily involved in many caseloads and recent key instructions, including; acting for Scottish foreign insolvency practitioners -acting for lenders in relation to security enforcement, refinancing, turnarounds and exits - advising a liquidator on pursuing a gratuitous alienation and unfair preference action against a publicly high profile former director and negotiating compromise of those claims to the benefit of the company's creditors – plus many more.

Claire is Head of Client Relationships for Pinsent Masons' Financial Services Sector and heads the firm’s Banking & Restructuring team in Scotland. Claire is a restructuring and insolvency partner experienced in all aspects of turnaround, restructuring and insolvency law. With over 20 years experience, Claire advises corporates, banks and funds on restructuring and recovery strategies in the real estate, leisure, retail, energy and care home sectors.

Stuart is Grant Thornton’s Head of Restructuring/Insolvency in Scotland and is a licensed insolvency practitioner accepting both Corporate and Personal appointments. He has significant experience of providing restructuring advice, undertaking independent business reviews and, generally, providing advice and support to distressed companies and their stakeholders. Stuart also leads Grant Thornton’s Forensic practice in Scotland and acts as expert witness in litigation matters, having provided opinion in a wide range of disputes.

Mike is experienced in handling insolvency cases in the UK and Guernsey, as well as across the Caribbean region.  He is a UK licensed insolvency practitioner and has led insolvency appointments since 1992 and since 2010 from the Cayman Islands.  He is now resident back in the UK and focused on managing offshore appointments from the UK.  He has over 30 years’ experience specialising in Corporate Recovery and Reconstruction.  Much of that time has been spent as both a lead appointment taker on formal insolvency appointments, and in providing optimal solutions to stakeholders in distressed entities.  Mike has a broad experience of communicating effectively with stakeholders and of advising institutional stakeholders in underperforming businesses and has considerable experience of acting as an officer of the court and consequent duties when appointed by the court.

Having worked in accountancy, regulatory, and commercial environments in Australia, New Zealand and the UK, Ian is proud to be part of Grant Thornton’s fraud insolvency team, leading a team of 20 or so professionals in the north of England.  Ian leads investigations and initiates recovery actions for a wide variety of creditors, including HMRC, financial institutions, commercial organisations and private investors who have lost money in investment schemes.

Vijay is qualified solicitor and former barrister, having practised for over six years as a commercial litigator. He has advised on many large and complex investigations and trials, with a focus on financial disputes. He left private practice to join the FSA as a lawyer in the Retail 1 Enforcement teams. During this time he worked with the Enforcement team as an Investigator, helping defining Enforcement strategy and investigating misconduct by regulated banks and individuals.  He has managed data breaches ranging from limited but highly sensitive losses of data by governmental agencies to the theft of over $100 million through intrusion and manipulation of SWIFT systems in a client bank. Vijay works at the interface of legal and technical teams, providing experience in strategic guidance and crisis management, regularly reporting to Boards and oversight committees.  Vijay is an ethical hacker and enjoys a role on the Committee of the Cybercrime Practitioners Association. He is also engaged by the Ministry of Justice to re-draft the Civil Procedure Rules on Electronic Disclosure and Investigative techniques for the modern era.