Allens is rated by clients for its ‘deep bench of quality staff who balance strong technical expertise with commerciality’. The team has vast experience handling distressed situations and formal insolvency proceedings for both financers and debtors. The department is led by ‘excellent and well-respected practitioner‘ Alf Pappalardo in Brisbane, who is well versed in advising major retail banks and fund managers, among others. In Sydney, Chris Prestwich has expertise in the banking, infrastructure, private equity, mining, construction and media industries. In the Melbourne office, Matthew Whittle is an ‘incredible legal mind who considers commerciality at the forefront’, and Tania Cini is a key contact for complex insolvency litigation.

The ‘exceptionally smart and creative‘ practice at Arnold Bloch Leibler is appreciated by clients for its ‘outstanding quality across all levels of the team‘. The group is regularly instructed on a range of matters, including contentious and non-contentious restructuring and insolvency matters, as well as complex disputes and administrative procedures. The practice benefits from the experience of department head Leon Zwier, who acts for administrators, liquidators and distressed corporate groups. Genevieve Sexton focuses her practice on corporate finance transactions and corporate restructures. Ben Mahoney regularly acts for corporations, funds, entrepreneurs and family groups in a range of finance matters. Elyse Hilton and Stephen Lloyd are both key names for litigation and disputes.

With a broad roster of clients, the restructuring and insolvency practice at Ashurst assists debtors, secured creditors and funds. The team’s ‘availability’ and ‘technical skills’ are appreciated by its clients, which turn to it for support across a range of matters, including corporate distress, distressed investing and formal insolvencies. Practice head James Marshall stands out for his extensive cross-border experience in advising offshore investors into Australia and Australian companies with offshore funders and operations. Melbourne-based partner Ross McClymont draws on more than 25 years of experience and acts in large-scale restructurings and insolvency administrations. Emanuel Poulos is well versed in advising financial institutions on bilateral and syndicated loans and asset-based lending structures. Camilla Clemente is also a notable member of the team. All lawyers are based in Sydney unless otherwise stated.

Clayton Utz is a popular choice among clients for its ‘collaboration and quality people‘. The team has particular expertise in non-contentious debt restructuring across the retail, energy, mining, construction, government and healthcare sectors. Leading from Melbourne, practice head Nick Poole specialises in financings, workouts, restructurings and insolvencies, with a particular focus on debt trading, distressed asset financing, distressed investing and corporate restructuring. Cameron Belyea has a strong focus on the agribusiness, energy and natural resources industries. Former practice head Timothy Sackar and Jillian McAleese left the firm in August 2023, and Orla McCoy left the firm in July 2023.

Based across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, the practice at Corrs Chambers Westgarth has an ‘excellent balance of the commercial and technical’ in its approach to restructuring and insolvency matters. The team has particular expertise in advising hedge funds and private equity firms as creditors in bankruptcy situations. Highly regarded Sydney-based practice head Cameron Cheetham is well versed in structuring and implementing distressed financing transactions in the mining, infrastructure, energy, real estate and financial services sectors. Also based in Sydney, Michael Catchpoole specialises in advising on workouts and distressed and special securities investing strategies.

Praised for its ‘commercial, client-first mentality‘, the team at Gilbert + Tobin is regularly seen working on major, high-profile transactions. The team frequently acts for companies and debtors as well as lenders and noteholders. Leading from Melbourne, Peter Bowden ‘has built a strong and growing team‘. Bowden specialises in advising hedge funds, special situation groups, investment banks, and creditors and debtors. Anna Schwartz is also a key practitioner in the team, and specialises in advising lenders and creditors on their credit risk exposure, distressed M&A and restructuring of distressed companies. In a significant move, Orla McCoy joined the team in December 2023, while Dominic Emmett departed the firm in October 2023.

Experts in solvent and insolvent solutions, the team at King & Wood Mallesons is also recognised for its strength in insolvency litigation. Praised for its ‘quality from graduate to partner', the team is considered 'first class’. The practice regularly collaborates with the firm's M&A, banking, project and real estate groups to provide a broad service to its clients. Recently, the department has been kept busy assisting clients operating in the property, construction and infrastructure sectors. The Sydney-based practice is headed by Tim Klineberg, who is regularly instructed by banks, corporates and insolvency practitioners. Samantha Kinsey is well versed in handling restructuring and insolvency situations in the construction industry, while Tony Troiani is a key name for technical insolvency litigation and director duties issues. Both Kinsey and Troiani are praised for their ‘high-quality advice, service and outcomes’.

Well versed in high-value, cross-border cases, Minter Ellison is regularly seen working on fraud investigations, external administrations and disputes both in Australia and internationally. Sydney-based partner Michael Hughes heads the practice and is well regarded for his capabilities across restructuring, insolvency and related litigation matters. In Melbourne, Catherine Macrae and Brendon Watkins are also key names to note, with Watkins regularly engaged to advise on multi-jurisdictional finance-sector insolvencies.

With geographic reach across Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane, the restructuring and insolvency practice at Norton Rose Fulbright is commended for its ‘world-class knowledge and experience in insolvency law and practice’. Its strong insolvency litigation team covers a range of disputes and regularly appears in the Australian higher and federal courts. The team is led by Sydney-based partner Alex Mufford, benefiting from his experience handling large-scale restructurings. Steven Palmer is singled out for his ability to be ‘very strategic and always focused on the best commercial outcome’. President of the International Insolvency Institute, John Martin draws on more that 30 years of experience and has significant expertise in cross-border insolvency. Scott Atkins is also a key member of the team, who ‘leads discussions around the world on the key policy issues and developments in insolvency law’.

The team at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP advises on a range of domestic and cross-border restructurings and distressed situations. Its clients stem from an array of sectors, including finance, mining, transport, energy, TMT and real estate. The Sydney-based team is headed by Paul Apáthy and benefits from his significant experience assisting clients in distressed situations. Mark Clifton is also a key member of the team; he draws on more than 25 years of experience advising stakeholders in restructuring and insolvency matters, including administrators, liquidators and secured and unsecured lenders.

Working on a range of contentious and non-contentious matters, the restructuring and insolvency practice at Johnson Winter Slattery is praised for being ‘highly responsive and commercial in its advice’. The team has particular expertise in debt finance and dispute resolution. The practice also has ample experience acting for insolvency practitioners in disciplinary proceedings and for insolvency accounting firms in reputationally relevant matters. Based in Sydney, Joseph Scarcella leads the practice and is well versed in large-scale corporate insolvencies. Brisbane-based partner Peter Smith is a seasoned commercial litigator and ‘known and respected by all market participants‘.

The team at Baker McKenzie is commended for its ‘strong technical capabilities in insolvency’. The team’s cross-border capabilities mean it is well equipped to handle international insolvency recoveries and multi-jurisdictional disputes. Maria O’Brien heads the practice from Sydney and has notable experience acting for insolvent companies, their external administrators and creditors. Gavin Rakoczy is described as ‘an up-and-comer and someone to watch in coming years‘, and Brisbane-based partner Ian Innes has extensive experience in acting for financial institutions, insolvency partitioners and creditors and is a ‘solid technical lawyer‘.

The restructuring and insolvency practice at ‘well-regarded firm‘ Dentons possesses significant expertise in domestic and international banking and financial services. With a practice covering a broad range of industries, the team has expertise in distressed retail, mining, agriculture, energy, real estate, construction and aviation matters. Melbourne-based partner John Stragalinos draws on more than 28 years of experience and works on a range of insolvency administrations and workouts. Experienced litigator Claire Petersen is based in Brisbane and Tim Sherrard oversees the practice, which welcomed Brendan Holden in October 2022.

The ‘technically and strategically excellent’ restructuring and insolvency practice at Hall & Wilcox has a significant reach throughout Australia, with a presence in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane. The team is regularly instructed on informal restructurings under the protection of the safe harbour against insolvent trading, formal restructures though voluntary administration and deed of company arrangement. Leading from Sydney, Mark Petrucco draws on more than 26 years of experience. Scott Butler leads from the Brisbane office and is a key name for turnarounds and restructurings, while Wayne Kelcey leads from Melbourne. The ‘very commercial and strategic‘ Hector West leads from Perth. Adrian Lasky is also a key contact.

Utilising its global reach, the restructuring and insolvency team at Jones Day is regularly instructed on international workout transactions and multi-jurisdictional reorganisation and bankruptcy proceedings. Praised for its ‘technical excellence with a commercial overlay‘, the Sydney-based team has experience in handling refinancing, distressed and solvent corporate acquisitions and insolvency matters. Heading the team, Roger Dobson has experience in representing major banking syndicates, offshore funds holding substantial debt positions and companies experiencing financial distress. Maria Yiasemides is a well-regarded litigator and has experience handling corporate collapses and reorganisations. Kane J. Kersaitis is also a key member of the team. Lucas Wilk and Katie Higgins left the firm in May 2023 and October 2024 respectively.

Praised for its ‘technical expertise, availability and responsiveness’, the restructuring and insolvency practice at Colin Biggers & Paisley regularly advises directors, corporations and restructuring professionals. The team has particular expertise in construction, property, mining and retail sectors. Scott Hedge has regularly advised on and enforced securities on behalf of financial institutions and co-heads the practice alongside Peter Harkin. Stuart McKenzie is praised for being ‘calm and technically excellent.’ Ece Mustafa-Ay and David Grant are both key contacts for litigation, and Lisa Chapman is also a name to note.

At DLA Piper, the restructuring and insolvency practice is regularly tasked to advise on cross-border special situations, workout and restructuring transactions. Taking advantage of its international reach, the team’s strategic focus is on international and multi-jurisdictional restructuring situations, acting for both debtors and creditors, across an array of industries. Melbourne-based partner Lionel Meehan leads and is adept at handling the workout and nationalisation of banks and the wind-down of strategic government investment businesses. The team welcomed partner Naomi Moore in May 2023, who is a key name for special situations, distressed debt and private credit.

The ‘commercial, effective and strategic’ restructuring and insolvency practice at Gadens Lawyers is regularly instructed by distressed entities, financiers and insolvency practitioners across Australia. The team has recently been busy handling safe harbour appointments across a variety of industry sectors. Sydney-based partner James Roland leads the practice and frequently assists ASX-listed and unlisted corporate groups. Robert Hinton brings significant expertise in advising and acting for banking clients and administrators, liquidators, receivers and creditors.

Trevor Withane in Sydney and Laura Coleclough in Melbourne lead the Ironbridge team which is noted for the traction it has made in the market in a short period of time. Withane is credited for being at the heart of the firm's 'high end' services, especially for contentious insolvencies, liquidations and related actions. Coleclough’s background which includes Court of Appeal and Supreme Court actions in London, brings further strength to the group, while senior associate, Patrick Gallego is highly rated for his insolvency and general litigation skills.

Making use of its global platform, the restructuring and insolvency practice at K&L Gates handles large-scale cross-border insolvency matters. Commended for its ‘extremely high calibre of talent’, the team is well equipped to handle contentious and non-contentious work, on both the debtor and creditor side. Based in Sydney, practice head Jason Opperman is praised for being ‘technically very strong, responsive and very client focussed’. Stephen Hume brings additional expertise thanks to his specialist banking, insolvency and commercial litigation knowledge.

The practice at Maddocks covers a wide range of restructuring and insolvency matters, including voluntary administration, receiverships, liquidations, security enforcement and recovery strategies. Clients include directors, insolvency practitioners, financial institutions and creditors. Melbourne-based partner Marelda Hibberd  heads the team and regularly acts for banks and non-bank lenders in the recovery of corporate and commercial debts. Danielle Funston and Sam Kingston are active members of the team in the Sydney and Melbourne offices, respectively.

A ‘specialist insolvency team with a depth of talent', the restructuring and insolvency practice at Mills Oakley is experienced in advising on disputes arising out of competing security interests, employee entitlement arrangements and the administration of managed investment scheme interests. The team has been busy handling the increased number of construction company collapses in Australia. Based in Melbourne, ‘highly respected and highly trusted‘ practice head Stuart Lewin represents lenders, creditors and government departments in a range of formal insolvency matters. Ariel Borland handles both contentious and non-contentious insolvency work and is ‘very switched on and dedicated’.

The restructuring and insolvency practice at Piper Alderman is praised for its ‘depth of knowledge, attention to detail and understanding of the strategies that may be employed by opponents’. The team has been handling matters from a broad range of industries and geographies, including high-profile crypto-currency collapses, the administration of a gold miner and the navigation of bankruptcy trustees. Melbourne-based partner Michael Lhuede heads the practice and regularly appears before the courts in a range of contentious matters. Based in Adelaide, Mike Hayes has insolvency experience across of range of industries, including hospitality, manufacturing, pharmaceutical and retail. Mark Doble joined the team in October 2022.

The Sydney-based restructuring and insolvency practice at A&O Shearman handles both contentious and non-contentious aspects of restructurings. The team regularly represents a range of debtors, creditors and insolvency practitioners. The team is headed up by David Walter, who is commended for his ‘relevant commercial and industry knowledge‘ and experience in advising stakeholders in both informal restructurings and formal insolvencies. Counsel Heather Sandell is also a key member of the team.

Boutique firm Banton Group operates from Sydney and regularly advises clients on cross-border mandates and the investigation of potential actions on behalf of insolvency practitioners. The team includes internationally qualified lawyers with key experience in working on multi-jurisdictional restructuring and insolvency matters. Founding partner Amanda Banton heads the team.

Clifford Chance utilises its global presence to assist clients in complex and cross-border transactions. By partnering with its market-leading funds and private equity practice, the team advises clients on distressed lending solutions and loan to own strategies. The team has a particular focus on natural resources and energy-sector assets. Perth-based team head Mark Gillgren has specialist expertise in the mining and oil and gas sectors. David Clee operates from the Sydney office and has particular experience in the real estate and financial services sectors.

Hamilton Locke advises clients on a broad range of issues arising from corporate distress. Practice head Nicholas Edwards is a key name for insolvency advisory on a host of contentious and non-contentious matters. Zina Edwards focuses her practice on growing credit fund and alternative lender markets. Recent arrival Mark Schneider utilises his financial services expertise to assist financial institutions and private equity and distressed debt funds.

Hogan Lovells takes full advantage of its global reach to assist clients in multi-jurisdictional insolvency matters. The team’s workload includes a range of matters, ranging from debt-to-equity swaps, distressed debt trades and non-performing loans. Scott Harris leads the team and draws on 30 years of experience, with notable expertise in the real estate, transport, agribusiness and mining sectors. Bryan Paisley advises both lenders and borrowers on financings, including leveraged acquisition finance transactions and distressed refinancing.

Based in Western Australia, Jackson McDonald is frequently tasked with advising clients on business restructurings, funding solutions and debt recovery issues. Practice head Dan Butler leads the team from Perth and has significant expertise in insolvency law.

McCullough Robertson has particular expertise in cross-border insolvency matters. The firm draws on diverse industry expertise, with clients operating in a range of industries, including natural resources, renewable energy, finance, pharmaceuticals and agribusiness. David O’Farrell leads the practice and focuses his practice on strategies for appropriate risk mitigation and value enhancement. Katrina Pagey is a key name for bank recoveries, non-lending disputes and equitable relief.

Renowned for its expertise in multi-jurisdictional disputes and restructurings, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP is a popular choice for contentious restructuring matters, acting for a range of foreign banks, private clients and insolvency practitioners. Beau Deleuil heads the team and has a particular focus on the mining and natural resources sectors in his practice. Elan Sasson is a key name for complex commercial litigation, strategic workouts and insolvency disputes.

Thomson Geer stands out for its significant cross-border insolvency expertise and focus on the financial services sector. The firm is regularly seen assisting in some of Australia’s largest insolvency matters. Michael Barrett is a key name for commercial litigation and has particular expertise advising banks and other financial institutions. Neil Hannan is well versed in commercial dispute resolution and regularly appears before the Supreme and Federal Courts. Nora Minassian is active in contentious and contested security enforcement and loan recovery, including across the retail and commercial sectors.