Addleshaw Goddard's restructuring practice has a stellar track record advising on complex restructuring and insolvency cases, including distressed real estate restructuring and sales, related litigation as well as delivering advice to boards, directors and trustees during periods of financial distress and bankruptcy. The Manchester-based team is led by Ged Barnes, who is well versed in non-contentious insolvency proceedings for financial institutions and insolvency practitioners. Other key lawyers based in the North West include Tim Taylor, who also handles non-contentious advice, while Sarah Foster often advises directors and companies on restructuring assignments and distressed lending. Barry Davies handles transactional insolvencies and Rebecca O’Callaghan is a go-to name in bankruptcy, asset recovery, litigation and insolvency proceedings.

DLA Piper’s Manchester-based restructuring practice provides expert advice on complex financial restructurings, distressed real estate and support on investigation, litigation and enforcement proceedings in insolvency cases, where the team is adept at both high profile national and cross-border matters in close collaboration with the firm’s global network. Following the departure of former practice head Christopher Roberts at the end of 2024, Robert Russell now leads the North West team in addition to his role as national practice head for the UK. Russell has extensive experience leading high-profile retail administrations. Rob Lyons regularly advises insolvency practitioners in high value litigation matters, while Tony Potts handles non-contentious restructuring mandates, including financial restructurings. Further key members of the team include Vivak Vaish, who covers distressed M&A transactions, and Grace Imafidon has experience in drafting insolvency legislation.

The ‘efficient, well organised team’ at Gateley Legal is a key port of call for restructuring accountants, distressed investors, directors, surety clients and financial advisors seeking advice on restructuring and recovery work. Practice head Andrew Buchanan is well versed in restructuring assignments, while also advising boards of directors on duties and trading advice. In the team, Aneesh Prasad, who was made partner in May 2024, advises clients in the construction and retail spaces on a variety of contentious and non-contentious matters, Gavin Clarke is adept at handling corporate and individual insolvencies and directors' advice and Jenna King covers insolvency litigation. Aneela Khan joined the team in September 2024 from Pinsent Masons LLP, while Stuart Tait departed the practice in October 2024.

Shoosmiths LLP's corporate restructuring and advisory team is adept at handling formal and non-formal restructurings, distressed real estate, contentious and non-contentious work and restructuring plans on both the administrator and buyer side. Practice head Sarah Teal handles distressed lending, corporate restructuring and corporate insolvency mandates and receives support in the team from Bethan Moore, who has extensive experience on complex restructuring matters. Hannah Gaskell covers disposals and acquisition mandates and Sarah Minshull is adept at the contentious and non-contentious side of the insolvency process, and both are key members of the Manchester-based team.

With a diverse roster of clients spanning clearing banks, corporates, institutional funds and investors, TLT’s restructuring and insolvency team is well equipped to advise on complex corporate restructuring projects, financial restructurings, fraud and insolvency investigations and misfeasance claims. Alastair Lomax has extensive experience handling corporate reorganisations and restructurings and leads the team in Manchester. Claire Graham focuses her practice on contentious insolvency matters, including those concerning investigations, fraud, bankruptcy restriction applications and misfeasance claims, as does Lynsey Robinson, while Alastair Nokes is well versed in transactional restructuring.

Lenders, accountants, corporates, life insurers and investment funds are regularly advised by the Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP restructuring team in distressed acquisitions, distressed debt and enforcement, loan portfolio sales and underperforming investments, as well as advice on directors’ duties. Sarah Duignan and David Gray jointly lead the practice, with the former handling all aspects of equity and debt restructuring, including pensions restructurings and the latter on complex restructurings, directors’ duties and portfolio debt sales. Key associates in the Manchester team are Max Morrison and Courtney Lonsdale.

Freeths LLP guides insolvency practitioners and administrators through insolvency assignments, handling all aspects of business and asset sales, nil-asset and personal insolvency cases. Kevin Pinkerton, who took on the leadership of the practice following the April 2025 retirement of Joey Byrne, regularly advises insolvency practitioners, creditors, company directors and individuals on insolvency and related restructuring issues. Matthew Kelly is well versed in contentious insolvency, and Alex Brown and Harrison Jones are further active insolvency practitioners.

Hill Dickinson LLP is well versed in both contentious and non-contentious insolvency and restructuring mandates, which includes corporate restructuring, director and board level advice on trading issues, insolvency-related transactions, distressed real estate matters and property disposals, as well as insolvency litigation and financial disputes. Paul Spence leads the firm's Manchester offering and has extensive expertise in distressed real estate matters and fixed charge receiverships. Will Jones is a key player on high-profile corporate restructures, and associates Laura Smith and Chris Parry cover insolvency matters and directors' duties advice.

With a roster of clients consisting of accountancy firms, banks, finance companies, HNWIs and company directors, JMW Solicitors LLP covers a wide range of advisory, transactional and recovery mandates in the insolvency and restructuring space. Practice head Graham Small covers various insolvency, company law and civil fraud matters as part of his commercial litigation specialism. Simon Gerrard excels on contentious matters, including multi-jurisdictional liquidation and recovery disputes, while James Williams offers non-contentious advisory services in the property insolvency sector. Julie Agnew is a further key insolvency partner, as is associate Sam Baines. Matthew Rice joined the restructuring and insolvency team from AMB Law in July 2024 and David Vernon joined in December 2024 from Slater Heelis (Part of Lawfront), while former practice head Gavin Jones departed the firm in March 2025.

The ‘forward-thinking and proactive’ team at Aaron & Partners LLP has extensive experience in defending boards of directors and companies against claims including breaches of duty and disqualification proceedings from insolvency and administration authorities. Mark Davies leads the practice and advises a whole host of local and national clients on contentious and non-contentious insolvency matters, with support from Vicky Burgess, Matthew Martin and Adila Malik. Katy Seago joined the team in September 2024 from DLA Piper and strengthens the team in non-contentious insolvency, restructuring and recovery matters, while Chris Mitchell left the firm in November 2024.

The insolvency and financial rescue practice at Bermans is headed from Manchester by Phil Farrelly and is well equipped to handle both contentious and non-contentious insolvency matters, including securities issues and enforcement, restructuring and refinancing, business and asset sales and directors' duties claims. Martin March handles corporate recovery and restructuring mandates for insolvency practitioners, corporates and lenders and James Whittaker is active in contentious insolvency cases.

Counting the retail, construction and sports industries among its areas of sector expertise, Brabners LLP has extensive experience advising on both contentious and non-contentious insolvency and restructuring matters, including advice to management when facing financial issues. Practice head Robert Turner is a trusted advisor to administrators, liquidators, banks and asset-based lenders facing insolvency. Jennifer Lockhart specialises in contentious insolvency cases involving claims of misfeasance and fraud, while Nicola Whittle's broad practice includes advice on asset recovery. Craig Arrowsmith joined the team in January 2025 from Fieldfisher.

Focusing on businesses and individuals facing insolvency, Harrison Drury & Co is highly regarded for its experience in restructuring and reorganisation matters pre-insolvency as well as helping insolvency practitioners through insolvency and any ensuing litigation, including claims from liquidators. Practice head James Robbins is adept at both contentious and non-contentious insolvency matters, where he regularly advises insolvency practitioners, creditors, distressed companies and directors. Heather Morris, who joined the firm in January 2025 from an in-house position, is praised for her ‘wealth of experience in insolvency-related matters’ and Peter Barlow handles contentious real estate transactions in this area.

The national restructuring and insolvency practice at Mills & Reeve LLP houses experienced insolvency practitioners Jacob Walker and Richard Dawson-Gerrard in Manchester, the former of whom focuses on insolvency claims for directors' breaches of duty and reviewable transactions, frequently acting for sports clients, and the latter leading the firm's relationships with the Insolvency Service and national Official Receiver offices.

Myerson Solicitors remains an active player in the restructuring and insolvency space, backed by a strong track record handling directors' duties advice and disqualifications and antecedent transaction claims for insolvency practitioners, lenders, companies and their directors and individuals. Richard Wolff has extensive experience acting for administrators on business and asset sales as well as enforcement actions against directors and is supported by Vicky Biggs and Jack Ramsden in the team.

Providing ‘cogent and clear’ advice, DTM Legal LLP assists with an array of business recovery and insolvency mandates. Richard Thomas leads the practice and is well versed in technical insolvency and pre-packaged business sales. Kate Roberts is a key team member and advises corporates and private individuals on insolvencies, including on related antecedent transactions and various liabilities and fraud claims, as is Richard Harris, who is experienced in collections and recoveries.

The insolvency and corporate recovery practice at Farleys Solicitors LLP is praised for its ‘proactive and dynamic’ approach, regularly supporting a range of clients on pre-packaged administration sales, insolvency litigation, director disqualification proceedings and recovery matters. Mark Hague leads the Preston-based team and handles both personal and corporate insolvency matters. Ella Holden is a key point of contact as is Jane Haymes, who joined the team in June 2024 and bolsters the firm's capacity in business restructurings, acquisitions and disposals.

Pannone Corporate LLP’s insolvency and restructuring practice was bolstered in May 2024 with the addition of Helen Fyles from Knights plc, who has extensive experience representing officeholders and insolvency practitioners in contentious insolvency situations. The team has expertise in contentious and non-contentious insolvency work, particularly in personal insolvencies and related debt recovery proceedings, and is led by Daniel Clarke, who is praised as ‘knowledgeable, approachable and commercial’.

Working closely with the firm's other national offices Samantha Poulton represents Pinsent Masons LLP's North West offering on transactional corporate restructurings and formal insolvencies involving the sales of businesses and assets, frequently handling administrations in the energy sector. Former practice head James Cameron left the team in September 2024 for an in-house position.

Primas remains an active player in the insolvency and restructuring space, with experience covering distressed business and asset sales and representation in contentious directors’ duties disputes. Practice head Christopher Love specialises in contentious insolvency matters, while in the team Stuart Beatson handles the full range of advisory work, including turnaround strategies, asset recovery and property issues.

Praised for being ‘particularly strong on public sector and all aspects of property and real estate insolvency matters’, Trowers & Hamlins LLP is well placed to advise on the full range of contentious and non-contentious insolvency and restructuring mandates, including distressed transactions, recovery and distribution of assets and related fraud claims. Dan Butler is the Manchester-based practice head and routinely advises officeholders, lenders and investors on investment schemes, Insolvency Act claims and restructuring plans. Simon Banks is an active associate in the team.