South Square is recognised around the world as the leading set for insolvency and restructuring

In the world of restructuring and insolvency, South Square stands unsurpassed, in a league of its own. It is widely acknowledged that no other set can compete in terms of expertise and experience.

Domestic and International Insolvency and Restructuring 

Our barristers have been the key advisors and advocates in all the major insolvency and restructuring matters of recent years, both domestically and internationally.

That is because they are the experts for insolvency litigation and non-contentious restructuring, with the expertise and ability to deal with all insolvency related legal issues arising out of the financial difficulties of companies, banks, public bodies, partnerships, associations and individuals.

The matters we act on range from the most high-profile cases that make the headlines of the financial news and move the dial of entire sectors and markets, to the mid-market restructuring and insolvency cases that require the expert guiding hands of our barristers.

Personal Bankruptcy 

And our work is not limited to corporate insolvency.  Many members are involved in high profile and complex personal insolvency cases.

Cross Border Insolvency and Restructuring

Our members act and advise on international and cross border cases in the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Dubai, and Hong Kong as well as appearing before the domestic courts of London and the English and Welsh regions.

Regardless of the size of the matter, jurisdiction or the budget, there is always a highly experienced South Square silk or junior ready to deploy their expertise, rigour and tenacity.

Insolvency and Restructuring Rankings

Our primacy in restructuring and insolvency is reflected not least by our top rankings in the leading legal directories, including Chambers and The Legal 500. This year we were once again named by Chambers & Partners as ‘Company and Insolvency Set of the Year’ at the UK Bar Awards.  Our strength in this field is second to none, with 13 KCs and 18 Juniors ranked, more double that of our nearest competitors.

Insolvency and Restructuring Publications 

Our members have contributed to several authoritative books, including Muir Hunter on Personal Insolvency, Butterworths Insolvency Law Handbook and Cross-Border Insolvency. Other titles written and edited by our members include The European Insolvency Regulation, The Law of Administrators and Receivers of Companies and Corporate Administrations and Rescue Procedures. South Square members also contribute to Halsbury’s Laws, the leading legal encyclopaedia, and Totty & Moss on Insolvency.

South Square’s notable Insolvency, Restructuring and Bankruptcy Cases 

The following represents a selection of the most recent and significant cases our members have acted in:

• All the leading Restructuring Plan and Scheme cases (including Adler, Hong Kong Airlines, Virgin Active, Gate Gourmet, Amigo Loans, Deep Ocean, Codere, Matalan, Swissport, Pizza Express, DTEK Energy);
• All the leading CVA cases (including Debenhams, New Look and Caffe Nero);
• Cases relating to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic (including Carluccios, Intu and Debenhams);
• The recent Special Manager applications (including British Steel and Carillion);
• Key international insolvencies and restructurings across the world (including NMC, Evergrande, Noble Group, Luckin Coffee, Abraaj, Saad, China Aoyuan, and China Fortune);
• Restructurings in key sectors such as the airline industry (Virgin Atlantic, Flybe, Monarch, Malaysian Airlines and Hong Kong Airlines), the energy sector (including Bulb) and retail including Carluccios, Intu, BHS, and Debenhams;
• The leading cases in the development of cross-border insolvency law (including HIH, Rubin v Eurofinance and PwC v Saad;
• Key decisions in relation to liquidation and administration (including the Lehman “waterfall” applications, Bloom v Pensions Regulator (provable debts, administration expenses);
• Belmont Park Investments v BNY Corporate Trustee Services (anti-deprivation principle); Lehman Brothers v McNamara (rule in ex parte James); Mills v HSBC (rule in Cherry v Boultbee);
• Transaction avoidance cases including Darty v Carton-Kelly.