Drawing upon 'excellent insight and rounded knowledge of the industry', Herbert Smith Freehills LLP provides a 'responsive and proactive' service to a debtor-focused client base across a range of restructuring and formal insolvency matters. Unsurprisingly perhaps given the firm's commercial litigation pedigree, the team, which is led by John Whiteoak ('extremely energetic and full of ideas'), is particularly adept at handling contentious insolvency engagements. Appreciated for her 'measured and incisive' advice, Natasha Johnson is also a key practitioner for contentious matters, including as it relates to directors' duties/misfeasance issues. As part of his broad skillset in the space, Kevin Pullen has niche expertise handling infrastructure and project restructurings including those underpinned by PFI/PPP contractual terms.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'The team is extremely experienced in all matters arising in relation to contentious corporate insolvency disputes.'
- 'Excellent insight and rounded knowledge of the industry.'
- 'They have a very clear strategic direction from the outset, are consistently assessing whether the clients' best interests are being met by the proposed course, and are very hands-on and immersed in the detail of the case.'
- 'They exhibit excellent attention to detail, are completely immersed in the detail, responsive and proactive.'
- 'They are a top-tier team in this space with extensive, high-profile experience and a great reputation.'
- 'A real expert in his field, John Whiteoak is extremely energetic and full of ideas.'
- 'Natasha Johnson is measured and incisive, with great judgement.'
- 'John Whiteoak and Natasha Johnson both provide exceptional strategic challenge and direction.'
Key clients
- Certain non-executive directors of Carillion
- DTGO Corporation Limited
- Birmingham Highways Limited
- Made.com
- Accsys Technologies Plc
Work highlights
- Advising certain former non-executive directors in relation to director disqualifications proceedings brought by the Secretary of State as a result of the high-profile liquidation of Carillion Plc.
- Continuing to advise the joint administrators in the long running Nortel Networks insolvency.
- Advised Made.com on its contingency planning in parallel with its strategic review and subsequently acted for the administrators on the sale of the Made.com brand, associated intellectual property, domain names and customer databases to Next Retail Limited.
Lawyers
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
John Whiteoak