Led by the 'smart, charming and quick-thinking' Rick Brown, HFW delivers 'high-quality legal advice' to IPs, in particular, in relation to high-value contentious insolvency matters. In this context, the team is particularly skilled at handling matters where there is an overlap with fraud and insolvency, with Brown particularly accomplished at handling matters involving offshore jurisdictions. The 'technically very sound' David Chalcraft and the 'intelligent and resourceful' Neil Chauhan are additionally recommended, with both also very visible in offshore-related matters.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘They are very experienced in dealing with high-value, cross-border matters where there is an overlap between fraud and insolvency. They are very responsive, practical in approach, and produce high-quality legal advice across the board.’

  • ‘The team is able to fuse very good commercial awareness deriving from their broad fraud practice with a strong understanding of the insolvency dimensions of cases.’

  • ‘‘Rick Brown is extremely knowledgeable, approachable and has a phenomenal grasp on the law and strategy. He puts everyone at ease and is an excellent leader.’

  • ‘Rick Brown is smart, charming and quick-thinking.'

  • 'David Chalcraft is technically very sound with a strong grasp of insolvency law.'

  • 'David Chalcraft is extremely hardworking and very diligent.'

  • 'Neil Chauhan is intelligent and resourceful. A real up and comer.'

Key clients

  • Quantuma Advisory Limited
  • Grant Thornton UK LLP
  • ReSolve Group

Work highlights

  • Continuing to act for the joint liquidators (Quantuma Advisory Ltd) of the Arena Group. The liquidations of the group's BVI and Isle of Man companies has resulted in exceptionally complicated and hard-fought proceedings in the English Commercial Court, the Isle of Man and the BVI.
  • Acting for Grant Thornton UK LLP as trustee in the high-profile matter relating to the insolvent estate of Boris Berezovsky.
  • Advised partners from Resolve Group in their capacity as proposed joint administrators on the proposed pre-pack sale of the business of Fetch.ai, the well-known artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency business.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Rick Brown

Other key lawyers

Alex Kyriakoulis, David Chalcraft, Neil Chauhan