Acting on its own as well as being able to draw upon subject matter experts across the firm’s banking, real estate, regulatory and corporate offerings, Dentons provides ‘sound and sensible advice’ to banks, IPs and debtors across the gamut of restructuring, insolvency and distressed investing. Although it does handle some cross-border mandates, the team remains best-known for its UK work, where it is able to lean into ’first-rate technical knowledge’ across a myriad of insolvency processes, including schemes of arrangement and restructuring plans. Susan Moore, who is a name to note for contentious insolvency matters, rejoined the firm from Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath to head the team. Ian Fox has ‘tremendous experience in high-profile and demanding cases’. Tessa Blank is noted for her contentious work in the private sector as well as for government entities. Of the more junior members of the team, recently promoted partner Luci Mitchell-Fry has deep and broad knowledge, including on schemes and restructuring plans with a cross-border element, while the ’very bright and hardworking’ Jonathan Sears excels in handling contentious matters, including for office holders and creditors.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'The team at Dentons collaborates extremely well and is always responsive and well attuned to the client's concerns and requirements.'
  • 'They provide first-rate technical knowledge and practical application in high-profile cases.'
  • 'Excellent multi-disciplinary team, which is able to field subject-matter experts who work closely together to provide a joined-up client experience.'
  • 'Ian Fox has tremendous experience in high-profile and demanding cases. He is very responsive and has excellent technical knowledge and real awareness of tactical consideration.'
  • 'Jonathan Sears is very bright and hard-working with real experience in the highest-profile cases.'

Key clients

  • Raven & Company
  • Kroll
  • Evelyn Partners
  • Sky
  • BYM Capital
  • Amyris Inc
  • BDO
  • Power by Britishvolt Limited
  • Hurricane (Jubilee)
  • Knight Frank
  • FCA
  • Harwood Capital
  • Norwegian Air
  • Birch Hotels
  • FTI
  • FRP
  • PwC
  • Capita
  • EY
  • Teneo
  • Interpath
  • Alvarez & Marsal
  • Alix Partners
  • Grant Thornton
  • RSM
  • HMG
  • The Cabinet Office
  • FSCS
  • NatWest
  • Barclays
  • Azets
  • Lloyds Banking Group
  • HSBC
  • Official Receiver
  • John Lewis

Work highlights

  • Advising a financial institution on all aspects of contingency planning, insolvency options (including jurisdictional hurdles) and enforcement, and subsequently for administrators on the insolvency of the Empire cinemas chain.
  • Debt and capital restructuring advice to a private equity investor behind Mr Fothergill's Seeds, successfully discharging a High Court injunction that aimed to stop enforcement and working alongside Interpath Advisory as subsequent fixed-charge receivers on an accelerated M&A and marketing process and sale of the shares to the client by way of a credit bid.
  • Longstanding adviser to the board of high-profile UK gigafactory project Britishvolt, including in relation to restructuring options given its deteriorating financial position. Subsequently acting for the joint administrators on an intensive accelerated sales process with significant media and political scrutiny, and ongoing work with regular press coverage regarding the status of the buyer and the future of the gigafactory site in Northumberland.

Lawyers

Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Susan Moore

Other key lawyers

Ian Fox, Tessa Blank, Richard Pallot-Cook, Luci Mitchell-Fry, Mark Price, Jonathan Sears