Walker Morris LLP fields a large team experienced across a diverse range of sectors, including construction, pharmaceuticals, and retail. The group acts on behalf of insolvency practitioners, lenders, and private equity investors on both domestic and international matters. Gawain Moore co-leads the department alongside Duncan Lole, who ‘has the knowledge and commercial ability to always get the best possible result for the clients.’ Lole leads the firm’s specialist financial services and regulated sector insolvency practice, and is supported by Olivia Prescott and Ashley Armitage. Claire Askew handles both contentious and non-contentious insolvencies, with key expertise in restructuring.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘Walker Morris probably have the largest restructuring and corporate recovery team in the Leeds market. The team has a breadth of knowledge and experience and are able to mobilise a team in short order.’
'Gawain Moore advises businesses from the smallest owner managed business through to large listed boards. Gawain is often seen as a calm and collected figure in even the most hostile boardroom environments, and provides contemporaneous and clear advice. Claire Askew provides clear and concise advice in even the most fraught restructuring situations.’
‘Duncan Lole is pre-eminent at getting the right result for the client - he can "wheel and deal" to promote his client's interests - and has the knowledge and commercial ability to always get the best possible result for the clients - very good at controlling the negotiation process in demanding commercial negotiations.'
'Olivia Prescott - one of the best lawyers in the market - just excellent at litigation tactics and unerring ability to express in correspondence just the right balance of intellectual/academic arguments and commercial points to make the other side do the deal she wants. Extremely industrious and committed, and great at dealing with clients and witnesses -and taking and judging evidence.'
'Ashley Armitage is a really good commercial litigator who adopts a "no nonsense" direct approach to running litigation - a forceful lawyer who is user-friendly and popular with clients.'
‘Duncan Lole heads up the Insolvency Team. Unrivalled ability to see the big picture, and steer the team towards achieving the end goal. Great commercial awareness and very cool under pressure. Olivia Robinson is dedicated and hard-working. Great manner with clients, and opposing side.’
‘Olivia Prescott - An excellent standout lawyer who has a strong technical ability and will find the answers to any problem.’
‘Claire Askew's ability to offer relevant legal advice on a variety of instructions in a way that is understandable for stakeholders with various levels of legal & insolvency knowledge bases sets Walker Morris apart from other firms for us.’

Key clients

Endless LLP
Teneo
Interpath
FRP
Santander
Harrisons Business Recovery & Insolvency
Grant Thornton UK LLP
Together Finance
Alvarez & Marsal
Alix Partners
Asertis
TriplePoint
Total Capital Partners
LendInvest

Work highlights

Advised Teneo as the administrator of TXM Plant Limited, the specialist operator of railway maintenance equipment and a supplier to Network Rail.
Advised in respect of the cross-border restructuring of companies within the AIM-listed MJ Hudson Group and subsequently advised Alvarez & Marsal as liquidators of certain group companies.
Advised Interpath as administrators of Plant and Bean on the sale of the business to Heather Mills, and in relation to ongoing matters in the administration.