> Experience > Our practices > Commercial litigation > Restructuring and insolvency
Restructuring and insolvency lawyers
The success of your organization is inevitably exposed to turbulent economic and political conditions, and the world is currently an unpredictable place to be.
Even without those external forces, every business goes through challenging times at some point depending on its stage of growth. As a business leader, your organization going through financial or operational difficulties can be incredibly stressful.We work closely with directors and leadership teams to preserve the value in your organization and, where possible, return operations to health and success. Should that not be possible, and all options have been explored, our insolvency team quickly and pragmatically work to secure the best outcome for all.
In the course of business, you may sometimes find yourself dealing with a business partner with monies owed to you facing a distressed situation. Or if you are a lender or creditor who suddenly finds yourself in a situation where payments owed to you have been defaulted, our team has deep experience to guide you through the situation to devise a strategy which best protects your interests.
As part of a global team of dispute lawyers, we are well-placed to help where your insolvency or restructuring has assets held cross-border.
We were recently counsel to Blue Ocean Resources Limited (BOR) in the successful restructuring of its US$162,465,275 guaranteed senior secured notes due in 2021 issued by BOR and guaranteed by its IDX-listed parent, PT Central Proteina Prima Tbk (CPRO) and certain of its subsidiaries, by way of a scheme of arrangement in Singapore. The transaction involved significant elements including a complicated existing structure comprising two significant debts which were “stapled” together at the outset notwithstanding that they were issued by two separate legal entities. It also involved managing multiple counterparties and processes, often at the same time, in order to meet the timelines imposed by the scheme. As one of the lenders had structured its new money investment by way of a Singapore incorporated variable capital company (VCC), the team was also closely involved in the establishment of the VCC and review of the VCC fund documentation in order to ensure that they were consistent with the group’s interests.
We are proud of our role in creating and defending success at every stage of the business life cycle and do this in and out of court. Clients include multi-national companies, financial institutions, individual directors, trustees and investors as well as advisors and insolvency administrators.
Track record
Trustees of two BVI Trusts
We are instructed by the trustees of two BVI trusts worth in excess of US$400 million, who are currently undergoing a restructuring exercise involving assets in multiple jurisdictions. Recent issues relating to this matter have involved a discussion of parental rights in the BVI.
Acting for HSBC as a creditor
Represented HSBC as a creditor in actions against debtor companies and their guarantors ranging across corporate schemes of arrangements, individual voluntary arrangements, winding up and bankruptcy proceedings.
Attempted restructuring and subsequent insolvency of ZenRock
Represented the interim judicial managers, judicial managers and the current liquidators (from KPMG) in all aspects of the attempted restructuring and subsequent insolvency of ZenRock.
One of the first judicial managements ordered in Singapore in respect of a foreign-incorporated company
Represented Top Capital Securities Pte Ltd, a creditor of 8Telecom International Co. Ltd. (a Bermuda company listed on the Mainboard of the Singapore Exchange (SGX)). The matter involves a novel issue under Singapore law of whether a judicial management application can be allowed to proceed before the Singapore courts given that the underlying subscription agreement contained an agreement to arbitrate.
Preserving the value of 15 vessels
Represented FTI Consulting in their capacity as the Judicial Managers of 6 SPVs owned by Xihe Capital Pte Ltd, which collectively own 15 vessels (including unfinished vessels).
Scheme of arrangement proceedings and realisation of security
Represented UOB against KH Foges Pte Ltd, a major construction company in the business of piling, civil engineering, foundation, and geotechnical engineering works, which was a controlling shareholder of Swee Hong Limited, a company which was listed on the Mainboard of the Singapore Exchange.
Cambium Grove Capital
Represented Cambium Grove Capital as a lead arranger on a HK$1.75 billion restructuring and refinancing of an existing senior facility of a real estate group in Hong Kong.
Genesis Technology Limited
Acting for a majority shareholder and creditor in a joint venture company established to develop a treatment for Parkinson’s Disease and spinal chord injury. The matter involved a contentious administration, against the background of entrenched shareholder disputes, which we persuaded the Court to terminate, allowing our creditor client to assert contractual rights which had been stayed by the administration.
Blue Ocean Resources Limited (BOR)
Represented Blue Ocean Resources Limited (BOR) in the successful restructuring of its US$162,465,275 guaranteed senior secured notes due in 2021 issued by BOR and guaranteed by its IDX-listed parent, PT Central Proteina Prima Tbk (CPRO) and certain of its subsidiaries, by way of a scheme of arrangement in Singapore.
A rare rescue and exit from administration
We acted for the US parent of a well-known UK marketing agency and its immediate parent company, Mission Media Holdings Limited. Following a dispute between the management of the UK and US companies, the UK companies were placed into administration by their director. Following swift and effective legal advice, both companies were rescued and exited from administration within 21 days through the provision of emergency funding and working capital to the satisfaction of the administrators and the High Court. This result is a very rare occurrence, as only in a handful of cases has the primary purpose of an administration been achieved.
Blue Ocean Resources Limited (BOR)
Represented Blue Ocean Resources Limited (BOR) in the successful restructuring of its US$162,465,275 guaranteed senior secured notes due in 2021 issued by BOR and guaranteed by its IDX-listed parent, PT Central Proteina Prima Tbk (CPRO) and certain of its subsidiaries, by way of a scheme of arrangement in Singapore.
Enforcement of securities in banks
We have advised various banks on enforcement of securities including mortgagees’ sales and specialist advice on disputes relating to real estate and financing transactions, standstill arrangements, restructuring of debts owing to multiple lenders and the taking of securities on a collective basis.
High profile restructuring matter valued at over US$2 billion
We represented creditors, including an international bank and global engineering company, in a high profile restructuring matter valued at over US$2 billion involving a multinational environmental solutions public company based in Singapore.
Representing a debtor in a landmark case in Asia
Our restructuring and insolvency team acted for a debtor in a landmark case where the court declared that a liquidator of the insolvent creditor company could not continue an action which was commenced by the judicial manager of the company at the time the company was in judicial management.
A rare rescue and exit from administration
We acted for the US parent of a well-known UK marketing agency and its immediate parent company, Mission Media Holdings Limited. Following a dispute between the management of the UK and US companies, the UK companies were placed into administration by their director. Following swift and effective legal advice, both companies were rescued and exited from administration within 21 days through the provision of emergency funding and working capital to the satisfaction of the administrators and the High Court. This result is a very rare occurrence, as only in a handful of cases has the primary purpose of an administration been achieved.
Diesel London Limited
Representing Diesel, the well-known Italian fashion brand, in the recovery of outstanding amounts owed to it by House of Fraser and a retention of title claim for stock supplied to House of Fraser, in the context of a CVA and subsequent administration and business sale.
Racing Point Limited
We advised our client on a variety of contentious matters related to the acquisition of the Force India Formula One team (FIFOT), including questions around the insolvent administration of FIFOT. Our ability to work quickly and efficiently was pivotal to the success of this case and the winning bid for FIFOT from the client.
Restoring a dissolved company into liquidation to investigate assets
Representing the creditor of a BVI company, we successfully applied for a dissolved BVI company to be restored back into liquidation to enable a liquidator to investigate the whereabouts of the BVI company's assets, believed to be located in Switzerland and Russia. This matter involved cross-border cooperation with practitioners based in Russia, Switzerland, the BVI and the Netherlands.
Unicredit SpA
Our client, the well-known Italian bank, Unicredit SpA, sought enforcement of an Italian costs order obtained in complex Italian court proceedings against a UK company, Server Plus Limited (‘Server Plus’). We successfully obtained a winding up order against Server Plus, despite its attempts to claim that the liquidation proceedings were a vexatious attempt to bring an end to ongoing Italian proceedings Server Plus had brought against our client and a State third party. Ultimately, Server Plus did not have the funds to meet the debt owed to our client, and is now in liquidation.
A rare rescue and exit from administration
We acted for the US parent of a well-known UK marketing agency and its immediate parent company, Mission Media Holdings Limited. Following a dispute between the management of the UK and US companies, the UK companies were placed into administration by their director. Following swift and effective legal advice, both companies were rescued and exited from administration within 21 days through the provision of emergency funding and working capital to the satisfaction of the administrators and the High Court. This result is a very rare occurrence, as only in a handful of cases has the primary purpose of an administration been achieved.
Appointment of a BVI receiver over shares in BVI and Russian company
We successfully applied for the appointment of a BVI Receiver over the shares in and assets of a BVI company, including shares in a Russian company which owns valuable real estate in Moscow. Working with external Russian Counsel based in Moscow, the Receiver was able to protect the Russian real estate to ensure that a BVI Freezing Order would not be breached and a BVI Claim would not go unsatisfied.
Restoring a dissolved company into liquidation to investigate assets
Representing the creditor of a BVI company, we successfully applied for a dissolved BVI company to be restored back into liquidation to enable a liquidator to investigate the whereabouts of the BVI company's assets, believed to be located in Switzerland and Russia. This matter involved cross-border cooperation with practitioners based in Russia, Switzerland, the BVI and the Netherlands.
Appointment of a BVI receiver over shares in BVI and Russian company
We successfully applied for the appointment of a BVI Receiver over the shares in and assets of a BVI company, including shares in a Russian company which owns valuable real estate in Moscow. Working with external Russian Counsel based in Moscow, the Receiver was able to protect the Russian real estate to ensure that a BVI Freezing Order would not be breached and a BVI Claim would not go unsatisfied.
Restoring a dissolved company into liquidation to investigate assets
Representing the creditor of a BVI company, we successfully applied for a dissolved BVI company to be restored back into liquidation to enable a liquidator to investigate the whereabouts of the BVI company's assets, believed to be located in Switzerland and Russia. This matter involved cross-border cooperation with practitioners based in Russia, Switzerland, the BVI and the Netherlands.
Recent recognition
Our team
M. Ridgway Barker
Partner | Greenwich
Patricia M. Lee
Partner | New York
Roberto Moruzzi
Partner | London
Sara-Jane Knock
Partner | British Virgin Islands
Sinead Harris
Partner | London
Xanthe Lok
Partner | London
Justin Yip
Partner | Singapore
Peter Wood
Partner | London
Insight
Join the club
We have lots more news and information that you'll find informative and useful. Let us know what you're interested in and we'll keep you up to date on the issues that matter to you.
Typical clients and industries include
Families and family offices
Families call on us when they want a firm that understands their needs – whether they are looking to pass down wealth, set up and run a family office, or make their mark through philanthropy. Find Out More
Financial services
Our lawyers have a wealth of experience navigating complex global financial markets. We help clients secure their finances and futureproof their businesses. Find Out More
Private companies
As a private company, you need reliable, efficient service. As the only global law firm focused on private capital, we are here to help you protect your interests at every stage of the lifecycle. Find Out MoreHow else can we help?
We offer a full range of services to individuals and businesses. Find out how we can help you solve challenges and maximize opportunities.
Get in touch
Our website will give you a flavour of the advice we provide - if you would like to talk to us for more information, please contact our client services team who will be happy to assist.