Business recovery and restructuring

A winding-up petition is one of the most urgent warning signs a business can face. Once advertised, it can freeze bank accounts and damage confidence quickly. While receiving one is serious, it does not always mean the end of your business.

We can help with:

• Immediate assessment of your options and timescales
• Advising whether the petition can be challenged, settled, or adjourned
• Exploring rescue routes such as administration or a CVA
• Managing creditor communication to stabilise the situation

Time is critical – seeking expert advice early could be the difference between rescue and closure.

A CCJ typically serves as a warning rather than a final outcome, however things can escalate quickly and lead to enforcement action if left unresolved. It may also signal deeper cash flow or creditor issues. It is important to act fast after receiving a CCJ and consult an expert for advice on your situation.

We can help you:

• Understand the impact of the CCJ and next steps
• Assess the risk of further enforcement or escalation
• Explore negotiation, restructuring, or formal solutions
• Address underlying financial pressures before matters worsen

HMRC pressure is one of the most common triggers for financial distress. Left unchecked, arrears can lead to enforcement or insolvency action.

We can support you by:

• Reviewing whether a Time to Pay arrangement is realistic
• Preparing credible financial information for HMRC
• Managing discussions professionally and constructively
• Advising on wider restructuring if tax arrears are part of a bigger issue

Creditor pressure does not have to spiral out of control. Threats of legal action often arise as a result of communication breaking down rather than the absence of a solution.

We can help you:

• Understand what action a creditor can (and cannot) take
• Stabilise the situation through negotiation or restructuring
• Explore formal protection if appropriate
• Regain control before matters escalate

That’s completely normal — and exactly when to talk to us.

Most people who contact us do not know which process applies to their situation, or even if they are insolvent. You do not need to have answers before asking for our help.

We will:

• Listen to the details of your situation, objectively and without judgement
• Explain your position candidly
• Talk through your options and realistic next steps
• Help you decide on the right course of action

Many directors delay seeking advice because they are unsure whether insolvency actually applies to them. That uncertainty can increase personal risk and prove to be a costly mistake.

We can help you:

• Assess solvency clearly and objectively
• Understand your duties and responsibilities as a director
• Identify early warning signs and options
• Reduce risk through timely, informed decisions

Closure can be the right decision — if done properly.

Sometimes, closing a business is the most practical and responsible route forward. The key is choosing the right process and the right specialist team to work with.

We can help you:

• Understand whether your company is solvent or insolvent
• Select the most appropriate closure route
• Manage the process efficiently and compliantly
• Reduce stress, risk, and uncertainty

Exiting your business does not have to mean failure. A strategically planned exit can often be the best decision for both you and your company.

There are a variety of reasons a director may want to exit a business, from health and changing priorities to disputes and stepping away due to pressure.

We can help you:

• Explore restructuring or sale options
• Organise an orderly exit strategy
• Assess different closure routes where appropriate
• Understand the personal and financial implications of an exity

While disputes have the power to paralyse a business, they can usually be resolved with the help of an objective third party.

Disagreements between owners often escalate under financial stress.

We provide:

• Independent, objective advice
• Support with negotiations and options analysis
• Guidance on restructuring or separation routes
• Solutions that protect value and reduce risk

Making the strategic decision to restructure part of a business can preserve the organisation as a whole. Closing a loss-making division may be necessary to safeguard your wider business.

We can help:

• Assess the impact on solvency and creditors
• Plan a compliant, controlled wind-down
• Manage stakeholder communication
• Protect the remaining business

Farming and agriculture businesses often require specialist insolvency procedures due to land security, agricultural tenancies, and seasonal trading pressures.

We can help with:

• Agricultural Receiverships (including fixed charge and LPA receivers)
• Farming partnership insolvency and personal exposure
• Secured lenders and land agents’ negotiations
• Asset-heavy estates (land, livestock, machinery)
• Succession complications in farming families

Charities and charitable incorporated organisations (CIO) have unique structures, regulatory oversight and asset restrictions that require tailored insolvency handling.

We can help with:

• CIO and charitable company insolvency
• Treatment of restricted and designated funds
• Trustees’ duties and regulatory notifications
• Managing the closure of service-based charities
• Restructuring options for charities under pressure

Educational organisations, particularly academy trusts, have distinct regulatory frameworks to follow during restructuring or closure.

We can help with:

• Academy trust insolvency processes
• Working with ESFA and DfE on intervention or closure
• Continuity of education planning
• Governance and senior leadership responsibilities
• Multi-academy trust (MAT) restructuring

Care sector insolvency requires careful management, regulatory compliance and safeguarding of vulnerable individuals.

We can help with:

• CQC engagement and notifications
• Continuity-of-care planning during insolvency
• Managing staff, residents, suppliers, and commissioners
• Independent business reviews for care providers
• Restructuring or closing care homes with minimal disruption

Legal practices face unique regulatory risks during financial distress, including client money obligations and exposure to intervention.

We can help with:

• Managing SRA intervention risk
• Protecting client accounts and handling client balances
• LLP/partnership liability issues
• Contingency planning for firm closure or merger
• Working with professional indemnity insurers