Restructuring/Insolvency
Asia-Pacific Guide 2025 : Australia
Band 1
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+61 2 9258 6000About
Provided by Ashurst
Ashurst's Restructuring practice covers the field in insolvency, turnaround, restructuring and distressed investing, distinguishing us from our Australian competitors. We are the go-to firm for complex, significant matters and are instructed when it really matters because of our unparalleled experience across the spectrum of issues arising from corporate distress, distressed investing and formal insolvencies. This uniquely balanced approach means we have a true understanding of all stakeholder positions and achieve exceptional results for our clients.
We operate at the forefront of the market, providing clients with unrivalled, invaluable market knowledge gained from our deep experience. Whether applying creative techniques to invest in a distressed company, working to turn around a company in difficulty, or managing a major corporate collapse, we have the skill and experience to resolve these matters.
Testament to this is our position as lead advisor in virtually all of Australia's most significant restructurings, insolvencies and corporate collapses in the last three decades, many of which required us to develop and apply cutting-edge, first-to-market transaction structures. Examples include: Atlas Iron, Babcock & Brown, Banksia, Bridgecorp, BBY, Bell Group, Billabong, BIS Industries, Boart Longyear, Channel 10, Enron, Fitness First, GE Commercial Finance, Gunns Group, HIH Insurance, Imdex, Lehman Brothers, MF Global, Nine Entertainment, Quintus, Slater & Gordon and WICET.
Chambers Review
Ashurst's market-leading national practice is active on many of the country's most high-profile restructurings and turnarounds. The team regularly acts for creditors, debtors and insolvency appointees in major restructurings and also demonstrates substantial experience in insolvency litigation. Additionally, Ashurst offers excellent international expertise and has a strong offering in the acquisition of distressed debt in Australia's secondary debt market.
Work Highlights
- Ashurst acted for Gordon Brothers and KordaMentha in relation to the receivership and sale of the assets of Scott's Refrigerated Logistics.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Ashurst has a cohesive team that delivers good results."
"The partners have longevity in the industry and each partner brings a different set of skills."
"Ashurst has an excellent ability to cut through issues to the heart of a matter."
"Ashurst has a cohesive team that delivers good results."
"The partners have longevity in the industry and each partner brings a different set of skills."
"Ashurst has an excellent ability to cut through issues to the heart of a matter."
Notable Practitioners
Ross McClymont is a highly respected, Melbourne-based practitioner who acts for prominent clients in a variety of sectors, including renewables and waste management. His areas of experience range from distressed debt and loan-to-own strategies to advising on supply chain restructurings.
James Marshall is a renowned practitioner in the practice area who regularly acts for corporates and other stakeholders in relation to the highest-profile restructurings and distressed acquisitions.
"James is the ultimate market leader."
Michael Sloan is particularly experienced in advising clients active in sectors which include the financial services and infrastructure spaces on significant insolvency matters, ranging from workouts to liquidations.
"Michael has a very measured way of negotiating and acts with our best interests at heart but provides us with good, measured suggestions as well."
"Michael is a commercially agile and thought-provoking lawyer."
Camilla Clemente is based in Sydney and regularly acts on insolvency-related mandates for insolvency practitioners and distressed companies, offering particular expertise in the handling of contentious proceedings, including litigation and arbitration.
"She has always provided very valuable, well-structured advice."
Emanuel Poulos maintains a well-regarded practice from the Sydney office and is recognised by market sources for his work on complex insolvency proceedings. He is regularly instructed by insolvency practitioners on formal insolvencies, including liquidations and receiverships.
Jason Salman is a well-regarded, Perth-based practitioner in the restructuring and insolvency space with notable expertise in advising clients on distressed acquisitions.
Alinta Kemeny has a growing presence in the restructuring and insolvency space, with notable expertise in relation to restructuring advice. She has advised a range of clients, including financial institutions and healthcare companies.
Bernie Walrut has a growing reputation in the sector, advising liquidators and administrators. He also assists distressed companies on transactional and restructuring matters.