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Exchange Chambers

Restructuring/Insolvency

UK Bar Guide 2026 : North Eastern (Bar)

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Exchange Chambers

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About

Provided by Exchange Chambers

Our nationally renowned, specialist restructuring and insolvency team undertakes all manner of personal and corporate restructuring and insolvency work on behalf of creditors, debtors and office holders.

Our areas of expertise include:

    • Administrations
    • Asset tracing and recovery
    • Bankruptcy
    • Creditor and public interest winding up
    • Cross-border insolvency
    • Directors’ disqualification proceedings
    • Individual and company voluntary arrangements
    • Liquidations
    • Misfeasance proceedings
    • Office holder claims and remuneration
    • Preferences
    • Receiverships
    • Transaction avoidance
    • Wrongful and fraudulent trading
    • Restructuring plans
    • The new moratorium

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Restructuring/Insolvency - North Eastern (Bar)

Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Exchange Chambers offers notable restructuring and insolvency expertise in the North East. One instructing solicitor refers to the "considerable insolvency expertise across the whole set." The set's barristers handle work relating to asset tracing and recovery, administrations and bankruptcy. The team also possesses a specialism in handling directors’ disqualification and misfeasance proceedings. Recently members of the set addressed the Court of Appeal in relation to the contested liquidation of JDK Construction Ltd. An instructing solicitor states that the set is "always very capable and competent to deal with any instructions we provide."

Ian Spencer is the chambers director in Leeds.

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Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Luke Heywood, senior clerk, and Nicole Luna, clerk, are excellent and they hold everything together really well.

    Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK Bar

  • The clerks are very good at being responsive and flexible in terms of how we deal with them.

    Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK Bar

  • The clerks have really prompt response times and always identify the right counsel for each instruction.

    Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK Bar

  • The set has excellent clerks who provide a very professional, efficient and competent service to support counsel.

    Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK Bar

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Lisa Linklater
    Lisa Linklater

    Lisa Linklater

    Lisa Linklater KC is an experienced barrister frequently instructed in the full range of personal and corporate insolvency cases including those relating to administrations, bankruptcy and liquidation. She represents an array of clients including creditors, government departments, administrators and trustees in bankruptcy, as well as company liquidators.

    • Lisa is all over the technical detail. She is a high-quality adviser who is very reliable and impeccably prepared.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK Bar

    • We tend to go to Lisa for the complex and unusual matters, where there is no case law or detailed analysis is required.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK Bar

    • She is very calm, very methodical and even when clients are passionate about a particular issue she runs through her point very calmly.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK Bar

    • Lisa is a very proactive, very knowledgeable, commercially aware, clear and concise advocate.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK Bar
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  • Matthew Maddison
    Matthew Maddison

    Matthew Maddison

    Matthew Maddison is noted for his expertise in insolvency and commercial chancery matters. He has experience acting for banks, individuals and publicly listed companies. He is particularly adept at handling misfeasance claims brought against former directors.

    • Matthew is very smart and very pleasant, which goes an extremely long way with the judges.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK Bar

    • Matthew is my go-to for insolvency.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK Bar

    • Matthew is incredibly well thought of and would be on my fantasy insolvency team. He's utterly brilliant, down to earth, can see the bigger picture and takes a very commercial and strategic approach.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK Bar
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  • Eleanor d'Arcy
    Eleanor d'Arcy

    Eleanor d'Arcy

    Eleanor d'Arcy maintains a broad chancery and commercial practice which incorporates significant insolvency and restructuring work. She regularly acts for both individuals and companies, and is noted for her experience in insolvency cases relating to property. She also has experience assisting corporate clients with applications related to winding-up petitions. She is well versed in administration and liquidation proceedings.

    • Eleanor is a really good team player. She has a diverse insolvency practice and a very loyal following. She's not fazed by anything, she's quick-thinking and she has very direct advocacy skills.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK Bar

    • Eleanor is excellent with clients and excellent in court.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK Bar
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  • Steven Fennell
    Steven Fennell

    Steven Fennell

    Previously a solicitor, Steven Fennell is well regarded for his expert handling of insolvency matters. He acts for a range of clients including liquidators, trustees and receivers and has addressed the Court of Appeal. He is also a CEDR-accredited mediator.

    • Steven is very astute and a great tactician.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK Bar

    • Because of Steven's previous solicitor career and experience, he's able to pick up really complex insolvency matters. He's an excellent choice for high-profile, complex insolvency matters.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK Bar

    • Steven is a very talented barrister whose knowledge and experience is exceptional. He is great to work with.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK Bar
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Ranked Barristers at Exchange Chambers (4)

North Eastern (Bar)

Members

Provided by Exchange Chambers

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