Restructuring/Insolvency - Australia
What the team is known for
Johnson Winter Slattery's skilled practitioners handle all aspects of restructurings, workouts and insolvency matters, frequently acting for appointed liquidators and administrators as well as lenders and investors with regard to distressed situations. The team possesses further experience advising distressed debtors and appointees with regard to restructurings and insolvency litigation, including asset recovery, removal applications and tax-related proceedings. Its key clients include New Hope Corporation, Grocon Group and PwC.
Strengths
"They have an experienced team that listens and cares about their clients. They are always very attentive, and I always feel client satisfaction is of paramount importance to JWS."
"They think about the different opportunities, problems and nuisances and whether it's commercial to pursue or not."
Work highlights
Johnson Winter Slattery represented PwC as liquidators of the Gunns Group in a dispute concerning 73 unfair preference claims against numerous creditors. In its decision, the High Court confirmed the abolition of the peak indebtedness rule.
Notable practitioners
Peter Smith offers nearly 30 years' experience in the insolvency space and is particularly well known for his handling of litigation arising out of receiverships and liquidations, including the prosecution or defence of negligence actions against individual executives and accountants. "His strength is his ability to deal with complex issues."
David Proudman is based in Sydney and acts for private equity houses, lenders, corporates and appointees on a range of informal and formal restructurings, regularly receiving especial praise for his expertise in the latter category.
Joseph Scarcella is based in Sydney and acts on a comprehensive range of insolvency-related mandates, including administrations, enforcements, restructurings and workouts, enjoying a particularly high profile for his work in the contentious sphere. "He's able to strategically limit the risk to ourselves. His seniority enables him to get to the core of the issue quickly and strategically come up with a solution."
