About us

Chris Newell

Managing Director

Chris is a Managing Director within our Restructuring & Insolvency team. His sector experience includes retail, manufacturing and construction, in which he regularly advises directors and shareholders of businesses, predominantly SMEs. He also has extensive experience with businesses and individuals who have undertaken historic tax planning schemes, advising on the options available and implementing suitable strategies.

Kelly Mitchell

Managing Director

Kelly is an insolvency and restructuring specialist based in our Southampton office; her expertise includes the provision of tailored solutions to businesses and stakeholders facing financial challenges, as well as leading investigations to uncover corruption and fraud. As a licensed Insolvency Practitioner and Chartered Certified Accountant, she has over 20 years’ experience in financial analysis and insolvency processes. This knowledge, combined with her commercial mindset and approachable manner, enables her to create strategic solutions for clients.

Rehan Ahmed

Managing Director

Rehan leads our teams in Yorkshire and the North East. He regularly provides advice to directors and shareholders of distressed businesses and assists them to identify solutions to secure the future of their businesses. Rehan is focused on business rescue and develops and implements strategies to assist with turnaround and recovery. Recent assignments include advising businesses operating in the manufacturing, construction, hospitality, leisure and retail sectors. Rehan is a licensed insolvency practitioner and a member of this ICAEW.

Taz Rashid

Managing Director

Taz is a restructuring specialist and operates throughout the Midlands, providing expert advice to clients on a range of complex matters. Recent assignments include working with distressed businesses in the real estate, construction, online retail sectors, where he has delivered a range of restructuring and insolvency solutions. Taz is a fellow of the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants, a licensed insolvency practitioner and a member of the ICAEW.

Elias Paourou

Managing Director

Elias is an experienced business adviser who works with business owners in the south east and south coast. Elias’ priority is focussed on business rescue which often results in the preservation of businesses and their staff. Recent cases have included businesses operating in the food production, pharmaceutical and education. Elias is a licensed insolvency practitioner and a member of the IPA.

Richard Easterby

Director

Richard is the head of our Birmingham office. He has more than 15 years’ experience advising company directors, secured lenders and other key stakeholders across a variety of distressed situations. His recent work portfolio includes assignments across multiple sectors including property, professional services, leisure and sport, as well as working on large litigation assignments. Richard is a licensed insolvency practitioner and a member of both the Insolvency Practitioners Association and the Association of Business Recovery Professionals.

Frank Wessely

Managing Director

Frank is a managing director in the insolvency and restructuring team. He has broad a range of experience in handling distressed small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and advising solvent clients who want to restructure their affairs or close down operations. He works with a variety of businesses with a turnover between £1 million and £30 million, including start-ups, partnerships, sole traders, SMEs and community interest companies. He has experience across a number of sectors, including multi-location retail chains, photography, electricity supply and children’s nurseries.

Craig Morrison

Managing Director

Craig is a Managing Director in our Edinburgh-based Restructuring and Insolvency team specialising in restructuring, insolvency and advisory. Craig qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1999, is JIEB qualified and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS). Craig's specialist expertise includes administrations, corporate simplification, company voluntary arrangements, corporate insolvency, liquidations and receiverships. He also provides financial advisory services, including undertaking independent business reviews on behalf of a range of lenders.

Scott Milne

Managing Director

Scott has over 30 years of experience, supporting SMEs across Scotland in overcoming a range of financial challenges. He is a licensed insolvency practitioner and specialises in solvent restructurings and has led a substantial number of assignments for clients in Scotland, including those with an overseas presence. Scott has worked with businesses in many sectors, including food and beverage, media, construction, manufacturing, automotive and leisure. Scott is a member of the IPA.

Jeremy Woodside

Managing Director

Jeremy is a Managing Director within our Insolvency & Restructuring team in the North West. With a focus on SMEs throughout his career, he has advised secured lenders, asset-based lenders, directors, and various stakeholders. Jeremy's expertise spans multiple sectors, including manufacturing, warehousing and distribution, retail, leisure, property, and not-for-profit organisations. He has successfully navigated distressed and stressed trading positions, offering solutions that range from formal insolvency options to informal resolutions.

Andrew Watling

Managing Director

Andrew is a leading adviser to businesses on the south coast. Andrew is a restructuring specialist; his expertise includes advising on financial and operational matters as well as carrying out independent business reviews. Recent assignments have included advising businesses operating in the aerospace and defence, food and beverage, real estate, marine and construction sectors. Andrew is licensed to undertake insolvency assignments and is a member of the ICAEW.

Michael Chamberlain

Managing Director

Michael is a Managing Director in our Restructuring & Insolvency team. He has over 25 years’ experience advising lenders, SMEs, corporates, distressed investors and individuals in complex financial restructuring and recovery situations across various industry sectors and jurisdictions. His specialisms include business turnaround, performance improvement, and supporting accelerated mergers, acquisitions and disposals. Michael prides himself on saving jobs, businesses and maximising value for all stakeholders. Michael is a qualified chartered accountant (ICAEW fellow) and licensed insolvency practitioner.

Gareth Peckett

Managing Director

Gareth is a Managing Director in our Restructuring & Insolvency team based in Leeds, specialising in contentious insolvency assignments. Gareth specialises in contentious insolvency assignments and has an excellent technical knowledge of insolvency law and procedures, which he is able to combine with his commerciality to provide dynamic and tailored solutions to his client's situation. Gareth has experience in many sectors throughout his career; however, he has gained significant knowledge in advising engineering, manufacturing, retail and construction businesses.

Nick Simmonds

Managing Director

Nick is a restructuring specialist; he provides exceptional, personalised advice and solutions to the directors of businesses facing financial challenges. His sector experience includes hospitality and leisure as well as care homes. Nick is a managing director in the restructuring team. He is a licensed insolvency practitioner and adviser to businesses facing financial and operational distress in the northern home counties. Nick is based in the firm’s Watford office.

James Varney

Director

James is a restructuring and insolvency specialist; his expertise includes advising companies, directors and creditors of their options in a wide range of insolvency situations. He has 10 years’ experience in advising directors on a range of solutions to assist them in overcoming financial challenges. James is a qualified insolvency practitioner and is a member of the IPA.

Philippa Robinson

Director

Philippa is a Director within our Corporate Finance department. With a focus on SMEs, she serves as a trusted adviser, providing guidance on various transactions such as fundraising, sale mandates, and management buyouts. Philippa's understanding of the challenges faced by entrepreneurs allows her to add significant value to SMEs throughout their growth and in difficult times. Her recent transactions include securing new investments, the sale of the estate of a major artist, a fundraise for a haulage business and the disposal of a chain of beauty salons to an overseas investor.

Pieris Lysandrou

Director

Pieris is a Director in the restructuring & insolvency team based in the Watford office. He is a qualified Insolvency Practitioner and Chartered Certified Accountant with over 10 years' corporate recovery and insolvency experience specialising in formal corporate and personal procedures as well as advisory services to lenders and other major stakeholders in relation to underperforming owner-managed businesses.