United Kingdom
Robert Russell
PartnerHead of Restructuring, UK
About
Robert Russell is the head of DLA Piper’s UK Restructuring Group. He focuses on non-contentious areas of corporate recovery, restructuring, turnaround and insolvency. He advises purchasers of businesses and assets in stressed and distressed situations along with key stakeholders on distressed debt situations, acting for banks and other financial institutions, concerning security enhancement and the enforcement of their rights.
Robert handles business and asset disposals for insolvency practitioners and advises on the powers and duties of office holders. He also acts for directors of companies facing financial difficulties.
Areas of FocusConsumer Goods, Food and RetailFinancial ServicesHealthcareIndustrialsCorporateRestructuring
Professional QualificationsSolicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales
EXPERIENCE
- A major institutional lender and a wider syndicate, including a leading global financial group, on a series of high value financing arrangements with English Premier League clubs, comprising a £65m term loan facility to support financial stability and infrastructure development, and a GBP175m financing package addressing short term working capital needs and long term stadium redevelopment. Work included leading lender-side negotiations, preparing facility documentation, and developing bespoke structural frameworks tailored to football’s unique regulatory environment. This involved analysing football creditor rules, coordinating with relevant regulators, and designing protections to mitigate downside risk and ensure full regulatory compliance across the club’s financing arrangements. (October 2025)
- Gordon Brothers on the acquisition of discount retailer Poundland Limited, a business with GBP1.6bn turnover and a network of more than 800 stores across the UK and Ireland, including advice on the company’s proposed Restructuring Plan under Part 26A of the Companies Act 2006. (July 2025)
- A British multinational engineering and consulting business on the restructuring plan under proposed by CB&I UK Limited, providing urgent and complex advice in relation to the clients' rights and terms of the plan. (June 2025)
- A global consumer goods retail business on private equity, private debt and real estate aspects of lending and security arrangements relating to a major international health and beauty retailer. This involved coordinating urgent, multi jurisdictional advice across 11 countries in connection with the potential liquidation of subsidiaries within the group. (March 2025)
- A confidential lender in the sports sector on a Premier League football club matter, including advising the Agent and Security Agent on enforcement rights, anticipated defaults and issues surrounding the syndicate finance structure for a major stadium construction project. Rob also subsequently advised a consortium assessing a potential acquisition of the club. (May 2024)
- Airline Capital Group Limited on its successful credit bid for the business and certain assets of Rekom UK via a pre pack and share sale, securing approximately 1000 jobs and preserving 23 UK sites. (February 2024)
- THG plc on its acquisition of the business and assets of City A.M. through a pre pack administration, leading a multi disciplinary team across Restructuring, Tax, IP, Data Protection and Employment to ensure continuity of the publication’s print and digital operations. (July 2023)
- A UK Bank on the closure of certain parts of its UK banking business, particularly the deregulation of its UK commercial banking business, whilst retaining its property and hotel finance businesses under Part 26A of the Companies Act 2006. (July 2022)
- Deloitte as administrators of the GBP1.8bn turnover Arcadia Group, advising on all real estate aspects and sales out of the administration. Project completion: ongoing
- EY as administrators of GBP800m Intu Merry Hill SPV group, advising on the disposal of a major shopping centre asset class. Project completion: ongoing
- Gordon Brothers
- on the brand acquisition, archive and related intellectual property of Laura Ashley, from administrators PwC. Project completion: April 2020
- on the acquisition of the Bench Brand and worldwide intellectual property assets. Project completion: July 2018
- on the joint venture acquisition, and subsequent multinational restructure, of the Ben Sherman group of companies. Project completion: July 2015
- Tomlinson’s Dairies, one of the UK’s largest dairy companies (a supplier to various supermarkets and retailers), advising on all matters relating to ongoing trade, directors duties and insolvency risks and subsequently acting for PwC as administrators. Project completion: October 2019
- Solutus Advisors Limited in its capacity as the special servicer of the GBP263m Debussy DTC Plc CMBS Loan to Toys "R" US Properties (UK) Limited. Project completion: April 2019
- The boards of all Deep Ocean group companies in respect of the Restructuring Plan designed to compromise creditor positions to facilitate the solvent wind-down of UK operations. The first Restructuring Plan to utilise cross-class cramdown – Project completion: January 2021
- Multibillion dollar US global aerospace, defence, security and advanced technologies company in relation to its role in a multi-million pound energy project relating to the world's largest tidal turbine project. Project completion: April 2015
- EY as administrators of the Hawk Plant Hire group, one of the largest independent construction plant hire business in the UK. Project completion: September 2020
- Sandton Capital Partners
- on a successful restructure of the VVB Engineering Group of companies – Project completion: March 2018
- on the acquisition of the shares in Aspin Group Limited via a pre-packaged administration process. Aspin is a leading provider of engineered solutions for the UK's infrastructure sector – Project completion: February 2018
- One of the UK's largest manufacturers and wholesalers of paper based products on the financial restructuring. Project completion: January 2018
Awards
- 'Robert Russell – outstanding.' Legal 500 2022
- 'Rob Russell approaches all situations with an empathy to the client which is expressed and outworked through his team reflecting his values. Rob engages well with clients in a very natural, personable way. There is no sense of self aggrandisement but one of good sound sense being expressed by someone who knows his subject and is patient in explanation to bring all to a point of clarity on the challenge and potential next steps. I would recommend Rob without hesitation.' Legal 500 2022
- 'Rob Russell is a joy to work with, he is relentless in his focus on his client’s objectives and priorities and creative in the considered solutions to be proposed.’ Legal 500 2022
- ‘Robert Russell has worked with me for many years now and understands the businesses and interactions well and is able to pitch his advice in a way that supports informed business decisions and solutions tailored to our businesses. His advice is not just provision of information and Rob looks to understand the underlying commercial issues beyond the pure legalities.' Legal 500 2022
- 'Robert Russell is a highly esteemed insolvency lawyer with substantial experience advising on complex restructurings and insolvencies with a focus on the financial, retail and leisure sectors.' Chambers & Partners UK Guide 2022
- 'He is our go-to guy. He is a thought leader, we appreciate his commerciality, and he ensures our interests are protected.' Chambers & Partners UK Guide 2022
- 'Leading Individual' Legal 500 2020
- '…a distinguished figure in the North West market. He is utilised by a range of clients for his strength in non-contentious matters and has notable expertise in retail insolvencies and funds work. According to one client, "his technical know-how is very strong," while another says: "He is extremely hands-on, really getting into the details and leading the transaction.' Chambers & Partners 2020
Education
Publications
- No-deal Brexit: Impact on cross-border corporate recovery and insolvency, 1 September 2019
- Construction industry funders: Are your customers prepared for the VAT Reverse Charge on construction services?, 29 August 2019
- Restructuring e-Newsletter - Global Insight Issue 12, 18 Dec 2014
- Restructuring e-Newsletter - Global Insight Issue 11, 1 Oct 2014
- Restructuring e-Newsletter - Global Insight Issue 10, 1 Jul 2014
- Opportunities and challenges in the UK legal sector: alternative business structures, 12 Dec 2013
Seminars
- Today's challenges for lawyers in the payments sector, 12 Jun 2019
Memberships And Affiliations
- Member of R3
- Member of the Institute for Turnaround
