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Robert Russell

Partner
Head of Restructuring, UK
Manchester
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

  • 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
Education

    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

    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

    My latest insights

    Publication

    A sequel to the Avanti Spectrum

    30 May 2024 .6 minute read

    Publication

    UK Restructuring – Year in Retrospect

    9 January 2024 .2 minute read

    Publication

    Administrator - “officer of the company”? The risk of criminal liability under the Trade...

    6 November 2023 .6 minute read

    View All

    Connect

    Phone

    +44 (0)161 235 4147
    (Work, Manchester)
    +44 (0)7971 142 131
    (Work)
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