Insolvency and Bankruptcy

OUR EXPERIENCE

Carneys’ experienced team of insolvency and bankruptcy lawyers have the expertise to advise clients in order to protect, and where possible, improve, their position. We have a unique practice of acting for clients on all sides of insolvency disputes, and we bring our technical and commercial expertise to each matter.

Carneys have acted on numerous high profile and complex insolvency administrations encompassing all aspects of corporate insolvencies. This includes liquidations, receiverships, Administrations, Deeds of Company Arrangement and Schemes of Arrangement. Carneys have advised directors affected by Deeds of Company Arrangement on their rights and remedies available providing advice on defences involving alleged breaches of directors duties.

We recognise the stress and angst that comes with personal and business insolvency. We offer advice that is strategic, honest and direct to guide our clients to a better position as quickly as possible.

Our clients have the advantage of lawyers with deep expertise of the commercial challenges businesses and individuals involved in insolvency disputes face. We are dedicated to providing practical and efficient solutions for our clients.

Ultimately, we care about our clients and are on your side.

Get in touch to see how we can help you out today.

“Carneys are our go-to lawyers for hard cases – cases that have no margin for error. Our business has complete confidence in their expertise and experience.”

Our Work

Acting for the receivers of a failed managed investment scheme in the forestry industry to successfully recover assets from over 500 investors.

Liquidation

Acting for receivers and managers appointed in a large partnership dispute.

Receivership

Acting for court appointed receivers of five companies in long-running litigation to successfully recover inter-entity loan account assets.

Receivership

Services

Corporate insolvency

Parties involved in insolvency disputes require expert technical legal advice, but they also need strategic guidance from insolvency lawyers who understand the practical side of how deals are done. Negotiation – whether by formal mediation or done informally – is a critical component of insolvency cases where parties need efficient, commercial solutions.
We act for parties on all sides of insolvency disputes: corporate and individual debtors, external administrations, secured and unsecured creditors, and bankruptcy trustees. Our deep expertise, developed over years of being immersed in complex disputes, gives our clients the edge they require to achieve the best possible result, whether by settlement or at a defended hearing.

Personal bankruptcy

If bankruptcy is on the cards, you might think you have few very tricks left to play. It can be one of the most difficult experiences someone might experience in their entire life. Like most hardships, it is best handed over to an expert in the field. When you have experienced bankruptcy lawyers handling your case, you will come to see that the game goes on.
There will be future hands of cards dealt after all. Without bankruptcy lawyers, the process can be longer than necessary, with a far less favourable outcome. We are driven to help our clients, including through situations as difficult as personal bankruptcy.

Arthur Carney

PARTNER

Leader of the Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution team

Arthur Carney

PARTNER

Leader of the Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution team

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor of Laws University of Sydney

Master of Laws

London School of Economics and Political Science

ACCREDITATIONS

Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation

LawSocietyAccSpecialist

Arthur leads the Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution team and has extensive experience in the New South Wales Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, Federal Court and High Court. He was admitted to practice as a lawyer in 1977. In November 1984, he was admitted to the degree of Master of Laws by the London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London). 

In September 1995 Arthur was certified as an Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation by the Law Society of New South Wales. There are 101 Accredited Specialists in the field of Commercial Litigation, selected from over 32,000 legal practitioners in New South Wales. He is the Chairman of the Law Society Specialist Accreditation Commercial Litigation Committee. This Committee sets and marks the examination and assessment process for lawyers seeking specialist accreditation in the field of commercial litigation.

 Arthur’s areas of practice include:

  • Contractual Disputes
  • Corporations – Directors & Officers Duties and Liabilities
  • Corporate Recovery & Insolvency
  • Property Disputes
  • Trade Practices
  • Class Actions
  • Insurance and Common Law Litigation
  • Wills and Succession Act Disputes
  • Mediation
  • Arthur has extensive skills in the organisation and management of large and complex litigation.

In December 1998 Arthur was appointed as a District Court Arbitrator and in 2008 he was appointed by the Supreme Court of NSW to the panel of solicitors supervising Anton Piller Search Orders. He served on the Law Society of NSW Professional Conduct Committee for 10 years.

Stephen Titus

Wallace Meakes

PARTNER

Wally is an accredited Property Law specialist, his practice covers all aspects of residential and commercial property work.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor of Laws University of Sydney

Bachelor of Commerce

University of New South Wales

ACCREDITATIONS

Accredited Specialist in Property Law

LawSocietyAccSpecialist

Wally is accredited by the Law Society as an Accredited Specialist in Property Law. He has developed a broad solid base of clients, both individual and corporate. 

Wally is experienced in acting in matters involving the acquisition and sale of property including strata title, torrens title, leasehold and company title. In addition, he acts for developers and investors in relation to acquisition of sites and development of the properties. He also acts in relation to many lease transactions, both for the landlord and tenant, and is retained by a number of overseas clients and corporations including MGM.

 Wally has provided advice to many individuals and corporations over the last 38 years, accumulating a wealth of knowledge in the commercial and property area. He has chaired a number of property seminars conducted by the College of Law, providing seminars to property professionals in large corporations including CBRE Richard Ellis. 

As Property Partner, Wally has a strong team of professionals to assist him to achieve a cost-effective service to clients to achieve their commercial expectations with expediency and efficiency. Wally joined Carneys in 1981 and is now enjoying his 40th year with the firm. He was admitted as a partner with the firm in 1985. In addition to Property Law, he also practises in the area of Wills, Probate and Succession and has considerable experience and expertise in the area of Commercial Business Law which includes sale of business.

Henry Wrench

SOLICITOR

Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice

Henry Wrench

SOLICITOR

Henry is a solicitor in the litigation and dispute resolution practice group.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor of Laws (LLB) University of Technology

Society of New South Wales Practising Certificate no. 97054

LawSocietyAccSpecialist

Henry acts for clients across a wide range of industries in litigation in the Supreme Court of New South Wales and the Federal Court of Australia, including commercial disputes, contractual disputes, shareholders disputes and insolvency litigation. 

He regularly acts for insolvency practitioners, assisting in maximising and preserving value for stakeholders. Henry also has experience in employment law and class actions.

Henry has acted for individuals and private and public companies in a range of matters, including:

  •  Receivers and managers appointed to represent a number of valuable private companies in complex Supreme Court litigation;
  • Receivers and managers appointed to a joint venture operating a large entertainment business subject to a dispute in the Federal Court of Australia;
  • Trustees for sale of commercial and residential properties involved in Supreme Court litigation;
  • Private companies and minority shareholders in oppression proceedings; – Public and private companies in complex commercial lease disputes;
  • Private companies in employment proceedings to enforce restraint of trade clauses;
  • A private company in a dispute with a government body relating to a breach of confidence;
  • Individuals and private companies in commercial disputes;
  • Individuals in common law negligence proceedings;
  • A private company in criminal proceedings;
  • Individuals in criminal fraud proceedings.

Arthur Carney

PARTNER

Leader of the Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution team

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor of Laws University of Sydney

Master of Laws

London School of Economics and Political Science

ACCREDITATIONS

Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation

LawSocietyAccSpecialist

Arthur leads the Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution team and has extensive experience in the New South Wales Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, Federal Court and High Court. He was admitted to practice as a lawyer in 1977. In November 1984, he was admitted to the degree of Master of Laws by the London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London). 

In September 1995 Arthur was certified as an Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation by the Law Society of New South Wales. There are 101 Accredited Specialists in the field of Commercial Litigation, selected from over 32,000 legal practitioners in New South Wales. He is the Chairman of the Law Society Specialist Accreditation Commercial Litigation Committee. This Committee sets and marks the examination and assessment process for lawyers seeking specialist accreditation in the field of commercial litigation.

 Arthur’s areas of practice include:

  • Contractual Disputes
  • Corporations – Directors & Officers Duties and Liabilities
  • Corporate Recovery & Insolvency
  • Property Disputes
  • Trade Practices
  • Class Actions
  • Insurance and Common Law Litigation
  • Wills and Succession Act Disputes
  • Mediation
  • Arthur has extensive skills in the organisation and management of large and complex litigation.

In December 1998 Arthur was appointed as a District Court Arbitrator and in 2008 he was appointed by the Supreme Court of NSW to the panel of solicitors supervising Anton Piller Search Orders. He served on the Law Society of NSW Professional Conduct Committee for 10 years.

Wallace Meakes

PARTNER

Wally is an accredited Property Law specialist, his practice covers all aspects of residential and commercial property work.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor of Laws University of Sydney

Bachelor of Commerce

University of New South Wales

ACCREDITATIONS

Accredited Specialist in Property Law

LawSocietyAccSpecialist

Wally is accredited by the Law Society as an Accredited Specialist in Property Law. He has developed a broad solid base of clients, both individual and corporate. 

Wally is experienced in acting in matters involving the acquisition and sale of property including strata title, torrens title, leasehold and company title. In addition, he acts for developers and investors in relation to acquisition of sites and development of the properties. He also acts in relation to many lease transactions, both for the landlord and tenant, and is retained by a number of overseas clients and corporations including MGM.

 Wally has provided advice to many individuals and corporations over the last 38 years, accumulating a wealth of knowledge in the commercial and property area. He has chaired a number of property seminars conducted by the College of Law, providing seminars to property professionals in large corporations including CBRE Richard Ellis. 

As Property Partner, Wally has a strong team of professionals to assist him to achieve a cost-effective service to clients to achieve their commercial expectations with expediency and efficiency. Wally joined Carneys in 1981 and is now enjoying his 40th year with the firm. He was admitted as a partner with the firm in 1985. In addition to Property Law, he also practises in the area of Wills, Probate and Succession and has considerable experience and expertise in the area of Commercial Business Law which includes sale of business.

Henry Wrench

SOLICITOR

Henry is a solicitor in the litigation and dispute resolution practice group.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor of Laws (LLB) University of Technology

Society of New South Wales Practising Certificate no. 97054

LawSocietyAccSpecialist

Henry acts for clients across a wide range of industries in litigation in the Supreme Court of New South Wales and the Federal Court of Australia, including commercial disputes, contractual disputes, shareholders disputes and insolvency litigation. 

He regularly acts for insolvency practitioners, assisting in maximising and preserving value for stakeholders. Henry also has experience in employment law and class actions.

Henry has acted for individuals and private and public companies in a range of matters, including:

  •  Receivers and managers appointed to represent a number of valuable private companies in complex Supreme Court litigation;
  • Receivers and managers appointed to a joint venture operating a large entertainment business subject to a dispute in the Federal Court of Australia;
  • Trustees for sale of commercial and residential properties involved in Supreme Court litigation;
  • Private companies and minority shareholders in oppression proceedings; – Public and private companies in complex commercial lease disputes;
  • Private companies in employment proceedings to enforce restraint of trade clauses;
  • A private company in a dispute with a government body relating to a breach of confidence;
  • Individuals and private companies in commercial disputes;
  • Individuals in common law negligence proceedings;
  • A private company in criminal proceedings;
  • Individuals in criminal fraud proceedings.

Arthur Carney

PARTNER

Leader of the Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution team

Stephen Titus

special counsel

Specialises in Commercial Litigation and Commercial Work

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