Trainee blog
Each month one of our trainees will write about what it is like to be on the graduate programme at Gordons and share their observations and experiences of life as a trainee lawyer.
This month 2nd year trainees, Sallyanne Veitch and Sophie McKelvey, talk about their time in Gordons’ Insolvency department.
The trainee seat in business recovery and restructuring is very much a mixed bag. The business recovery and restructuring department sits within the company/commercial department and is a small team of 2 currently consisting of a trainee and supervising partner.
There are contentious and non-contentious aspects to the work within the business recovery and restructuring team. Responsibility is given from the word go and, as a result, business recovery and restructuring is normally a seat given to second year trainees. In essence, as a trainee you do a lot of the leg work on files and keep up with any developments and deadlines as they occur. In a number of cases as a trainee you are the main point of contact for the client and others in terms of questions and queries.
There is huge scope to liaise with clients, counsel and internal contacts since insolvency can span pretty much every other department in the firm. In addition, because the business recovery and restructuring team is relatively small there is a lot of support and constant discussions with the supervising partner, who is completely approachable and never makes you feel like you are asking a stupid question.
The following is a very brief overview of tasks typically completed by an business recovery and restructuring trainee:
| Personal Insolvency |
Company Insolvency |
| IVA Proposals |
Drafting administration documents and filing with the Court |
| Statutory demands |
Involvement in pre-pack administration sales |
| Bankruptcy petitions |
Exploring company restructuring |
| Defending bankruptcy petitions |
Winding up petitions (and defending) |
| Possession and sale of proceedings in a bankruptcy |
Investigations into dealings before and during the onset of corporate insolvency, including directors dealings |
| Exploring the most appropriate track available to a client in accordance with their needs |
Dealing with the voluntary liquisation and winding up of clubs and socieities |
| Remedies, such as charging orders |
Various applications to court, including the ratification of the appointment of a liquidator, the extension of an administration, a stay of liquidation, variation orders, restoration of a company, rectification of companies house register in relation to securities and validation orders, to name but a few. |
General tasks:
- Filing documents at court;
- Drafting instructions to counsel and witness statements;
- Advocacy at an appropriate level;
- Attending court with counsel;
- Diarising deadlines;
- Attending meetings and taking accurate and detailed filenotes.
The work in which we have been involved includes a spectrum of scenarios. For example, on one matter we may act for an insolvency practitioner as the liquidator of a company and the next we will act in defending a company against a winding up petition. The most interesting jobs include the almost inevitable investigatory work needed when looking into the ‘dodgy’ dealings of debtors, companies and directors prior to and during the onset of insolvency.
There is definitely variety to be found in the business recovery and restructuring department. By seeing both sides of scenarios and disputes as a trainee you get a very well rounded view and understanding of how to approach certain types of cases. Most importantly, during our time in the business recovery and restructuring department we have been made to feel an integral part of the team. In addition, the supervising partner is always there for support and guidance therefore you are constantly learning and developing your knowledge and skills.
Previous blogs
Defendant Personal Injury - Graham Peycke & Laura Foley
Commercial Litigation - Colin Maclean
Want to know more?
If you would like to find out more about what it is like to be a trainee on our graduate programme or want some general advice on applying then click the link below to email one of our trainees who would be happy to respond.
Ask a trainee
How do I apply?
Click on the following link to access the secure application form .
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