Gillian is Chair of the firm. In that role she provides guidance, leadership and oversight to the rest of the board, and drives progress on all of the firm’s strategic objectives. She is the Board sponsor for the firm’s People Strategy, and is actively engaged in the firm’s work to develop future leaders and to improve access to and progression within the legal sector for those from underrepresented groups.
She is also highly active in client-facing work, acting for corporates, banks and other lenders, and individuals, and is experienced in acting for UK government departments and agencies. A specialist in insolvency law (and accredited as such by the Law Society of Scotland), she deals with both contentious and non-contentious matters. Her particular focus is on insolvency litigation, banking and finance litigation and debt recovery.
Gillian is very highly regarded for the depth of her technical knowledge in the field of restructuring and insolvency, and for her shrewd commercial approach. She is experienced in mediation, and in advising clients on the strategies and approach to achieving resolution of disputes. She also has a wealth of advocacy experience, having represented clients before the courts and tax tribunal on many occasions.
For over ten years, she tutored on the Joint Insolvency Examination Board training courses – helping students to develop their technical and practical knowledge in administrations, CVAs, receiverships, directors’ duties and professional ethics. She is also frequently asked to contribute to conferences, insolvency courses, and bespoke training for clients.
Gillian is an experienced mentor, and works with more junior colleagues to support them in their personal and professional development.
Acting on behalf of insolvency practitioners appointed as liquidators, administrators and receivers in corporate insolvencies, and as trustee in sequestration and trust deed appointments on both advisory and contentious matters including:
- Pre-appointment advice
- Asset realisation
- Review and challenge of pre-insolvency transactions
- Breach of fiduciary duty claims
- Retention of title
- Valuation and adjudication of claims
Advice in relation to judicial factory appointments including in relation to appointments made by the Law Society of Scotland and OSCR.
Advising in relation to complex and defended director disqualification proceedings; investigations in relation to alleged director misconduct and public interest winding up proceedings.
Acting as Lead Client Partner for various banks and lenders in relation to:
- debt enforcement
- enforcement of personal and corporate guarantees
- fixed security enforcement
- personal and corporate insolvency issues
- professional negligence claims
- general commercial litigation
Advising company boards and individuals on directors’ duties and wrongful/misfeasant trading risks ad proceedings.
Advising shareholders in relation to:
- joint venture disputes
- unlawful dividend payments
- unfair prejudice proceedings
- just and equitable winding up
