“ASIC’s latest insolvency data for the nine-month period from 1 July 2023 to 31 March 2024, released today shows an increase in the number of Australian companies failing.”
ASIC Media Release 18 April 2024

“Personal insolvencies increased in April 2024, according to new provisional monthly statistics released today by the Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA). In April 2024, there were 1,046 new personal insolvencies - rising from 980 in March 2024.”
AFSA Personal Insolvencies Report April 2024

Given the current financial climate, the rise in personal and corporate insolvencies is likely to continue. It’s now time to master some key insolvency enforcement actions when pursuing judgements against individuals and companies. Would you know how to defend against a winding-up application or creditor’s petition? Are you across the latest High Court decisions on unfair preferences and related defenses. Do know how to deal with voidable transactions and navigate dealings with debtors and creditors who are trustees of a trading trust. If you're uncertain about these questions, you might want to consider this program.

Presenters

Alice Ruhe, Managing Principal, SMB Advisory
Alice has practised in the Insolvency and Corporate Recovery Industry for over 20 years and is a Registered Trustee in Bankruptcy and a Registered Liquidator. Having experience in all forms of corporate and personal insolvency administrations, Alice is a fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand, a member of the Australian Restructuring Insolvency and Turnaround Association (ARITA) and the Turnaround Management Association (TMA). Alice was honoured to have received the "WIRQ" Award for 2021. Alice acts as Trustee in Bankruptcy and Liquidator in a number of complex and litigious matters, often at the request of creditors or other authorities. With extensive experience in investigations into voidable transactions, recovery of property and referrals of misconduct, Alice has been involved in numerous legal proceedings resulting in positive recoveries and returns to the respective Bankrupt Estates and Liquidations, for the benefit of creditors. Alice has had experience dealing with external administrations involving the building, hospitality, information technology, accounting, legal, medical, retail and various other industries. A true believer in providing clear and relevant communication to stakeholders, Alice acknowledges that more often than not things are not always quite as they seem.


Paul McQuade KC, Level Twenty Seven Chambers
The matters in which Paul is involved are factually and legally complex, and utilise the specialist knowledge he has developed from his strong track record in commercial litigation, with particular emphasis on banking and finance, competition and consumer law, corporate law, contract law, corporate and personal insolvency, equity, partnerships, property, securities and trusts disputes, and also the skills he gained as a Chartered Accountant. Chambers & Partners Asia Pacific 2017-2021 rank Paul in Band 1 for Restructuring & Insolvency. Paul is listed as a ‘Leading’ Australian QC and a ‘preeminent’ Queensland QC for Insolvency and a ‘recommended’ Queensland QC for Commercial Litigation & Disputes by Doyle’s Guide 2015-2020. He is also listed in the Australian Financial Review’s Best Lawyers 2017-2020 for Insolvency and Reorganisation.


Stacy Miller, Partner, Cronin Miller
Stacy Miller has practiced exclusively in the areas of commercial litigation, insolvency, debt recovery and dispute resolution since her commencement of practice in Queensland in 2003. She has been a partner of the Gold Coast based specialist commercial litigation and insolvency firm, Cronin Miller Litigation, since 2014. Prior to private practice, her interest in insolvency was sparked during her tenure as a legal officer at the Federal Attorney General’s department in a small team put together specifically to provide assistance to those appearing before the Royal Commission into the collapse of HIH Insurance. Subsequently she practiced in specialist commercial litigation and insolvency firms in Brisbane, before joining the team at Cronin Litigation Lawyers (as it then was) in 2011. A highly regarded litigator with notable success in factually complex high end litigation cases, her expertise includes trade practices actions, contractual disputes, shareholder and partnership disputes, estate litigation, realising and enforcing securities and general commercial disputes for direct industry clients and professional firms such as accountants and liquidators.


Jim Johnson, Barrister, Frederick Jordan Chambers
Jim Johnson was admitted to the Bar in August 1991 having practised as a solicitor since 1975. He is currently also a casual lecturer at UTS in the insolvency elective. Jim has lectured extensively in relation to insolvency topics over the last 20 years including interrelationship and crossover between deceased Estates and bankruptcy and family law and bankruptcy. Whilst his practice is generally regarded as personal and corporate insolvency that brings into play most areas of general commercial securities and conveyancing practice.


Alex Myers, Special Counsel, Mills Oakley
Alex is a trusted advisor to clients in scenarios involving financial distress and insolvency. He has acted in both transactional and contentious corporate and personal restructuring and insolvency matters across business of varying sizes in numerous industries, including construction, agriculture, labour hire, retail and property development. Alex’s experience includes providing guidance and assistance to business owners, company directors, creditors/lenders (both secured and unsecured) and insolvency practitioners. He can provide advice at all matter stages, from the time at which financial distress is first detected, through to the period following any formal insolvency appointment. Alex has been involved in high value disputes as to the validity and priority of personal property securities, voidable transactions, director and office duties, and insolvent trading. He is a keen follower of developments in insolvency caselaw, which he writes about in journals, on the Mills Oakley website, and through social media.