Restructuring/Insolvency: Personal Insolvency: London

THE FIRM This team provides comprehensive expertise on all aspects of personal insolvency.

Sources Say: "An absolutely fantastic practice." "It would always be the first choice to refer work to."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Senior partner Danny Schaffer draws unanimous praise as "a remarkably measured, intelligent practitioner." Interviewees emphasise his incredible knowledge of case history.

THE FIRM This niche insolvency practice continues to be identified as a key player in the personal insolvency market; it also provides corporate insolvency expertise. Areas of proficiency include asset realisation, undervalue transactions, directors' misfeasance and bankruptcies.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Highly active practitioner Frances Coulson is head of insolvency and litigation, and is praised as a superb tactician who delivers clear and concise advice. Her practice spans corporate recovery and personal insolvency, but she is primarily regarded as a bankruptcy specialist. In 2008 she was instructed by Baker Tilly to handle the high-profile bankruptcy of Kerry Katona.

THE FIRM This cohesive team is praised for its prompt, practical and commercial advice.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Department head Ian Grier is highly regarded as a tenacious operator, and clients value his direct style: "He gets to the root of the problem without any waffle." Daniel Sejas is hard-working, highly commercial, and one of the finest young lawyers for personal insolvency: "Nothing seems to faze him."

THE FIRM This firm's recent personal insolvency activity includes acting for creditors on an application to set aside an Individual Voluntary Arrangement and a petition for bankruptcy, amongst other matters.

Sources Say: "Teamwork, diligence and a clear focus on what needs to be done." "A flexible attitude and excellent judgement." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Danny Davis is the key contact at the firm.

THE FIRM This personal insolvency team is part of the firm's wider reconstruction and corporate recovery practice, and is emerging as a strong choice in London. The niche practice offers expertise in real estate-based advisory and recovery work, fraud investigation, cross-jurisdictional bankruptcies and contentious personal insolvency issues. The team often acts for trustees in bankruptcy and has recently been instructed by Moore Stephens, Baker Tilly and BDO Stoy Hayward, amongst others.

KEY INDIVIDUALS "Extremely bright and diligent," Neil Smyth is particularly recommended for his handling of personal insolvency matters; his wider restructuring practice also covers the corporate side. Clients endorse his confident and commercial advice.