Insolvency expert is new head for trade

Jan 30 2008 by Iain Laing, The Journal

A LEADING North insolvency expert has been appointed as the regional head of the UK’s key trade association for business recovery and turnaround specialists.

Jim James, partner and head of the Insolvency and Corporate Recovery Unit at Newcastle-based law firm Ward Hadaway, has taken up the North-East chairmanship of R3, the Association of Business Recovery Professionals.

R3 promotes best practice for professionals working with financially-troubled individuals and businesses, and provides a forum for debate on key issues facing the profession.

Representatives of most of the North-East’s leading accountants, law firms and insolvency practices are counted among R3’s North-East membership base.

Mr James has extensive experience in advising lenders, companies, directors, individuals and creditors on the options available when a business is in crisis or has failed.

He has advised banks, insolvency practitioners, directors, and creditors on issues as diverse as receiverships of quoted companies, voluntary arrangements for “former” multi-millionaires and negotiations with banks.

As well as being R3’s North-East chairman, Mr James also sits on its national general technical committee, which reviews and advises on proposed legislation affecting the insolvency sector, and is currently the only solicitor to sit on its small practices group committee, which deals with issues of importance to insolvency practices with up to five partners.

Mr James said: “Issues around debt and insolvency, whether relating to companies, partnerships or individuals, can become very complex, and we are very fortunate to have such a strong representation of individual practitioners and firms working within the field.

“My aim is to use my regional chairmanship of R3 to raise the profile of the work our members do in helping individuals and companies resolve debt and insolvency issues, and to ensure that all members of the North-East business community are fully aware of the range of regional expertise.”