How we work
We support all sizes of business from small through to large corporates who may be experiencing financial distress. We work alongside other professional advisors such as accountants and solicitors, providing expert, ethical, specialist business rescue, insolvency and insolvency fraud investigation services.
Discover how we work, our specialisms and gain access to exclusive advice and resources below.
Our approach
At McTear Williams & Wood, we believe that businesses facing financial pressure deserve clarity, honesty and specialist support from people who genuinely understand. For more than two decades, we’ve helped thousands of company directors throughout the UK navigate financial uncertainty, where possible rescuing viable businesses and where that is not possible helping directors close their companies properly. We also help directors avoid personal liability.
What sets us apart is our ‘one size does NOT fit all’ approach: we listen first, advise clearly, and only recommend a formal insolvency process if it is genuinely the right option. In fact, only one in four of our initial meetings leads to an insolvency appointment because most of the time, there are better ways forward.
Our process
1. Free, confidential initial meeting
Every journey with McTear Williams & Wood begins with a conversation. We offer a free, confidential and without obligation meeting (online or in person at your premises or ours) to understand your challenges, review the key issues and numbers and discuss your objectives. This typically lasts one to two hours and gives us enough insight to outline your realistic options. Then you can decide if you would like to engage our services.
2. Early assessment and guidance
We look at cash flow, liabilities, forecasts, creditor pressure, assets, funding, and risk for the directors. Our focus is always on helping you avoid unnecessary insolvency wherever possible. We will never push you into a process that doesn’t serve your best interests.
3. Clear recommendations
We explain every option available, including:
- Short-term business rescue or turnaround planning
- Negotiating with creditors
- Raising finance
- Informal restructuring
- Formal insolvency procedures such as company administration, creditors’ voluntary liquidation (“CVL”), company voluntary arrangement (“CVA“) or pre-pack administration
- Specialist support such as investigations, insolvency fraud recovery, charities and banking.
You remain in control throughout.
4. A team tailored to your situation
If you choose to move forward, we will build a team around you, combining licensed insolvency practitioners, experienced insolvency case managers and administrators, forensic insolvency fraud investigators and sector specialists, all supported by a wider team of over 70. You will always know who is handling your case and they will be happy to explain what they’re doing and what the next steps will be.
5. Dedicated support from start to finish
Once we are engaged, we manage everything on your behalf, from communication with creditors, including your employees (including supporting them with redundancy claims) and guide directors through their statutory responsibilities. We aim to minimise stress, protect value and deliver the best commercial outcome.
Our team and specialisms
Established in 2000, we are a well-established firm with more than 70 specialists across our UK offices. This allows us to offer the depth of expertise of a national practice with the accessibility and personal service of a local director-led firm.
Business rescue and insolvency
Our experienced Licensed Insolvency Practitioners deliver business rescue advice and where absolutely necessary formal insolvency options such as company voluntary arrangements, administration (including pre-packs), creditors voluntary liquidations and compulsory liquidations,. We specialise in advising all sizes and types of business – from small through to large corporates.
Fraud, investigation & litigation
Our insolvency fraud and investigation team includes qualified fraud examiners, qualified accountants and specialist investigators who work on cases with claims ranging from £100,000 to £30 million plus. They are regularly instructed by solicitors to pursue complex cross-border insolvency fraud, asset recovery and director misconduct. We are willing to work on a no win no fee basis.
Sector specialists
Drawing on decades of hands-on experience, we provide nuanced guidance across the whole range of sectors, including, but not limited to:
- Charities & private schools – Sensitive support where governance, restricted funds and vulnerable beneficiaries require a careful, ethical approach. Ensuring that Trustees meet their legal responsibilities.
- Construction & property – Navigating subcontractor chains, retention issues, project delays, HMRC debt and cash-flow volatility.
- Manufacturing – Addressing machinery finance, supply chain pressure and working-capital challenges.
- Transportation & logistics – Including businesses with financed fleets, vehicle-related liabilities and volatile driver/contract costs.
- SME and family-run businesses in any sector – Supporting directors through emotionally complex decisions, succession, and family shareholder disagreements.
- Professional services, retail, hospitality and more – With tailored advice.
How can we help - Book a free 1-2-1
If your company is struggling with unmanageable debts, decreased cashflow or concerns about about your company’s future, we can assess your situation and provide you with tailored solutions and options.
During your free initial advice meeting, we will discover a true picture of your company’s financial situation
and offer practical and expert guidance on your next steps.
Initial meetings can be held at our office or your premises and are completely confidential.
There is no charge for this meeting – charges only apply if and when terms of engagement have been agreed.
Working with accountants
A portion of our work is referred to us by our network of well known local accountants who put us in touch with their clients’ businesses when facing financial difficulty, which is a sign of the trust placed in our approach, ethics and track record. Accountants choose us because:
- We offer honest, impartial advice that protects the director’s and the accountant’s reputation.
- We are approachable and collaborative.
- We do not “push” liquidation unnecessarily.
- We can act quickly when their clients need urgent support.
- We maintain communication, providing clarity throughout the process
- We help accountants retain their client relationships where possible
We’re always happy to offer free, informal confidential guidance to accountants concerned about a client’s financial position.
Working with solicitors
We collaborate with solicitors in handling insolvency fraud, litigation and contentious matters, often involving complex structures, asset dissipation, cross-border transactions or director wrongdoing. We do:
- No-win-no-fee litigation in appropriate cases
- Detailed forensic investigations
- Open-source intelligence and asset tracing
- Gather robust evidence for litigation
- Take insolvency appointments required to pursue claims
- Clear communication with legal teams throughout
Our work enables solicitors to move cases forward efficiently and credibly.
Locations we cover
We work across the UK – select a location on the map to view your local office.
Our teams offer nationwide support for all types and sizes of business from small through to large corporates right across the the UK – select a location on the map to view your local office.
Our specialist teams supporting charities and insolvency fraud investigations operate throughout the UK.
Our core services
Professional support for your business, helping you overcome an adverse financial situation and return to profitability.
Taking early advice is key. It is sometimes possible to trade out of the situation if advice is sought early enough.
Get the extra time you need to make important changes to your business whilst keeping your company operational.
Get help to close down your company and pay off all remaining debt before striking it off the register.
Case studies:
real stories from real clients
Our case studies demonstrate the depth of our work, from saving viable businesses to managing complex charity wind-downs, handling sensitive staff restructures and recovering millions in insolvency fraud cases.
