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Contentious insolvency & litigation

At McTear Williams & Wood we specialise in all aspects of contentious insolvency and fraud investigations to give clients the best chance of recovering their money.

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Last Updated: 07/02/2025

How can we help?

If you believe assets or funds have been moved to avoid paying you, you’re unable to secure a payment or you believe you have been a victim of fraud, it can be an intimidating and frightening position to be in.

At McTear Williams & Wood we have years of experience within our investigations team and are here to help with all aspects of a case. This includes initial reviews and advice before appointment, in-depth research and investigation, legal reviews and litigation and settlement and recovery where possible.

We are committed to helping you through each stage of the process to ensure you’re taking the correct steps to conclude your case with the best possible outcome.

In addition to this, unlike most other Insolvency Practitioners, we usually do not seek immediate funding for our assistance, we will work with you from start to finish, all the way to trial, if necessary on a no-win no-fee basis, without seeking funding.

Our funds will be taken from the final recovered amount so there is no risk to you by seeking our guidance.

What are contentious insolvency & fraud investigations?

Insolvency can come about for several reasons, such as rising costs, mismanagement and restrictions on the ability to operate the business effectively, such as legislation changes etc but in some cases, this can also be the result of contentious issues, such as:

  • Fraud
  • Unlawful dividends
  • Wrongful trading
  • Misfeasance
  • Undervalued transactions

If one or more of these contentious issues are present within a case it will inevitably make them far more complex, which will require more time to ensure the investigation is completed thoroughly and the necessary assets are recovered, where possible.

The 1986 Insolvency Act gives Insolvency Practitioners, like ourselves, the opportunity to investigate and where necessary seek the Court’s assistance to obtain information and seize control of company assets both in the UK and abroad, if necessary.

This can be crucial when dealing with larger corporations or in cases with uncooperative directors. We understand that when working on a contentious insolvency case time is of the essence, which is why we move to identify and recover assets as fast as possible.

Director & Head of Investigations

Mike is a Director and fraud investigator heading up the investigations team specialising in all aspects of contentious insolvency as well as protecting the interests of creditors of insolvent companies and individuals.

A Certified Fraud Examiner with over 35 years’ experience in investigative insolvency who works closely with solicitors and barristers at all stages of litigation from pre-issues of proceedings to trial.   Highly experienced in all aspects of asset tracing and recovery, civil litigation, settlement negotiation, investigative interviewing, fraud investigation, anti-money laundering, directors’ disqualification and prosecution and has sector experience in payroll fraud.

Awarded Certified Fraud Examiner status by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners in 2002 and is a member of the Fraud Advisory Panel.

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How do we investigate contentious insolvency & fraud?

Our approach to investigating these complex cases is tailored to each specific scenario since no two cases are alike.

Our role is to approach the facts of each case methodically and efficiently dictated by the objectives set out from the outset.

In the initial phases of any investigation, we work closely with you to identify your requirements and our expert team of qualified fraud and insolvency specialists will investigate the case working alongside solicitors and barristers at all stages of the litigation process from pre-issues right through to trial.

We work to strict time limits, to ensure we can proceed with any investigation quickly and efficiently to ensure the best possible chance of recovering assets. This means we:

  • Maintain small teams – our investigations team is composed of a small number of very experienced and certified investigators to ensure confidentiality and efficiency.
  • Gather evidence – in the initial phase, we will recover documents, communications and third-party evidence to substantiate the case.
  • Analyse the data – using the latest in data analysis techniques we can identify crucial issues, trends and unusual patterns.
  • Report our findings – once we’ve isolated key findings, supported by forensic details, we can pull together our reports.
  • Recover assets – using asset tracing and recovery tools, we can maximise potential recovery in line with the legal briefing.

Fully authorised in all insolvency procedures

In the UK, only licensed insolvency practitioners, such as ourselves, are authorised to offer advice on and handle insolvency procedures, including contentious insolvency and fraud investigations.

We are fully regulated under the Insolvency Act 1986 (IA 1968), to operate as an IP and all of the individuals within our team are qualified or experienced in all aspects of insolvency.

Apart from in cases of voluntary liquidation, we act as officers of the court, whether or not we’ve been appointed by the courts or through other means and as we act as officers of the court we must act honourably and fairly in everything we do, offering total peace of mind.

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.

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There is no charge for this meeting – charges only apply if and when terms of engagement have been agreed.

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