LEXLAW Solicitors & Barristers
The High Court set aside a £16.3 million bankruptcy petition and alternative service order against a Qatari billionaire who owned a £115m property portfolio on Queen Anne’s Gate in Westminster. Property ownership cannot act as a procedural shortcut for valid territorial service when the debtor was residing in Doha. Substantive jurisdiction cannot substitute for a valid service strategy.
You have just 18 days to challenge a statutory demand. Act fast, if you have a genuine dispute or legal defence, you may be able to stop bankruptcy proceedings. This succinct guide provides legal guidance from City of London’s specialist insolvency litigation team.
Unpaid invoices and bad debts cost UK businesses billions each year. This comprehensive 2026 guide explains every stage of commercial debt recovery in England and Wales, from pre-action letters and court proceedings to statutory demands, winding-up petitions, and judgment enforcement, with relevant case law and practical strategic advice.
When a company defaults, directors who have signed personal guarantees may face direct personal enforcement. This guide explains how personal guarantees operate under UK law, when liability arises, how creditors pursue guarantors, and what legal options may be available to protect personal assets.
Sections 235 and 236 of the Insolvency Act 1986 impose powerful duties on company directors, officers, employees, and even third parties to co-operate with insolvency office-holders such as liquidators and administrators. Failure to assist properly during liquidation, administration, or bankruptcy can result in personal sanctions, court orders, fines, and even director disqualification.
Personal Liability Notices (PLNs) are a powerful HMRC enforcement mechanism that can make company directors and officers personally liable for unpaid corporate tax debts, including PAYE, National Insurance Contributions, VAT, and CIS. In 2026, PLNs are increasingly used in insolvency and enforcement scenarios, placing directors’ personal assets and professional futures at direct risk.
We successfully annulled a bankruptcy order against our client after HMRC failed to properly serve notice of a key hearing. Mr. Gaster proved this procedural error denied him the chance to present evidence of his ability to pay. The court’s judgment emphasized due process under Rule 10.23 of the Insolvency Rules 2016, exposing flaws in HMRC’s conduct and evidence on the adjournment notice.