LEXLAW Solicitors & Barristers
A government guarantee protects the lender, not the director who signed. This guide explains how personal guarantees work under the Growth Guarantee Scheme, Bounce Back Loans and CBILS, what exposure directors still face, and where a guarantee can be challenged before or after a lender’s demand.
A charging order secures an unpaid court judgment against a debtor’s property or investments, and here we explain how the process works, what it means for joint owners, and how it compares to other enforcement routes.
The Supreme Court has settled a question that has troubled cross-border insolvency practitioners for years: whether a creditor can petition for bankruptcy using a foreign judgment that has never been through English recognition proceedings. Drelle v Servis-Terminal LLC [2026] UKSC 29 confirms they can, reshaping the options available to creditors holding judgments from Russia, the US, China and other non-treaty jurisdictions, while leaving debtors’ substantive defences firmly intact. Here’s what changed, and what it means for you.
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.
A winding-up order places a company into compulsory liquidation and has immediate legal and financial consequences for directors, creditors, and employees. This guide explains what happens after a winding-up petition order is made, the role of the liquidator, and the key risks and options that follow.
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.
A winding up petition can paralyse a business overnight. Bank accounts are frozen, payments become unlawful, and directors face personal exposure. A UK Validation Order is often the only legal remedy that allows a company to keep trading lawfully. This comprehensive 2026 guide explains how validation orders work, when they are granted, and why early instruction of specialist insolvency lawyers is critical.