Oliver Ward-Jones

He advises insolvency practitioners, lenders, corporates and directors on complex, high‑pressure situations arising from financial distress. His practice spans contentious and non‑contentious matters, with particular strength in distressed business strategy, accelerated and distressed M&A transactions, and the negotiation of asset purchase agreements.

Ollie is well placed to act for clients due to his ability to combine technical insolvency expertise with commercial pragmatism. He regularly advises on enforcement, distressed and rescue lending, refinancing and the restructuring of existing facilities, including matters involving new money and amended security structures. He also has extensive experience advising on investigations, office‑holder appointments, asset recovery and directors’ duties under the Companies Act and Insolvency Act.

Clients value Ollie’s detail‑focused approach and responsiveness, particularly when dealing with time‑sensitive or strategically critical decisions. His advice is designed to protect value, manage risk and deliver efficient, workable outcomes in challenging circumstances, whether through rescue, sale or orderly wind‑down.

Ollie is recognised by Chambers UK and The Legal 500, where he is consistently described as technically strong and highly regarded in the market. He is also a member of the Birmingham Law Society Social Mobility Committee, reflecting his commitment to the profession and to broadening access to opportunity.

Jurisdiction: England & Wales

• Advised a purchaser on the private equity‑backed acquisition of the business and assets of a surveillance and security company from an insolvency process. The transaction ran to an accelerated timetable, with significant value driven by technology, intellectual property and sensitive data. Advice covered transaction structuring, negotiation of the asset purchase documentation and allocation of risk, alongside coordination of specialist data protection advice to address the regulatory and operational issues arising from the acquisition of a security‑focused business. The transaction ensured business continuity and established a platform for future growth.
• ⁠Acted for the administrators on the sale of the business and assets of a company with a complex property portfolio, including a high‑value residential apartment development. The role involved advising on title, funding and key stakeholder issues, supporting the marketing and sale process, and structuring the transaction to maximise realisations for creditors while managing risk in a high‑value insolvency context.
• ⁠Advised a secured lender on a review of its security position and enforcement options in relation to a distressed borrower. The advice covered analysis of fixed and floating charges and inter‑creditor arrangements, together with steps to strengthen the lender’s secured position. Subsequently advised on the hostile appointment of administrators and the treatment of the lender’s security and recoveries within the insolvency process.