Danielle Bennett

I bring comprehensive expertise across both contentious and non-contentious corporate recovery and insolvency matters, with a practice encompassing the full spectrum of formal corporate insolvency processes.

I have significant experience in insolvency litigation, sophisticated trust money disputes, and multi-jurisdictional enforcement matters, having acted on various high profile mandates in recent years.

I have particular strength in personal insolvency, acting on behalf of trustees and high-net worth individuals, with international elements and recognition complexities.

I act for all stakeholder types including shareholders, officeholders, creditors (both secured and unsecured) and directors, representing parties spanning a diverse range of sectors, and supporting clients through their most challenging situations.

Key highlights

• State Bank of India & Others v Dr Vijay Mallya [multiple reported cases] : defending bankruptcy proceedings against Dr Mallya by a consortium of Indian Banks (majority Government led) for £1.4bn. Alongside there being multiple UK and Indian legal proceedings on foot which heavily impacted matters, a variety of technical issues arose such as petitioner security, validation orders, expert evidence, amendments to petitions, public policy, foreign judgments, and appeals.
• Hex Technologies Ltd & Others v DCBX Ltd [2023] EWCH 537 (Ch) : acting for the petitioners in an opposed winding up petition against a company to which the petitioner provided IT infrastructure for digital asset tracing. The most substantial legal issue was whether an exclusive foreign jurisdiction clause in an agreement meant that a debt arising under it was not suitable as a petition debt (the Court held that it did not prevent the debt being relied upon in a petition).
• Videology [2018] EWHC 2186: advising the company on the UK aspects of its successful restructuring through the US Chapter 11 process as part of a global rescue. This was the first example of a UK trading company being rescued through the Chapter 11 process.
• Corbin & King Limited: advising the administrators of the company on the sale of its restaurant business, which operates a number of renowned restaurants including the Wolseley and Delaunay, to a Thai based hospitality company.
• Force India formula One Team Limited: advising the shareholders of FIFOT (mid F1 season) in respect of both HMRC winding up petition and creditor’s administration application, followed by the company’s solvent administration.
• Acting on behalf of shareholders in relation to the formal insolvency of two UK based law firms, with primary responsibility of an urgent and complex application for a validation order to ensure the continuity and preservation of the business and client protection, notwithstanding the inevitable and unavoidable insolvency of the entities.
• Acting for administrators in their appointment over a UK airline.
• Acting on behalf of administrators of a major UK high street gaming company.
• Acting for an international group company (with subsidiaries in Texas, Norway, Brazil, Singapore and Mexico) providing marine trenching, installation and survey services relating to submarine cables and umbilical's, advising on an AMA process following the Norwegian owner ceasing funding.
• Sahaviriya Steel Industries UK Limited - advising the OR and special managers in this special situations case, with primary responsibility for multimillion pound retention of title claims.
• Acting on behalf of a global IT distributor that provides technology products, logistic services and supply chain solutions to businesses and resellers, advising on defending a proposed void disposition claim by liquidators of a customer, which resulted in a successful outcome for my client.
• Acting on behalf of a large financial services entity providing multichannel payment and retail services handling transactions for millions of consumers and businesses, advising on a complex trust money dispute in the administration of a national convenience store chain.
• Advising a major international metal casting manufacturer on the restructure of the company including the solvent wind down of certain UK subsidiaries (including its employment, tax, property and pensions position).
• Acting on behalf of an American aerospace company which designs engineers and manufactures aircraft components and systems, advising the client in its capacity as creditor in the Hong Kong Airlines restructuring plan.

What inspired you to get into law?

I was inspired to pursue a career in law by the fact I have a natural analytical approach and gravitate towards structured thinking and logical analysis. I developed a keen interest in insolvency and restructuring in my early years, following in my grandfather’s footsteps as one of the first IP’s in Yorkshire who made history when he led the first successful Court action in the country for wrongful trading under the Insolvency Act 1986.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your role?

It is rewarding when strategic legal expertise achieves positive outcomes for clients during financially and emotionally challenging situations, supporting them in maintaining integrity and supporting their interests.

Insolvency often arises in difficult circumstances, and I am proud of the work we do to preserve businesses and the jobs they sustain, maximise return for stakeholders, and helping people navigate uncertainty, particularly where it is often against such a challenging backdrop.

I find gaining professional experience in complex insolvency matters deeply satisfying.

What appeals to you about working at Irwin Mitchell?

Irwin Mitchell has an outstanding reputation in the legal market. I am delighted to work with a market-leading restructuring team; and for the ability to work alongside experts across various practice groups to provide a full service offering to clients.

Irwin Mitchell is a very sophisticated outfit with cross-sector capabilities which is essential for a restructuring team who require this support for its practice and the delivery of an outstanding service to clients. Irwin Mitchell is an exceptional national platform to develop and grow my practice alongside highly accomplished and incredibly well regarded lawyers.

What do you do away from the office?

Family life with my young son; and a keen interest in fashion and interior design, collecting art and spending quality time with friends and family.