Ian Rees

Ian has a diverse practice advising insolvency practitioners (IPs) on recovery proceedings against directors and third parties and all aspects of insolvency and procedure.

He also advises liquidators on obtaining freezing orders, and tracing and recovering assets in other jurisdictions. Ian acts for directors in proceedings issued against them by liquidators as well as in disqualification proceedings brought by the Insolvency Service. He also represents companies in relation to winding up petitions and validation applications, and advises high net worth individuals facing bankruptcy petitions and debt enforcement efforts by HMRC, including negotiating time-to-pay arrangements.

Ian previously spent six and a half years working in the insolvency and enforcement team of HMRC Solicitor’s Office. During this time, he acted as a lead solicitor advising relevant HMRC departments, teams and caseworkers as well as specialist solicitors within HMRC Solicitor’s Office regarding all aspects of enforcement of HMRC debts and insolvency.

• Acting for liquidators in obtaining a judgment for approximately £2.5m pursuant to sections 212 and 213 of the Insolvency Act 1986 against the former director of the company. The High Court found that the former director was guilty of fraudulent trading and fraudulent breach of duty.
• Acting for administrators in an appeal of decisions of the First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal that the administrators were not entitled to repayments of output tax.
• Acting for the liquidator in an application seeking the court’s approval of a distribution plan further to rule 11.13 of the Financial Conduct Authority’s Client Asset Rules and of the remuneration, costs and expenses incurred in respect of client monies recovered from New York.

Various case Bulletins for Wedlake Bell

• 13 May 2024 re the decision of the High Court in Purkiss v Kennedy & Ors [2024] EWHC 1081 (Ch)
• 30 January 2024 re the decision of the Court of Appeal in Strategic Value Capital Solutions Master Fund LP & Ors v AGPS BondCo PLC (Re AGPS BondCo PLC) [2024] EWCA Civ 24
• 10 May 2023 re the decision of the High Court in Re Nasmyth Group Ltd (Re Companies Act 2006) [2023] EWHC 988 (Ch)
• 22 December 2021 re the decision of the High Court in Doran v County Rentals Ltd (t/a Hunters) [2021] EWHC 3372 (Ch)

Ian has delivered talks on insolvency matters to FIRS, R3 and at Wedlake Bell’s quarterly insolvency seminars.