Cory Bebb

Cory advises on the full spectrum of insolvency procedures, supporting officeholders, creditors, and debtors through administrations, liquidations, and bankruptcies involving complex commercial and financial arrangements.

• Regularly instructed on pre-pack sales and purchases of businesses out of administration.
• Advised an international marketing, creative and branding agency based in Milan, London and New York in relation to the insolvency and administration of its UK subsidiary.
• Advised and representing an FCA regulated payment services provider in relation to a High Court dispute with the administrator of a former customer
• Advised liquidators in relation to the status of £1m of funds in the liquidation, funded by investors of a failed investment scheme and whether they were company funds or investor funds held on trust.
• Represented a substantial German company in its successful contested application for an administration order against a UK joint venture partner who disputed repayment of a €1m+ debt.
• Represented a liquidator in a £2m misfeasance claim against the directors of collapsed national building company.

Cory advises and represents directors in high-value disputes, defending misfeasance claims brought by officeholders or the Insolvency Service. He also advises directors at risk of disqualification.

• Defended a company director in relation to a 3-week fraud trial in the High Court, brought by a consortium of investors in a start-up tech company.
• Represented five directors in relation to a £2.3M misfeasance claim brought by administrators.
• Advised a high-level executive on whether to take an appointment as director of a struggling group of companies.
• Regularly advises boards of directors and individual directors on their duties and obligations during periods of difficulty.

Cory acts in cases involving fraud, misconduct, and regulatory investigations, often coordinating complex, multi-defendant claims. He also advises on insurance and funding strategies to pursue or defend claims.

• Represented a law firm in a High Court claim for a transaction defrauding creditors pursuant to s423 IA 1986, against a former client who failed to pay a large bill and transferred her property to her daughter to defeat a judgment.
• Represented a small UK wine wholesaler to urgently recover funds defrauded from it by a former director, and avoiding its insolvency resulting from the funds stolen.
• Acted for a successful appellant in a complex cross-border civil fraud and unlawful means conspiracy claim. Succeeded in appealing the adverse findings made against our client (a non-party to the original claim), reported at Popely[2022] EWHC 3217 (Ch) and [2023] EWHC 2895 (Ch). The case is now one of the leading authorities in this area.

Cory handles complex bankruptcy matters, including trading bankruptcies, asset disputes, high-profile debtor cases, and Bankruptcy Restriction Orders.

• Advised a bankrupt in relation to an estate with £100m+ of creditor claims where original bankruptcy granted in Singapore, and then recognised in the UK.
• Advised a trustee in bankruptcy in relation to the trading of a business by the bankrupt.
• Acted for trustees of a deceased insolvent estate in relation to matters arising in the process.
• Advised executors of an insolvent estate.
• Acted for the Supervisors of defaulted interlocking IVAs and a PVA in relation to bankruptcy and winding-up petitions, obtaining validation orders to facilitate the sale of properties and the business to a purchaser.

Cory advises officeholders, landlords, investors and tenants in relation to insolvency and financial issues.

• Advised the purchaser of a £20m+ off plan apartment on the insolvency of the developer.
• Advised the purchaser of City office block in relation to a CVA entered into by the Seller.
• Advised the landlord of a substantial London landmark property in relation to the tenant threatening administration.
• Advised a landlord of various sites in relation to the tenant’s Part 26A Restructuring Plan.
• Advised an administrator in relation to a contested claim for rent by landlord as an expense of administration.
• Advised the customer of a negligent building company in relation to a claim against the director personally arising from a breach of s216 Insolvency Act 1986 (personal liability arising from re-use of liquidated company name).

• Insolvency Licence Regulated by the ICAEW
• Fellow of R3.