Member Article

Law firm issues warning ahead of insolvency changes

Teesside’s leading commercial legal firm is advising people to be aware of new rules regarding bankruptcy and insolvency which come into force next month.

Stockton-based Endeavour Partnership are experts in the field of corporate recovery and insolvency, as well as issues relating to corporate and commercial law, and are already dealing with a number of issues regarding the change in the law.

From October 1st 2015, the minimum level of debt for which an individual can be made bankrupt is to increase from £750 to £5,000 – the first increase of its kind since the Insolvency Act was introduced in 1986.

Although some campaigners welcome the move as it could prevent creditors making people bankrupt for “unreasonably small debts”, the new rules could make it more difficult for people to pursue trades people, landlords or others who are steadfastly refusing to pay what they owe.

Lee Bramley is a partner and head of corporate recovery and insolvency at Endeavour Partnership. Lee said: “The rise in the bankruptcy petition threshold was expected although £5,000 is far higher than first thought. It is right that it should be increased as £750 was an entirely inappropriate level and the protection it offered people in financial trouble had been steadily eroded by inflation over the last three decades.

“The rise in the petition threshold will require people who are pursuing unpaid sums to look at other options for the pursuit of low value debts. While a bankruptcy petition is not always the most proportionate tool for this, it’s very important that the insolvency regime maintains a balance between protecting the interests of both debtors and creditors.

“We work hard to handle any issues relating to insolvency in a sensitive manner and we have various experts with many years’ experience in this field. We are also able to advise those owed money how best to secure payment. “

Endeavour Partnership was launched in 1999 and has continued to grow at its base at Teesdale in Stockton. Earlier this year the company announced its best year to date following a period of growth and restructuring during its 15th year in business.

The commercial legal experts, with a team of 44, are on track for faster growth with the firm ahead of predictions to double its £2 million turnover in the coming five years.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Anna Addison Associates .