Having the right legal team in place can make all the difference when dealing with director disqualification matters. We have been advising directors since 2002 and have dealt a huge range of individual circumstances. Our expertise means that every client gets the tailored solution fit for them. Call us today. We can help.
I would strongly recommend using FWJ for director disqualification matters. Tactically and commercially they played it just right and I am now able to get on with my business life without the worry of disqualification hanging over me
A director we defended in disqualification proceedings
Our team of experts at Francis Wilks & Jones
Our expert team have been defending directors from disqualification since 2002. We are the leading UK legal experts in this area of the law and offer a multi disciplinary approach to whatever your question is.
- Stephen Downie is the partner who heads up our director disqualification team. As well as being a brilliant lawyer, Stephen is also a qualified accountant with particular expertise in complex accounting and tax matters. He previously worked for the Insolvency Service as well, giving him a valuable insight to the working of that government body.
- Andy Lynch is an expert on any HMRC issues and is able to assist on any complex tax related matters. Before joining FWJ, Andy spent 18 years at HMRC in the special investigations team and regularly defends directors and shareholders from a variety of claims.
- Doug McEvoy is an associate at FWJ with a wide range of disqualification expertise, most recently defending many directors from Bounce Back Loan and tax allegations.
How does disqualification happen?
Individuals may be disqualified from acting as a director of a company either following
- the conclusion of criminal proceedings which relates to their role as director;
- following proceedings brought by the Registrar of Companies for failures to file statutory documents at Companies House (for example financial accounts);
- matters relating to fraud and, automatically;
- where a director or an individual is declared bankrupt.
However, and most commonly, where a company is placed into insolvency then a director may be disqualified for any misconduct found to be contrary to the public interest.
Options available to directors
Where a director is subject to investigations and a decision is made to seek that director’s disqualification then the director is normally provided notice of such a decision in writing pursuant to section 16 Company Directors disqualification Act 1986.
- this letter will provide an opportunity to offer a disqualification undertaking which is a voluntary form of disqualification which enables the director to avoid the legal costs incurred by his solicitors (and which they may be subject to, if unsuccessful) if he chose to defend the disqualification claim;
- at this point the Insolvency Service, in the S.16 letter, will usually notify the director as to whether they also face the risk of being subject to a compensation order which would in any event undermine the purpose (for a majority of directors) of offering a disqualification undertaking (i.e. to save money).
If a disqualification undertaking is offered, it may still be possible to act as a director by seeking leave to act notwithstanding the disqualification.
If, however you have a defence to the disqualification claim, face a risk of a compensation order, do not want to be disqualified immediately or cannot risk being placed on the director disqualification register, then the only alternative may be to defend the disqualification proceedings.
Defending the director disqualification claim
Where a director seeks to defend a director disqualification claim, steps must be taken carefully, to maximise the effectiveness of your expenditure on legal costs and to best position yourself for the final finding of your unfitness, as a director, at trial.
Below we set out the key aspects you should consider when embarking on your defence of a disqualification claim:
- pre-action – ability to make representations;
- legal proceedings – your defence;
- defending a disqualification claim;
- discontinuance of disqualification proceedings.
The above steps cover the procedure and funding needs and tactical considerations on your position as a director (perhaps in respect of a new company).
Defending a director disqualification claim through to trial is not inexpensive and is not always necessary, and thus it is critical to get the appropriate legal advice before you make any decision as to defending such proceedings (as against the risks you face).
At Francis Wilks & Jones we have considerable experience of director disqualification matters and defending them through to trial and it is almost always the case that contesting proceedings through to trial is almost always the only way to expose a weak disqualification claim. Please contacts any member of our director disqualification team and we can help.
I was delighted by the work done by the team at FWJ and cannot recommend them highly enough. Their legal and tactical knowledge was spot on. I can now continue to grow my business free from the worry of my original disqualification
A director we defended against a disqualification claim
