Jo Barnes qualified as a solicitor in 2003 and shortly thereafter joined specialist insolvency and corporate recovery firm Carrick Read Insolvency becoming a partner in 2008
Jo handles cases involving Corporate Insolvency; Acting for Liquidators or Administrators in dealing with all issues of corporate Bankruptcy & Insolvency such as directors misfeasance claims, share transfers, void dispositions, preference claims.
Jo also handles all aspects of personal insolvency including annulment applications, possession proceedings, property dispositions, dealing with property in conjunction with matrimonial proceedings, examination applications, suspension of discharge proceedings, remuneration applications, disclosure applications, transaction at undervalue claims, preference claims, and claims defrauding creditors.
She also deals with both IVA and CVA cases, winding up petitions and statutory demands, and applications to set aside statutory demands.
Matters with which Jo has been involved:
- Acted for the Claimant in the case of Alec Pillmoor (in his capacity as the Trustee in Bankruptcy of Mohammed Erfan Miah) v (1) Mohammed Erfan Miah and (2) Dilafruza Ruma [2019] EWHC 3696 (Ch). The case concerned a solely-owned property, and the equitable interest of a non-owning spouse. The Court at first instance found that the Bankrupt’s wife had a 50% beneficial interest in the property. The Trustee in Bankruptcy in respect of appealing that decision, which was successful, and the appeal court found that the court at first instance had misdirected itself on the law.
- Successfully represented the Administrators of Taylor Pearson (Construction) Limited. The case concerned is Moulds Fencing (Torksey) Ltd & others v Butler & others [2020] EWHC 2933 (Ch). Some creditors applied to revoke the proposals deemed approved by creditors and also considered the provisions of the Insolvency Act 1986 in relation to the Administrators’ objectives. The creditors made allegations about the Administrators’ conduct and alleged misfeasance against the creditors. The Court found against the creditors on every aspect of their application and exonerated the Administrators’ in terms of any complaints against their conduct.
- Acting for Trustee in Bankruptcy in respect of an estate where there is a personal injury claim against the Bankrupt, a matrimonial home to realise, a potential claim against gambling companies for losses suffered by the Bankrupt, a transaction at an undervalue/preference claim against the purchasers of the Bankrupt’s interest in a Spanish property, liaising with the CPS regarding Proceeds of Crime considerations, and various attempts to obtain information from third parties, which also led to a section 366 Application.
- Acting for the Joint Supervisors of interlocking IVAs. Following approval of the IVAs, a claim was submitted by the Liquidators of the debtors’ former companies of in excess of £2million. LCF Law continue to advise the Supervisors with regard to voting rights in respect of the claims submitted and the adjudication of those claims which are complex and related to potential claims against the former directors in respect of preference and/or transaction at undervalue regarding payment made by the company to associated group companies.
- Acting for the Administrators of a gluten free foods company and subsequently acting for the Administrators in their capacity as Trustees in Bankruptcy of the directors of the company. The bankruptcy estates include both a jointly owned property in the UK and a property in South Africa.
Jo’s clients appreciate her expertise, determination and support throughout difficult and challenging times:
Jo Barnes is the best lawyer I have ever had the pleasure of coming across. She should be knighted!
L. Suffolk