Introduction

Cash-flow issues like unpaid invoices and creditor claims can have a detrimental impact on a business. Harris Tate’s Dispute Resolution Team can provide insolvency and debt recovery advice and assist you to recover the money you are owed, protect company assets, and/or navigate financial issues with minimum stress.

Spot the Warning Signs & Know Your Duties

Slow-paying customers, escalating credit issues, and IRD arrears are a cause for concern for any business and directors have strict duties under the Companies Act 1993 to avoid trading while insolvent. We can liaise with your accountant, identify personal-liability risks, and outline options and next steps – including negotiating with creditors or appointing an administrator.

Fast, Effective Debt-Recovery Tools

The faster debts are recovered the better. We can advise you on your options, including, where appropriate, statutory demands that give company debtors 15 working days to pay or dispute payment, setting you up for an application to liquidate if they continue to ignore you. We can assist you with issuing District Court proceedings, where it makes commercial sense to do so, and enforcing court orders. If there are personal guarantees we can leverage those to increase settlement pressure.

Insolvency Options Explained

If your own business is struggling, we break down the pros and cons of voluntary administration, liquidation, receivership, and creditor compromises. Creditor compromises involve negotiating a resolution with a creditor and can be a good option to stop legal action, where possible. Ready to close the doors? We can assist with shareholder resolutions, liquidator appointments, and public notices so the process is clean and compliant.

Personal Insolvency Solutions

Financial stress isn’t limited to companies – directors, sole traders and others can face personal insolvency issues too. We can explain the differences between bankruptcy, Summary Instalment Orders (SIOs), and the No-Asset Procedure, along with informal debt-repayment plans that may keep you out of court. We can assess your exposure, assist with protecting essential assets, and negotiate with creditors to find the quickest, least disruptive path back to financial stability.

Protecting Creditors in a Liquidation

When a company collapses, every cent counts. We can assist with lodging proofs of debt, claiming retention-of-title goods, and securing assets on the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR). If you have been served with a voidable-transaction claim we can help you defend that where possible and where that makes commercial sense, including where you can show the payment was made in the ordinary course of business.

Why Choose Harris Tate?

• Plain-English advice: No legal jargon – just clear options and advice.
• Commercial focus: We weigh recovery prospects against costs at the outset.
• Negotiation power: Tough but fair – often settling disputes without court time.
• Knowledgeable and experienced team.

Let’s Get Started

Don’t let unpaid debts or insolvency worries snowball into bigger losses. Contact Harris Tate today for straightforward, results-driven insolvency and debt-recovery advice that keeps your business – and your personal finances – moving forward with confidence.