Member Profile

Ian Walker is one of Australia's leading insolvency and restructuring specialists. He has more than 30 years' experience in security enforcement for all types of creditors, banking litigation, and insolvency, restructuring and work out issues.

While Ian 's practice spans a wide range of industries and private and public sector clients, he has extensive experience in the financial services industry.

Ian advises insolvency appointees including liquidators, receivers, administrators and deed administrators on creditors rights, their powers and duties and on the full range of commercial and legal issues that face insolvency practitioners during the course of an insolvency administration. He also advises third parties affected by insolvency such as creditors and directors. This includes advising company directors on the governance issues and their duties that face them when the company they are involved in is facing insolvency and also drafting restructuring arrangements.

Brian Ward & Partners was founded in 1976 by Brian Ward OAM and was first established in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne before relocating to its current CBD location in Melbourne's legal precinct in 2002.

The firm was incorporated in 2002 and has been governed by a board of directors since such time.

Brian Ward was Managing Director from 1976 to 2015 and Executive Chairman in 2016 and continues today as the Head of the firms Commercial and Corporate Advisory team.

Philip Gleed is the current Managing Director, joining the firm in 2016 after holding various Managing Partner, CEO & Managing Principal or Manager Director roles in mid-tier law firms.

Having been in operation for over 40 years the firm has continued to maintain a strong presence in the corporate advisory market.

The firm is currently implementing its strategy to develop as a second generation boutique corporate advisory law firm, expanding its service offering to corporate clients and growing its team of highly experienced, seriously talented and commercially savvy lawyers.

BANKING AND FINANCE LITIGATION

Ian has extensive experience acting for clients in the banking industry. He advised and acted for the ANZ Banking Group on its securities lending exposure to Opes Prime Stockbrocking. The case involved advising on all aspects of ANZ's recovery program, negotiating with the administrators and receivers, and acting for ANZ in defence of numerous proceedings initiated by Opes clients across three courts. Ian has also advised and represented NAB and the Commonwealth Bank.

DIRECTORS' DUTIES

Ian has extensive experience providing advice to directors in the context of insolvent trading risk and restructuring. He has been involved in complex litigation involving claimed breaches of directors duties.

INSOLVENCY AND RESTRUCTURING

Ian Walker has over 30 years experience in insolvency and restructuring. He has acted for liquidators, administrators, deed administrators and receivers and Manager. He acted for the Court appointed liquidator of Bishopsgate Insurance in liquidation of an insurer that included a creditors scheme of arrangement. He acted for the administrators of the Pasminco Group of companies for 15 years.

His experience also includes cross-border insolvency and in that regards, acted for the liquidator of Australian Company Betcorp and obtained recognition of the Australian members voluntary winding up as foreign main proceeding under Chapter 15 of the US Bankruptcy Code.

LITIGATION AND COMMERCIAL DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Ian's expertise includes advising on contractual disputes, Trade Practices Act claims, joint venture and partnership disputes, interpretation of documents, disputes associated with mergers and acquisitions, banking litigation and banker/customer law. His litigation practice involves acting in the Superior courts, either Federal or State in contested litigation. Ian is experienced in the mediation, negotiation and resolution of complex commercial disputes. He gives advice associated with complex contractual disputes whether or not litigation has commenced with the aim of the speedy disposition of the dispute.

- Australian Chapter entitled "Voluntary Administration Leading to a Deed of Company Arrangement" in Expedited Debt Restructuring. An International Comparative Analysis (published by Kluwer, 2007)

- Australian chapter in "Cash Pooling and Insolvency: A Practical Global Handbook" (published by Globe Law and Business in September 2012 and a second edition to be published some time in 2016

- Australian Chapter in "Financing Company Group Restructurings" . The book was published by Oxford University Press in September 2015

- Australian Chapter in "Retention of Title in and out of Insolvency ", Published by Globe Law and Business in December 2015.

Leading Individual, Insolvency and Reconstruction - Chambers Asia Pacific: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

Ian Walker is highly regarded for his commercial and practical advice, particularly amongst his lender clients. His recent work includes acting for PPB Advisory on the CMA Group voluntary administration, including the implementation of the deed of company arrangements. Clients appreciate that he is 'very commercial, responsive and always available to discuss urgent matters' - Chambers Asia Pacific 2015

Clients praise practice head Ian Walker, describing him as a 'commercial, prompt, accessible and knowledgeable - an all around great person.' He has handled a number of high-value restructures in the past year - Chambers Asia Pacific 2014

Sources view Ian Walker as 'a good operator who is very experienced.' Recently he led a team acting for Healthcare Locums in the company's workout and restructure, which involved the raising of investment capital in the UK to discharge debt of AUD150 million - Chambers Asia Pacific 2013

Ian Walker is a 'high-calibre operator'- Chambers Asia Pacific 2008

Recommended, Insolvency and Reorganisation - Best Lawyers: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017

Leading Lawyer, Insolvency and Reconstruction - International Financial Law Review 1000: 2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013, 2014

"proactive, very knowledgeable and working phenomenal hours to get the job done" - International Financial Law Review 1000 2014

Leading Individual, Insolvency and Reconstruction - Legal 500 Asia Pacific: 2007/08, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2011/12, 2013, 2014

Ian Walker is 'excellent, client-focused and passionate about what he does' - Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2010/11

Leading Individual, Insolvency and Restructuring - Who's Who Legal: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015

Leading Individual, Insolvency and Reconstruction - Chambers Global: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012

Leading Individual, Insolvency and Reconstruction - PLC Which Lawyer?: 2008, 2009, 2010