John Whiteoak

Partner

London

John is a disputes and restructuring lawyer and co-leads the firm's global Restructuring, Turnaround and Insolvency practice. He advises on a broad range of general commercial litigation and contentious insolvency matters.

In addition to general commercial litigation matters, John's disputes expertise includes cross-border disputes, corporate fraud and recovery, as well as complex banking and tax disputes and dispute resolution. John also has significant restructuring and insolvency expertise advising on a broad range of contentious insolvency matters, including cross-border disputes and pension regulatory disputes. His work involves some of the largest and most high-profile insolvency, restructuring and pensions disputes in the United Kingdom, including cases with global ramifications.

John acts for a blue-chip client list, including hedge funds, administrators, banks, accountants, trustees and corporates.

John has been praised for his 'very commercial and straight-talking, no-nonsense approach' and being 'energetic and hugely creative' in Legal 500 UK 2021.

Experience & expertise

Selected matters

Certain of the former non-executive directors of Carillion plc in relation to all aspects of the insolvency of the Carillion Group, including advising in relation to appearances before Parliamentary Select Committees and successfully defending them in disqualification proceedings brought by the Secretary of State for Business and Trade
Mirabaud & Cie SA in relation to claims in excess of US$200m against 38 defendants by the Kuwaiti Public Institution for Social Security regarding the defendants' alleged role in the creation and operation of various schemes involving PIFSS' former Director General
Oilexco (in administration) on significant and landmark litigation against a creditor, involving litigation in the English High Court, Court of Appeal and the US Bankruptcy Court
Phoenix Venture Holdings, various other companies in the MG Rover group, and present and former directors and officers of companies in the MG Rover group as part of the ongoing investigation by the UK Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (now the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills) into the collapse of the car company in early 2005
Thames River Capital and GML on a successful high court litigation against the majority shareholders of First Investment Bank, a Bulgarian bank