Osborne Clarke has hired a restructuring and insolvency partner from Michelmores in London.  Douglas Hawthorn had been a partner in Michelmores banking, restructuring & insolvency team since 2017.  He was a co-chair of Michelmores’ International Committee and remains a vice-chair of the Insolvency Section of the International Bar Association.  Prior to Michelmores, Hawthorn held a senior role at Travers Smith. 

Douglas specialises in debt restructurings, turnaround and insolvency situations, acting for private equity sponsors, financial institutions, investors, companies, turnaround professionals, and insolvency practitioners with a particular emphasis in recent years acting for boards in distressed situations including Intu, Mothercare, John Varvatos, and the Galapagos Group.

Nigel Boobier, head of Osborne Clarke’s restructuring and insolvency practice said: “Our practice is advising on some complex work across key sectors such financial services, retail, energy and digital business and we expect this to increase. Douglas brings fantastic experience having worked on a number of large restructurings for various stakeholders with a particular emphasis in recent times on the retail and consumer sector.”

Douglas Hawthorn commented: “I am hugely excited to be joining this forward-thinking and creative law firm. There are big synergies between my practice and work being carried out across the firm. In particular, I look forward to working with Osborne Clarke’s private equity team to support investment, recovery and growth in the United Kingdom, but also in Europe and beyond, supporting and being supported by Osborne Clarke’s international network of offices.”

Osborne Clarke’s restructuring and insolvency group has recently advised on matters relating to the restructurings of retailers Bonmarché, led by Will Gunston, Laura Ashley and Oasis/Warehouse, the fintech business Neyber, and acting for the consortium that purchased the Jewish Chronicle newspaper.