Joanne Cooney

I primarily act for insolvency practitioners - liquidators, receivers and examiners - in corporate insolvencies involving distressed companies. My varied experience in this area has seen my involvement from the commencement of a liquidation right through to completion. This would typically require numerous consultations with our clients, advising on restriction and / or disqualification proceedings and in many contested cases, making applications to Court for directions where matters cannot be agreed. This practice area also requires significant engagement with accountancy colleagues, the Revenue Commissioners and creditors to realise assets and recover a return for creditors. 

The other side of my practice is acting on behalf of the Official Assignee in bankruptcy who is tasked with realising all available assets of an individual who have been adjudicated bankrupt and distributing them amongst creditors. This technical area, emanating from statute, typically involves substantial enquiries into various transactions which offend the Bankruptcy Act, 1988 and deprive creditors of recovery. This often results in complex, high-value litigation and in many instances advising our clients through alternative dispute resolution avenues such as mediation and arbitrations. Dealing with financially distressed individuals requires a harmonious marriage of compassion and dignity with professionalism and efficiency to ensure productive relationships with colleagues that result in a return for creditors. 

I have also been involved in a number of examinership applications for the hospitality and food sector. These urgent applications require 100% focus and management of various strands of business while working within a strict statutory framework and a very tight timeframe. 

In relation to bankruptcy, I am involved in the administration of one of the state’s largest tax defaulters who was adjudicated bankrupt by the Revenue Commissioners. This complex case involves unravelling multi-jurisdictional asset transfers, convoluted corporate structures across many jurisdictions and high value assets.