Gilbert + Tobin has announced the appointment of Orla McCoy who joins the firm as a partner and co-head of G+T’s market leading Restructuring + Insolvency team, based in Sydney.

Orla joins from Clayton Utz where she was a partner in its restructuring and insolvency team for over nine years advising on some of the most notable domestic and international restructuring and insolvency matters during that time. Orla joins with her talented team, which includes special counsel Mikhail Glavac, senior lawyer Tom Gardner and lawyer Jing Zhang, bolstering G+T’s market leading team to 21 core members.

A fellow of INSOL International and recognised as a market-leading R+I lawyer in Chambers, IFLR1000 and Legal 500 and other legal directories, Orla has extensive experience acting on advisory, transactional, and formal appointment roles, on debtor-side mandates as well as for secured and unsecured creditors, credit funds, sponsors, bondholders and the Australian Commonwealth Government. Her notable contributions extend to some of the most prominent cases in the Australian market, such as Virgin Australia Airlines' administration and restructure, buy-side representation for Speedcast International, Foodora Australia, SCF Group's restructure, Napoleon Perdis Cosmetics' restructure, Borders / Angus & Robertson, Lehman Brothers Australia, and ABC Learning Centres receivership.

Given uncertain economic conditions and heightened activity in the restructuring and insolvency market, Orla provides the G+T team with a strengthened offering to serve clients at a critical time.

Partner and Head of Restructuring + Insolvency, Peter Bowden, welcomed Orla to the G+T Sydney team, commenting “We are delighted to welcome Orla to the G+T Restructuring + Insolvency team and it is a real privilege to have her co-lead the team with me. With a proven record of navigating Australia’s largest corporate insolvency and debt restructuring matters her appointment is a strategic addition to strengthen our existing capabilities in the space”.

In joining G+T, Orla said: 

“I am excited to be joining Gilbert + Tobin as a partner in the Restructuring + Insolvency team and co-head with Pete. The changes in the market represent opportunities and challenges for our clients and I am looking forward to being part of the highly regarded G+T team, working alongside partners Pete Bowden Anna Schwartz and their team.”

Reflecting on market conditions, the last 12 months has been a busy period for the team despite only moderate activity in the restructuring space, working on some of the most-high profile restructurings in the Australian market including advising:

• ASX-listed APA on all aspects of the complex restructuring and A$773 million acquisition of Basslink Pty Ltd – Awarded 2023 Restructuring Deal of the Year by TMA Australia.
• Roofoods (the UK parent company) in relation to the voluntary administration of its Australian subsidiary, Deliveroo Australia Pty Ltd and exit of the Deliveroo brand from the Australian market.
• The Deed Administrators of the Mahercorp Group in relation to its successful recapitalisation via voluntary administration and deed of company arrangement. 
• A key JV stakeholder in relation to the Clough group of companies administration.