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High-value Commercial Debt Recovery - Debts £100,000+

We advise business clients on high-value commercial debt recovery including B2B debts arising from overdue invoices, contractual payments, unpaid goods and services, missed milestone payments, and sums due under supply, consultancy and service agreements, purchase order payments, retention and final account balances.

We also assist with recovery of unpaid rent and licence fees, loan and credit agreement arrears, guarantees and indemnities, and settlement sums where agreed payment terms have not been met.

We take a pragmatic approach from the outset, assessing the merits, the debtor’s ability to pay, and the most effective route to recovery. Where appropriate, this may include pre-action correspondence, insolvency proceedings, court proceedings, and enforcement where necessary.

We provide a focused debt recovery service for debts of £100,000 and above, combining early merits assessment, commercial strategy, and decisive escalation where required.

We help businesses recover unpaid debts by taking a commercially minded strategic, staged approach designed to maximise recovery while keeping cost and disruption under control. We start with an early merits review and debtor solvency checks to assess prospects and choose the right strategy. We then pursue robust action using one or more of the following:

  • Statutory demand: This is a formal demand that puts immediate pressure on your debtor and triggers the threat of insolvency proceedings. The service of a statutory demand often resolves the debt without going to court.
  • Winding up petition: Where a corporate debtor refuses to pay, we can petition to wind up the company. The threat alone frequently results in full payment.
  • Court action: Where the debt is disputed, we can pursue it through the courts on your behalf.

Our team will work with you to advise on the costs of any process. Fee arrangements of hourly rates or fixed fees can be discussed on a case-by-case basis.

We act for UK and international businesses] seeking recovery from mainly UK-based business debtors. We work closely with in-house teams, finance directors, and owner-managed businesses, accountants, and insolvency practitioners to achieve swift, commercially sensible outcomes.

This service is suitable where:

  • Your business is owed £100,000 or more
  • The debtor is UK-based;
  • Payment has been chased and ignored; and
  • You want legal action, not more letters.

Our team has specific experience in recovering significant high-value business debts through statutory demands, winding up petitions, court proceedings, and enforcement.

Ben Crowley is a commercial disputes partner whose practice focuses on recovery of substantial debts for businesses.

To read Ben’s profile, click here.

To arrange an introductory call, please contact Ben Crowley and provide the following details:

Ben Crowley, Partner

t: 020 3319 3700

e: ben.crowley@keystonelaw.co.uk

  • Your Business name
  • Amount owed
  • Debtor type: company/individual/other
  • Has payment been chased: Y/N

We advise creditors on recoverability and strategic use of insolvency processes to drive engagement and payment.

Experience

  • Advised on issuing statutory demands as a precursor to insolvency proceedings.
  • Advised on whether to pursue winding up proceedings.
  • Advised on restoring companies to the register to enable recovery action.
  • Provided early-stage recoverability assessments to inform cost/benefit decisions.
  • Advised on use of insolvency pressure to achieve negotiated settlements.

We advise on formal insolvency routes where payment has not been forthcoming.

Experience

  • Acted on creditor winding up petitions against companies.
  • Advised on insolvency proceedings alongside parallel recovery actions.
  • Advised on escalation strategies in cases of prolonged non-payment.
  • Acted on contested and uncontested insolvency proceedings.

We advise on formal insolvency routes where payment has not been forthcoming.

Experience

  • Acted on creditor winding up petitions against companies.
  • Advised on insolvency proceedings alongside parallel recovery actions.
  • Advised on escalation strategies in cases of prolonged non-payment.
  • Acted on contested and uncontested insolvency proceedings.

We advise on the recovery of significant commercial debts arising from unpaid invoices, loan defaults, and contractual payment obligations.

Experience

  • Advised on creditor bankruptcy petitions in respect of unpaid loans.
  • Advised on creditor winding‑up petitions for unpaid sums owed to trade creditors.
  • Managed the debt book of a FTSE 250 recruiter pursuing unpaid fees in the UK, Europe, USA and Canada, South Africa, Africa, and the Middle East.
  • Advised on recovery of monies owed following customer insolvency.
  • Acted on claims for recovery of unpaid sums under commercial contracts.
  • Advised a clothing manufacturer in respect of the administration of one of its customers and the retention of title and asset recovery.
  • Advised on a recovery claim against an individual and associated companies in respect of monies had and received for the purchase of a Bentley, Maybach, and a Brabus for an UHNW family office.
  • Pursued monies owed in respect of a yacht mortgage where the borrower had absconded to Bulgaria.
  • Pursued monies owed in respect of a yacht mortgage where the borrower had absconded and not responded to proceedings in Spain.

We advise on disputes relating to unpaid sums under commercial agreements.

Experience

  • Acted on claims for unpaid fees and termination sums.
  • Advised on disputes arising from B2B supply and services agreements.
  • Managed recovery actions for commercial clients across sectors.
  • Acted on breach of contract claims against corporate debtors involving non-payment.
  • Advised on settlement strategies in B2B contract disputes.

We advise on enforcement of personal guarantees and recovery from individuals and those connected to corporate debtors.

Experience

  • Acted on claims against guarantors for recovery of significant loan liabilities.
  • Advised on bankruptcy proceedings against individual debtors.
  • Advised on strategies to extend recovery beyond primary obligors.
  • Acted on matters involving interconnected corporate and personal liabilities.
  • Advised lenders on structuring guarantees to improve recoverability.

We advise on enforcement strategy following judgment to maximise recovery.

Experience

  • Acted on enforcement of judgments arising from commercial debt claims.
  • Advised on multi-jurisdictional enforcement strategies.
  • Advised on asset tracing and enforcement options.
  • Coordinated enforcement actions where business debtors remained non-compliant.
  • Advised on post-judgment recovery planning and execution.

Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed by lawyers at Keystone Law prior to joining.

High-value Commercial Debt Recovery - Debts £100,000+ articles