Simone is a Special Counsel in Melbourne’s Litigation Group and specialises in insolvency, securities enforcement, corporate advisory and commercial and insolvency litigation.
Simone regularly acts for insolvency practitioners, major banks and non-bank lenders, listed and private companies and directors and provides strategic and commercial advice in respect of securities enforcement, all forms of external administrations, workouts and substantial disputes. Simone regularly advises insolvency practitioners in relation to receiverships, agent for mortgagee in possession appointments, voluntary administrations, deeds of company arrangements and liquidations.
Simone has experience in most civil jurisdictions in Australia having practised in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. Simone is ARITA accredited having completed the Insolvency Education Program in 2008 and she is also a member of the committee of management for Women in Insolvency and Restructuring Victoria (WIRV).
Expertise
Experience
- Non-bank lender and receivers and managers Providing advice in relation to a multimillion dollar facility and the subsequent appointment to the borrower of an incomplete development on the Gold Coast. Advising the Non-bank lender and the receivers and managers on all aspects including the presale contracts and the sale of the incomplete development.
- A Major bank Advising receivers and managers appointed to a company and its real estate business. Advising the Bank on all aspects of the ongoing trade, court proceedings on foot at the time of the appointment and the sale by the receivers and managers of the rent roll.
- Major bank and non-bank lenders Providing advice in relation to defaults, forbearance arrangements, debt sales and the appointment of receivers and managers or agents for mortgagee in possession to realise assets, including property, to repay outstanding loans.
- Two major construction companies Providing advice in relation to proceedings commenced by the liquidator following the collapse of the Hastie Group of Companies in 2012.
- A Voluntary administrator Advising a voluntary administrator appointed to a group of companies, including a listed company, and applying to the Court for orders to extend the convening period for the second meeting of creditors and relieve the administrators of personal liability for funding arrangements entered into with the secured creditor.
- A Major plumbing supplier Advising in relation to proceedings commenced in relation to the recovery of $2.1M fraudulently misappropriated from it by a former employee.
- Lessors, developers, sub contractors and trade suppliers Providing advice in respect of the external administration process, including attending meeting of creditors, lodgement of proof of debts and proxies, return of bank guarantees/retentions and rights under contracts.
- Lessors and tenants Providing advice in respect of lease disputes arising under the Retail Leases Act 2003 (Vic).
