ARITA WA Division Committee Nominees

Jeffery Black

Statement of claim
I am seeking to continue my role as a WA Division Committee member, which commenced in 2018.

I am a partner at Norton Rose Fulbright, specialising in financial restructuring and insolvency. I have 20 years' experience in law, having worked in Australia, the UK and the US. In this way, I bring a considerable amount of cross-border experience and international perspective to the ARITA committee.

I am committed to my profession and the broader restructuring and insolvency industry.

I believe ARITA is our pre-eminent representative body and has an incredibly important role to play in terms of that representation and as a conduit between the profession and the government and other key stakeholders.

I believe the profession and industry are at a very important juncture, given the recent law reforms.

I look forward to continuing my contribution to the important role that ARITA plays within our profession as a committee member.

Bio
Jeffery Black is a financial restructuring and insolvency lawyer based in Perth.

Jeffery represents financial institutions, insolvency practitioners, and corporations in complex, cross-border and domestic restructuring and insolvency matters (both in and out-of-court), financial services transactions, creditor recoveries, and litigation and alternative dispute resolution.

After commencing his legal career in Western Australia, Jeffery spent 8 years working in New York, including during the global financial crisis of 2008/2009. He gained extensive experience in a wide range of transactions and creditors' rights matters, including international restructurings and insolvency proceedings, distressed mergers and acquisitions, bankruptcy proceedings under Chapters 7, 11 and 15 of the US Bankruptcy Code, out-of-court workouts, and related security enforcement and litigation.

Jeffery has also practiced in the United Kingdom and is admitted to practice in New York and in Western Australia. He received a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws (Graduate) from The University of Western Australia.

For ARITA, Jeffery has participated in the following engagements:

• ‘D&O Insurance recoveries’, Online National Conference, ARITA (co-presenter, 2020)
• ‘The DOCA – A Flexible Corporate Rescue Tool, but are there limits?’, WA Division Conference, ARITA (co-panellist, 2019)
• ‘The Year in Review’, WA Insolvency Forum (co-panellist, 2016)
• ‘Chapter 11: on the horizon, or already here?’, WA Insolvency Forum (co-presenter, 2014)
• ‘Creditors’ Trusts in Voluntary Administrations’ (co-presenter, 2005).

David Blanchett

Statement of claim
I have a longstanding and deep interest in all aspects of insolvency. That interest extends beyond the practical and into the academic. I have made extensive submissions on New Zealand's insolvency law reform and have attended numerous insolvency conferences including four of INSOL's quadrennial conferences.

My background in New Zealand's largest insolvency firm and my current position in one of the smaller Perth insolvency firms enables me to bring a broad perspective to the Committee. That perspective is further expanded, as we undertake personal insolvency engagements in addition to corporate insolvency services. Finally, my experience on PwC's Ethics and Business Conduct Committee and on the Board of Trustees of one of New Zealand's more respected secondary schools provide applicable attributes for my role on the Committee.

Bio
David is a Senior Manager at Sheridans Chartered Accountants. He is an insolvency specialist with over 30 years' experience primarily in New Zealand with PwC and its predecessor firms before joining Sheridans in 2015. Following the 1987 share market crash David spent two years on secondment in London and was also seconded to Hong Kong following the Asia Crisis in 1998.

In addition to his LinkedIn articles, David has published an article 'How is Preferential Treatment of Some Creditors Justified' jointly with Hon Paul Heath QC in INSOL World in July 1998. He has also provided extensive submissions on New Zealand's insolvency law reform. In 2016 David completed the ARITA Advanced Certificate with Distinction in the university components. While at PwC, David served as a member of the New Zealand firm's Ethics and Business Conduct Committee. David has attended four of INSOL's Quadrennial Conferences; 1993 in Melbourne, 2001 in London, 2005 in Sydney and 2009 in Vancouver.

David has served on the WA Division Committee since 2019 and was a member of the subcommittee appointed to review the Code of Professional Conduct.

Carmen Boothman

Statement of claim
I have benefited immensely from the critical role that ARITA occupies in our profession as educator, ethical and professional standard setter, public policy advocate and industry thought leader. I would be grateful for the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the profession by serving as a WA Division Committee member.

• Special Counsel at HWL Ebsworth Lawyers practising in insolvency, restructuring and turnaround.
• Active full professional member of ARITA having completed the then equivalent of the ARITA Advanced Certification in 2012, and presented technical sessions at a number of WA Forums.
• Attended as an active participant in all WA Division Committee meetings in 2020/21
• Tertiary qualifications include Master of Laws (Melb, 2020), Bachelor of Laws (UWA, 2010) and Bachelor of Commerce (Financial Accounting and Corporate Finance) (UWA, 2010)
• Published in peer-reviewed academic journal on the topic of safe harbour.
• Recipient of the RINWA 2018 Rising Star Award recognising a commitment to improving diversity in the insolvency and restructuring industry.
  
  

David Bryant

David enjoys utilising his strong technical and commercial skills and experience to assist stakeholders navigate times of challenge, uncertainty and financial stress, particularly small and medium sized enterprises. He has extensive experience ranging from large, public and syndicated matters to small, privately owned businesses.

Throughout his 20-year career, David has undertaken key roles in formal and informal business restructures and insolvencies and has also been involved in a number of market leading transactions and advisory engagements.

Michelle Dean

Statement of claim
ARITA is the peak representative body for the restructuring and insolvency industry in WA and nationally, with a clear focus on ensuring insolvency practitioners operate with the highest of levels of quality and integrity. The roles of all industry participants have changed dramatically in the recent past, and will continue to change as a result of significant reform. Given the extent of those changes, ARITA plays an important part in engaging with, advocating for and educating our industry.

I have been practising in the insolvency industry both in Perth and in London since 2002. During that time, I have seen the industry adapt in response to national and international pressures. For me, I would like to be involved in helping the profession maintain high standards and respond to this period of transition. That is why I would like to remain on the ARITA WA Division Committee and take an active role in ensuring ARITA continues to serve its members and the insolvency industry in WA.

Bio
Michelle is a Partner at Corrs Chambers Westgarth with over 15 years' experience in restructuring and insolvency, having worked in Perth, Melbourne and London. Michelle has worked closely with a number of major banks, corporate and insolvency practitioners both internationally and within Australia. She has also published articles on insolvency and restructuring and completed a Masters of Law involving advanced insolvency.

Michelle has been on the ARITA WA Division Committee for the past 3 years, and has served as Deputy Chair and Chair. She has been actively involved in the ARITA WA Division Committee in organising Forums and the state conference in 2018, 2019 and 2020. Michelle was a presenter at the National ARITA conference in 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Matthew Donnelly

Statement of claim
I am interested in continuing to build the technical capability of the profession, and working with ARITA to expand its relevance to all members. In particular I will continue to use my position on the Committee to advocate for a greater turn around focus, and legislative change that will continue to preserve value in times of stress and distress.

Bio
Matthew has over 25 years professional experience with more than 10 years as a Registered Liquidator. He is a RITP, CA and has a Bachelor in Economics. Matthew has been on the ARITA WA Division Committee since 2018 and has regularly delivered presentations at ARITA functions, and lead ARITA Insolvency Education Program workshops in WA.

Malcolm Field

Malcolm has worked with boards, bankers and advisers on restructuring and advisory assignments in Agribusiness, Energy & Resources, Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, Property, Transport and Logistics.

Malcolm:

• is a Bankruptcy Trustee and Registered Liquidator
• is a Chartered Accountant
• worked for Ferrier Hodgson for 9 years
• is a current director for SV Partners
• has over 20 years' experience in WA Insolvency
• has over 7 years' experience in road transport operations management.

James Hewer

I have worked in restructuring, insolvency and turnaround my entire career, from qualification as a solicitor in the UK in 2007, through becoming admitted in Australia in 2017. I have extensive experience acting for stakeholders, both debtor and creditor facing, in a variety of distressed situations, inside and outside formal insolvency regimes. I have been a member of ARITA since relocating to Australia from the UK in 2013, and have been a long-term supporter of ARITA through participation in conferences, contributions to the ARITA Journal and attendance at the Advanced Certificate in Insolvency course.

I consider that my experience, both domestically and internationally, puts me in a strong position to serve on the WA Division Committee and make a positive contribution to ARITA's critical role in shaping and developing insolvency law reform, policy and precedents. I would relish this opportunity to contribute to ARITA's mission and objectives and to give something back to the profession at a time of unprecedented change and challenge.

James is a Counsel at the global law firm Hogan Lovells. James was admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales in 2007 and relocated to Australia in 2013. James worked in Sydney for five years (becoming admitted in NSW 2017) before relocating permanently to Perth in 2018.

James draws on his many years' experience in delivering work-out strategies to financiers and other investors in relation to international and domestic lending exposures and investments in distressed businesses. He assists banks, funds, specialist financiers, other lending institutions, creditors and insolvency practitioners across a variety of secured and unsecured exposures, both in relation to work-outs and turnarounds, and in relation to formal insolvency processes. He also guides corporate clients in navigating their statutory duties during times of financial difficulty.