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Sophie Hawksworth
BA LLB(Hons) • Auckland
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Sophie has extensive knowledge and experience in banking and insolvency litigation, commercial disputes and restructuring and insolvency law.
She specialises in the enforcement of secured debt and has acted for and advised insolvency practitioners, directors and creditors on issues across numerous different industry sectors.
Sophie’s experience includes acting for large domestic and international financiers (including major trading banks) on a range of matters. Sophie has appeared in the District Court, High Court and Court of Appeal and has also assisted and advised on arbitrations and mediations (including farm debt mediations).
Sophie is praised by her clients for her approachable and personable nature and her considered and commercial approach. She builds strong working relationships with her clients to understand their business, identify solutions and to ensure the best possible outcome for them.
Sophie is an active member of the Restructuring Insolvency Turnaround Association New Zealand (RITANZ) and Women in Restructuring and Insolvency (WIRI).
Work Highlights
Former non-executive directors of ASX-listed Arowana International
Acting in a class action proceeding by shareholders in Intueri Education Group alleging breaches of IPO disclosure obligations.
Farm Debt Mediation
Acting for trading banks in mediations under the Farm Debt Mediation Act.
Insolvencies
Acted for creditors and insolvency practitioners on various insolvency matters, including:
- acting for a Bank creditor in respect of a large agricultural debt
- acting for BNZ in relation to the receivership of a commercial business
- acting for the liquidators of Cullen Group and associated companies, the liquidators of Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre, and the administrators of Sunfruit Orchards
- acting for a US based institutional investment company in relation to major property development restructurings.
Westpac
Appeared in the Court of Appeal as junior counsel in a defended bankruptcy application and guarantor liability case: Yarrow v Westpac New Zealand Limited [2019] NZCA 610.
CCCFA
Appeared as junior counsel for a trading bank under the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act.
Appeared in the High Court as sole counsel for various creditors in defended liquidation and bankruptcy applications.
Advising on numerous enforcement and recovery matters, with extensive experience in large vehicle and vehicle fleet repossessions.
