Kyle Blackburn

Kyle Blackburn

Senior Associate
Manchester, United Kingdom
+44 20 7864 2751
phonemail

About

Kyle is a Senior Associate in the Dispute Resolution team, specialising in corporate restructuring, insolvency, and boardroom advice. He is known for guiding companies and senior leadership teams through periods of financial distress, helping them manage their affairs, protect value, and make well-informed decisions under pressure.

Kyle advises across the full life-cycle of restructuring and insolvency matters, with a particular focus on supporting directors and boards in navigating their duties and strategic options. His expertise spans corporate insolvency proceedings under the Insolvency Act 1986 and Companies Act 2006, as well as drafting and negotiating business sale agreements, and enforcement and recovery strategies.

Clients highly value Kyle's ability to cut through complexity and deliver practical, commercially grounded advice in fast moving situations.

Post-appointment, Kyle works closely with office holders and directors on reviews of antecedent transactions, conduct considerations under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986, and the strategic application of case law to protect his clients' positions and achieve the best possible outcomes.

Outside of his legal practice, Kyle is the Chair of The Black Solicitors Network and has served as an elected Council Member at The Law Society, reflecting his commitment to the profession and the wider legal community.

Experience

  • Advising the board a c£30m turnover retail business relating to its portfolio of stores, supporting the board in with a review of its creditor position and steps to wind down its affairs.
  • Acting for the administrators of a large haulage and distribution business (c.170 employees) with the sale of its assets, including security releases and licence transfer obligations.
  • Guiding a £3bn gambling group through its acquisition of a casino, navigating regulatory and commercial complexities to secure a successful outcome.
  • Strategic and time pressured advice to a joint venture following its c£55m property disposal, including solvency options post-sale and its structuring of payments to connected entities.
  • Assisting on the pre-pack acquisition of an international retailer, helping to coordinate cross-border workstreams across the Middle East and Japan to deliver a swift and structured transaction.
  • Working alongside office holders to pursue and recover substantial claims across diverse sectors, including shipping, law firms, and foreign exchange businesses.
  • Advising on the validity of administrator appointments and conducting security reviews, identifying defects and recommending practical remedies.
  • Various time-sensitive court applications to secure the appointment of administrators, allowing the for the preservation of value in the companies.