We are delighted to announce that Heather Dobson, Partner in Insolvency and Restructuring, has been named Corporate Restructuring Lawyer of the Year at the TRI Awards. The accolade recognises Heather’s outstanding technical expertise, leadership and the significant business outcomes delivered by the Insolvency & Restructuring team she established at Moore Barlow.
Heather is a nationally recognised Insolvency and Restructuring lawyer with 18 years’ experience and is one of the few lawyers in the UK to hold a non-appointment-taking insolvency licence – a mark of technical standing in the profession.
Since joining Moore Barlow in 2017, she has driven sustained growth for the Insolvency and Restructuring team: revenue increased from £292,046 in 2016/17 to £1,248,603 in 2024/25, with 2024/25, marking the team’s strongest year to date.
Heather herself exceeded expectations, achieving 170% of her personal revenue target with a 97.8% realisation rate, underlining both strong commercial performance and effective case management.
The judges singled out Heather alongside lawyers from Kirkland & Ellis and Shoosmiths for the direct impact of her legal and advisory work on rescue and restructuring outcomes, her inventive use of legal tools in complex matters, and the breadth of her contribution to the insolvency profession.
Heather’s practice is built on deep professional relationships. This year the team handled 207 instructions from 41 insolvency practitioners, alongside work instructed by agents, accountants, business advisers, compliance professionals and fellow lawyers. That breadth of trusted, repeat instructions demonstrates the team’s reputation for reliable, pragmatic delivery across the market.
I have known and worked with Heather for over twenty years. During this time, she has continued to demonstrate why she is worthy of this nomination and award. Heather can adapt to all situations. Her advice is clear, commercial and to the point. Her integrity is beyond reproach and her ownership and dedication to a task in hand in admirable. All these qualities are delivered with consistency, and they are invaluable to any client in need.
A client of Heather’s
Her legal and strategic input has been central to several high-profile matters. In the administration of Breyer Group plc her work supported the board and enabled the sale of key divisions via administration, preserving jobs and maintaining essential services for housing associations. In the restructuring of PACEY – a national childcare charity – Heather’s guidance secured continuity for thousands of members and protected the charity’s operational integrity. These matters illustrate her ability to deliver pragmatic, business-saving solutions in pressured, emotionally charged environments.
This award is a richly deserved recognition of Heather’s exceptional legal skill, her leadership and the tangible outcomes she and her team deliver for clients. Heather has built a truly specialist practice that combines technical excellence with clear commercial judgement. We’re proud of her achievement and of the team she has developed across the firm.
Ed Whittington, Managing Partner of Moore Barlow
Press mentions
- Insolvency Insider: Moves and Promotions — Week of 1 December, 2025
- The Portsmouth News: Moore Barlow partner wins Corporate Restructuring Lawyer of the Year at TRI Awards
