Giselle McGowan

Giselle is regularly instructed by office-holders, directors, creditors, debtors, the Official Receiver and the Secretary of State in personal and corporate insolvency matters. This has included claims against directors or third parties for breach of duty, wrongful or fraudulent trading and to set aside antecedent transactions, bankruptcy and winding-up petitions (and associated applications), administration applications and applications within bankruptcy proceedings (such as annulment, suspension of discharge, sale of property).

Giselle is also regularly instructed in Director Disqualification proceedings.

Recent Cases

• The Secretary of State for Business and Trade v Genov [2025] EWHC 2012 (Ch) – Sole counsel, acting for the Secretary of State in director disqualification proceedings.
• The Secretary of State for Business and Trade v Ahmedivand [2025] EWHC 98 (Ch) – Sole counsel, acting for the Secretary of State in director disqualification proceedings.
• The Secretary of State for Business and Trade v Minto-St Aimie [2024] EWHC 3137 (Ch) – Sole counsel, acting for the Secretary of State in director disqualification proceedings.
• The Secretary of State for Business and Trade v Anderson [2024] All ER (D) 44 (May) – Sole counsel, acting for the Secretary of State in director disqualification proceedings.
• The Secretary of State for Business and Trade v Goring & Anor [2024] All ER (D) 50 (May) – Sole counsel, acting for the Secretary of State in director disqualification proceedings.
• Re Demetrios Paliouras & Ors [2024] EWHC 1301 (Ch) – Sole counsel, obtaining permission to proceed with bankruptcy petitions despite standard breathing space moratoriums and resisting substantive defence of abuse of process.
• Re Squibb Group Limited (October to December 2023) – Sole counsel, instructed by HMRC (petitioner) in obtaining a winding-up order and successfully resisting applications to restrain advertisement of a winding-up petition, for a validation order and for an administration order.
• Wagstaff v HMRC [2022] UKUT 00327 (TCC) – Sole counsel, acting for HMRC in an appeal in respect of a personal liability notice which turned on a point of insolvency law.
• Moorgate Industries UK Limited v Mittal [2022] EWHC 3009 (Ch) – Junior counsel (led by Joseph Curl KC), acting for creditor in successfully challenging the IVA of Pramod Mittal.
• Re Sentor Solutions Ltd [2022] All ER (D) 04 Nov) – Sole counsel, acting for Secretary of State on public interest petitions against four companies concerning investment fraud and carrying out regulated investment activities without FCA authorisation.
• JT Development Solutions Ltd v Secretary of State for Education [2022] 2 BCLC 135 – Sole counsel, instructed by Secretary of State for Education to resist application to restrain presentation of winding-up petition.
• Re A C Norton Ltd (in liquidation) [2021] All ER (D) 104 – Sole counsel, acting for liquidators on a misfeasance/breach of duty claim relating to monies paid to director and third parties.
• Re Solid Homes Ltd (in liquidation) [2020] All ER (D) 41 (Nov) – Sole counsel, acting for liquidators in a misfeasance/breach of duty claim relating to monies paid to directors.
• Tradestar Ltd v Goldfarb [2018] B.C.C. 173 (upheld on appeal [2018] EWHC 3595 (Ch)) – Junior counsel (led by Peter Shaw KC), acting for the liquidators in resisting application to strike-out in a fraudulent trading claim.
• Re Helen Irene Borodzicz [2015] All ER (D) 03 (Dec) – Sole counsel, acting for bankrupt in application under s.304 for permission to challenge trustees’ remuneration and costs.