Our experience
Arnold Bloch Leibler is a strong advocate for improving existing statutory frameworks to facilitate a more modern approach to corporate reorganisation and insolvency arrangements in Australia.
Over the last 20 years, we have advised on some of Australia’s largest and most complex corporate restructuring and insolvency matters including Arrium, Ansett Airlines, Alinta, Centro, GenesisCare, Healthscope, Metricon, Nine Entertainment, OneSteel, One.Tel and Timbercorp. These are the types of matters that have reinforced our market reputation and have been the catalyst for changes in insolvency law.
Our commercial approach to administration procedures and moratoria, and debt refinancing, maximises the opportunity for a company to remain in existence and thereby increases returns for creditors and shareholders.
'Law Firm of the Year' for Insolvency & Reorganisation Law
Restructuring & insolvency services
Our work involves assisting clients with:
- Early and proactive diagnosis of legal issues that may impact on solvency
- Developing workable and commercially realistic solutions to restructure a business
- Preparing deeds of company arrangement, schemes of arrangement and informal realisation arrangements
- Restructuring and workout of debts
- Performing detailed security and due diligence reviews to secure and protect assets (including real assets and employee entitlements)
- Enforcement and recovery of antecedent transactions and
- Representation in actions and investigations by corporate regulators.
"Very creative and commercial in approach and solutions."
People
Insights & news
News Announcement
ABL recognised in 2027 Best Lawyers® guide
In this year’s Best Lawyers® guide, 50 Arnold Bloch Leibler lawyers have been recognised across 28 areas of practice.
16 April 2026
News Announcement
Arnold Bloch Leibler named in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2026 guide
Arnold Bloch Leibler has been recognised in multiple categories in the 2026 edition of the independent Legal 500 Asia Pacific guide.
15 January 2026
News Announcement
Arnold Bloch Leibler recognised in the 2026 Chambers Asia-Pacific guide
Arnold Bloch Leibler has once again been listed in the Chambers Asia Pacific guide for 2026.
12 December 2025
News Media
Saving struggling companies is set to get harder
In an opinion article in the AFR, restructuring partner Genevieve Sexton warns that radical changes to Australia’s merger clearance laws that come into effect on New Year’s Day 2026 pose a real and deeply problematic impediment to the effectiveness of turnaround and restructuring in Australia.
2 December 2025
Insights Article
Gen Sexton shares safe harbour insights on 'The Turnaround' podcast
ABL Restructuring partner, Gen Sexton, discussed her role as Chair of the Federal Government’s Safe Harbour Review Panel and the evolution of Australia's Safe Harbour regime, on Wexted Advisors' The Turnaround podcast with Joe Hayes.
4 August 2025
News Media
Fix Australia’s restructuring laws to let viable companies live
In an opinion article published in today’s edition of the Australian Financial Review, lead restructuring partner Leon Zwier argues the case for serious reform of Australia’s restructuring regime in the face of “Cyclone Trump” induced economic volatility. As one of the country’s pre-eminent lawyers in the field, Leon reasons that our current restructuring laws too often favour putting viable businesses under - while reforms in 2017 took us part of the way, he says the time is right to adjust the regime to be “more rehabilitative than punitive, more restorative than value destructive”.
29 April 2025
News Announcement
ABL recognised in 2025/26 Best Lawyers® International guide
In this year’s Best Lawyers® International guide, 52 Arnold Bloch Leibler lawyers have been recognised across 29 areas of practice.
17 April 2025
News Media
Mr Fix-It: The unusual legal practice of Leon Zwier
In a feature article published in the March edition of The Australian Financial Review Magazine, senior journalist Miriam Robin delves into the unique style and status of ABL partner Leon Zwier.
28 February 2025
News Announcement
ABL recognised in Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2025
Arnold Bloch Leibler (ABL) has been ranked across a number of categories in the 2025 edition of the independent Legal 500 Asia Pacific guide.
16 January 2025
News Announcement
Arnold Bloch Leibler listed in 2025 Chambers Asia Pacific guide
Arnold Bloch Leibler has once again been recognised in the Chambers Asia Pacific guide for 2025.
16 December 2024
Insights Media
How the Amy Gillett Foundation got back on its bike
In today’s AGE and SMH, restructuring and insolvency partner Genevieve Sexton is highlighted for her role in the successful corporate revival of the Amy Gillett Foundation, a charity named in memory of Australian Olympian Amy Gillett and dedicated to reducing cyclist fatalities on Australian roads.
13 September 2024
News Announcement
ABL ranked in Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024 guide
Arnold Bloch Leibler (ABL) has been listed across a number of categories in the 2024 edition of the independent Legal 500 Asia Pacific guide.
22 January 2024
News Announcement
Arnold Bloch Leibler recognised in 2024 Chambers Asia Pacific guide
Arnold Bloch Leibler has once again been listed in the Chambers Asia Pacific guide for 2024.
12 December 2023
Insights Media
Parliamentary committee accepts proposals from review chaired by ABL’s Genevieve Sexton
As reported in today’s AFR, a parliamentary committee has recommended that businesses holding assets in trusts should operate under the same laws as other corporations when they fall into financial strife to better help creditors get more of the money they’re owed and sooner.
13 July 2023
News Announcement
ABL recognised in Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2023
Arnold Bloch Leibler (ABL) has been listed across a number of categories in the 2023 edition of the independent Legal 500 Asia Pacific guide.
17 January 2023
News Announcement
Arnold Bloch Leibler listed in 2023 Chambers Asia Pacific guide
Arnold Bloch Leibler has once again been highly listed in the Chambers Asia Pacific guide for 2023.
16 December 2022
News Announcement
Arnold Bloch Leibler named in the 2022 Doyle’s Guide
Arnold Bloch Leibler has once again been featured across a number of practice areas in this year’s Doyle’s Guide to the Australian legal profession.
9 November 2022
News Announcement
ABL named ‘Law Firm of the Year’ for Insolvency & Reorganisation Law
Arnold Bloch Leibler has been recognised as ‘Law Firm of the Year’ for Insolvency & Reorganisation Law by this year’s Best Lawyers International peer-reviewed guide.
3 May 2022
News Announcement
Arnold Bloch Leibler voted Australia’s ‘Law firm of the Year’ in two practice areas
Covering the annual results in today’s AFR, legal editor Michael Pelly notes that Arnold Bloch Leibler was the only firm with fewer than 90 partners (we currently have 43 partners) to win more than one category. He quotes managing partner Henry Lanzer AM saying that tax and insolvency “embody the essence” of the firm, singling out practice leaders Mark Leibler AC and Leon Zwier.
21 April 2022
Insights Media
AICD alerts directors to key findings from Safe Harbour review
In an article published by the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), partner Genevieve Sexton, who chaired the review into Australia’s Insolvent Trading Safe Harbour, explains that it’s important for directors to be aware of the findings and the path ahead.
12 April 2022
Insights Media
Review finds Australia’s insolvency laws “an impenetrable quagmire” to non-specialists
The review of Australia’s insolvent trading safe harbour, chaired by Arnold Bloch Leibler partner Genevieve Sexton alongside Stephen Parbery from Phelps-Kroll and Leanne Chesser from KordaMentha, has called for clarification of safe harbour provisions and a focus on education to assist directors and advisers in their understanding of the provisions.
25 March 2022
News Announcement
Legal 500 Asia Pacific results 2022
Arnold Bloch Leibler (ABL) has been listed across a number of categories in the 2022 edition of the independent Legal 500 Asia Pacific guide.
17 January 2022
News Announcement
Arnold Bloch Leibler recognised in 2022 Chambers Asia Pacific guide
Arnold Bloch Leibler has once again been featured in the Chambers Asia Pacific guide for 2022.
17 December 2021
Insights Media
The Arrium judgment - a radical shift or business as usual?
The December edition of the Australian Restructuring Insolvency & Turnaround Association (ARITA) journal includes a feature article, authored by members of ABL’s renowned litigation practice who represented the Liquidators of Arrium, exploring the impact of the decision by the NSW Supreme Court in proceedings brought by creditors of the Arrium group.
14 December 2021
News Announcement
Arnold Bloch Leibler recognised in the 2021 Doyle’s Guide
Arnold Bloch Leibler has once again featured across a number of practice areas in the 2021 Doyle’s Guide to the Australian legal profession.
9 November 2021
News Announcement
Genevieve Sexton to head Safe Harbour Review Panel
Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar has announced a three-person panel to review the insolvent trading safe harbour, which will be chaired by banking and finance partner Genevieve Sexton.
23 August 2021
News Announcement
Elyse Hilton featured as one of Australia’s “Litigation Rising Stars”
Profiled by legal news publication Lawyerly as one of the country’s top young litigators, Elyse says that while litigation lawyers have the reputation of being aggressive, the reality is quite different.
17 June 2021
Insights Media
Former Arrium directors “had reasonable grounds to suspect insolvency”
Three separate legal actions spawned by the collapse of the Arrium Group in 2016 commenced this week in the NSW Supreme Court.
3 March 2021
News Announcement
2021 Legal 500 Asia Pacific results
Arnold Bloch Leibler (ABL) has been listed across a number of categories in the 2021 edition of the independent Legal 500 Asia Pacific guide.
19 January 2021
News Announcement
Arnold Bloch Leibler features in 2021 Chambers Asia Pacific guide
Arnold Bloch Leibler has once again been recognised as a leading firm by the independent legal guide Chambers Asia Pacific.
16 December 2020
News Announcement
ABL recognised at 2020 TMA Australia awards
Arnold Bloch Leibler advised on two deals that were recognised at the prestigious Turnaround Management Association (TMA) Australia’s annual awards.
3 December 2020
News Deals & matters
ABL advises on PAS Group sale, saving Aussie retail brands and 1000 jobs
Arnold Bloch Leibler (ABL) has advised the administrators of fashion retailer PAS Group on its sale to private equity firm, Queens Lane Capital.
30 October 2020
News Announcement
Bradman Foundation appoints Leon Zwier as next Chairman
The Board of the Bradman Foundation has announced that Arnold Bloch Leibler partner Leon Zwier will take over as the Foundation’s Chair in December 2020. Leon will become the eighth chairman of the Foundation, succeeding current Chair, Maurice Newman AC.
11 September 2020
News Announcement
2020 Partner, Special Counsel and Senior Associate announcement
The partners of Arnold Bloch Leibler are delighted to announce this year’s Partner, Special Counsel and Senior Associate appointments, effective July 2020.
25 June 2020
News Deals & matters
ABL advises BGH Capital on Virgin Australia bid
As reported in the Australian Financial Review and The Australian, Arnold Bloch Leibler is advising BGH Capital on its potential bid for a stake in Virgin Australia (in administration)
19 April 2020
Insights Events
Scholarship honour for “giant” of restructuring
Welcoming guests to the launch of the Stephen Parbery Scholarship in Sydney last week, partner Leon Zwier explained that Arnold Bloch Leibler had previously initiated scholarships honouring legal luminaries who had influenced the direction and culture of the profession.
20 November 2019
Insights Events
Insights from the Debtwire Australia Restructuring Forum
Arnold Bloch Leibler (ABL) Partners Stephen Lloyd and Christine Fleer featured during panel sessions and shared insights into restructuring in the retail sector and high-profile matters including Arrium.
23 October 2019
Insights Media
Elyse Hilton: Taking on the 'boozy, blokey' insolvency club
Newly appointed Arnold Bloch Leibler (ABL) partner Elyse Hilton - who started with ABL as a law graduate - says she’s always felt she could “carve out her own niche” at the firm.
5 July 2019
Insights Article
New partner Elyse Hilton on market trends
We spoke with newly appointed Dispute resolution & litigation partner Elyse Hilton about the top market trends that will affect her clients in the next year.
1 July 2019
News Announcement
2019 Partner, Special Counsel and Senior Associate announcement
The partners of Arnold Bloch Leibler are delighted to announce this year’s Partner, Special Counsel and Senior Associate appointments, effective July 2019.
28 June 2019
News Deals & matters
2020 Best Lawyers® International results
A total of 32 Arnold Bloch Leibler (ABL) lawyers across 24 areas of legal practice have been recognised in this year’s Best Lawyers® International list for Australia.
22 March 2019
Insights Article
Sitting on a document mine: Creditors given access to public examination documents
In a recent decision relating to the Arrium administration, the New South Wales Supreme Court allowed novel applications permitting creditors of the Arrium Group companies to access and to use the records of public examinations, including to pursue their own legal actions.
21 February 2019
News Announcement
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific results 2019
Arnold Bloch Leibler (ABL) has been ranked across a number categories in the 2019 edition of the independent Legal 500 Asia Pacific guide.
25 January 2019
News Announcement
Arnold Bloch Leibler recognised in the 2018 Doyle’s Guide
Arnold Bloch Leibler (ABL) has been listed across a number of practice areas in the 2018 Doyle’s Guide to the Australian legal profession.
12 December 2018
News Announcement
Arnold Bloch Leibler listed in Chambers Asia Pacific 2019
Arnold Bloch Leibler (ABL) has received 22 individual lawyer rankings in the Asia Pacific guide of 2019 international legal directory Chambers and Partners.
3 December 2018
Insights Events
Wrap up: Debtwire Australia Restructuring Forum
Arnold Bloch Leibler (ABL) Partners Genevieve Sexton and Justin Vaatstra shared their views at the Debtwire Australia Restructuring Forum on recent reforms in insolvency and reconstruction, the impact of the Royal Commission and recent high-profile matters including Slater & Gordon.
8 November 2018
News Announcement
ABL finalists in the 2018 Women in Law Awards
Lawyers Weekly has announced the finalists for the 2018 Women in Law Awards, and Arnold Bloch Leibler is delighted to be represented by partners in two award categories: Genevieve Sexton is a finalist for Dealmaker of the Year and Christine Fleer is a finalist for Partner of the Year.
9 October 2018
Insights Media
Receivers, circulating assets & employees as priority creditors
In an article published in the ARITA Journal, ABL senior associate Stephen Lloyd explains the obligations imposed on receivers by s 433 of the Corporations Act.
28 June 2018
News Announcement
ABL wins two deal awards for Arrium restructure at the Australasian Law Awards
Last night Arnold Bloch Leibler took home 'Insolvency & Restructuring Deal of the Year' and 'Australian Deal of the Year' at the prestigious Australasian Law Awards for 2018.
18 May 2018
News Announcement
33 ABL lawyers listed in Best Lawyers 2019 guide
A total of 33 Arnold Bloch Leibler (ABL) lawyers across 23 areas of legal practice have been recognised in this year’s Best Lawyers® International list for Australia.
12 April 2018
News Announcement
ABL named a finalist for ‘Law Firm of the Year’ at the Australasian Law Awards
Arnold Bloch Leibler has been announced as a finalist for Law Firm of the Year at the 2018 Australasian Law Awards.
26 March 2018