Jessica Powers

Jessica accepts instructions from creditors, debtors and companies, and office holders in all areas of corporate and personal insolvency. She has a particular interest and expertise in antecedent recoveries.

Recent matters include:

• Advised an offshore communications company as to the extent of its contractual obligations, and the applicability and scope of the “creditor-duty” given the company’s solvency position.
• Hyde v Djurberg [2024] EWHC 1188 (Ch); [2024] B.P.I.R. 1073 and Hyde v Djurberg [2022] EWHC 1534 (Ch); [2022] B.P.I.R. 1493 – instructed by Mr Djurberg’s trustees in bankruptcy in relation to investigations and recovery of after-acquired property, including applying on an urgent, ex parte basis for a search and seizure order pursuant to s. 365 of the Insolvency Act 1986, and the trial of the application to recover after-acquired property through to trial (including obtaining various proprietary freezing injunctions).
• Rowe v Redbones Ltd [2024] EWHC 369 (Ch) – acted for the liquidators of a company authorised by the FCA seeking directions as to the applicable regulatory regime, and the consequences of that for the distribution of monies.
• Re Ivey – instructed by the ex-spouse of a bankrupt. Appeared on a contested application for a private examination, which was ordered, although permission to appeal was subsequently granted, and proposed claims by the bankrupt’s trustees in bankruptcy.
• Re James Court Limited [2023] EWHC 1101 (Ch); [2023] B.P.I.R. 1365 – instructed by the liquidator of James Court Limited to recover void payments. The case involved a novel, and ultimately unsuccessful, change of position defence.
• Re Swindon Town Football Company Limited [2022] EWHC 2071 (Ch) – acted, with David Eaton Turner, for Swindon Town Football Company Limited in opposing a winding-up petition on the basis that the petition debt is genuinely disputed on substantial grounds.
• Advised a fintech company as to its solvency, and the potential liabilities of its directors were it to be trading insolvently.
• Re Field [2021] EWHC 2474 (Ch) – acted on behalf of HMRC as petitioning creditor on a bankruptcy petition which was opposed on the basis that trade loss relief claims which had not yet been allowed should be set off against the petition debt.
• Re High Road 182 Ltd  – obtained an urgent interim proprietary injunction on behalf of the Official Receiver, acting as liquidator, in respect of the transfer and subsequent mortgage of a commercial property.
• Re Ide [2020] EWCA Civ 1469; [2021] 1 W.L.R. 1076 and Re Ide [2020] EWHC 230 (Ch); [2020] 4 W.L.R. 48 – instructed by the Fourth and Fifth Respondents in an application to strike out an originating application by trustees in bankruptcy because of late service of that application at first instance, and on appeal to the Court of Appeal (unled).
• Re Inspired Asset Management Limited (In Administration) [2019] EWHC 3301 (Ch) – acted on behalf of administrators in an application seeking a power to remove and appoint directors of wholly-owned subsidiary SPVs.
• Advised on the merits of opposing a winding-up petition founded upon an alleged assignment of a multi-million Euro debt.
• Re A Company – successfully applied to strike out a winding up petition presented against an FCA-regulated company.
• Advised on a section 110 Insolvency Act 1986 restructuring, including stamp duty issues.
• Advised a number of London Boroughs on the process and procedure of recovering funds from insolvent estates.

Jessica is instructed by both lenders and individuals in banking and finance matters. She has advisory and advocacy experience of claims arising out of guarantees, debentures, mortgages, and factoring and invoice discounting arrangements.

Jessica has acted in numerous contractual disputes concerning the sale of goods and supply of services, including building disputes.

• Hevedi v Hevedi [2025] EWHC 1976 (Ch) – instructed by creditors of the defendant to intervene in proceedings concerning the beneficial ownership of a valuable residential property, over which the creditors held a charging order.
• C & M Wealth International Ltd v Smith – instructed by Mr Smith to, firstly, set aside a statutory demand served by C & M Wealth International Ltd, and, following the setting aside of that statutory demand, to oppose a multi-million pound claim brought against Mr Smith in reliance upon a personal guarantee.
• Peel v Sizer – instructed by the defendant in a claim seeking declarations as to the claimant’s interest in a property portfolio, alleged to have been the property of an alleged partnership between the parties.
• Aroncorp Limited v Shah and ors – acted, with Nicola Rushton KC, on behalf of two defendants in respect of a multi-million pound damages claim for alleged breaches of directors’ duties.
• Matt v Fox – instructed by the claimant to recover sums paid to her former daughter-in-law pursuant to a Quistclose trust.
• Al Assam v Tsouvelekakis [2022] EWHC 451 (Ch); [2022] W.T.L.R. 787, Al Assam v Tsouvelekakis [2022] EWHC 2111 (Ch), Al Assam v Tsouvelekakis [2022] EWHC 2137 (Ch) – acted on behalf of the Claimants, with Simon Adamyk, in a complex, multi-million dollar claim arising out of the management of two Cypriot trusts.
• Advised two purchasers of cryptocurrency as to their contractual rights and remedies.
• Advised on whether UK companies limited by guarantee, incorporated to act as the registered proprietors of investment properties and resorts in Cape Verde, were alternative investment funds within the meaning of the EU Directive on Alternative Investment Fund Managers.
• Advised two investors in a fully segregated sub-fund of a protected cell company registered in Gibraltar in relation to a number of issues arising out of and in the context of ongoing litigation in Gibraltar.
• Advised on the consequences of termination of a commercial agency agreement governed by German law.
• Advised on the merits of a professional negligence claim against conveyancing solicitors following the clients’ entry into a failed SDLT avoidance scheme.
• D&G Cars Ltd v Essex Police Authority [2015] EWHC 226 (QB) – instructed as junior counsel on behalf of the Claimant company in an action for breach of contract and breach of the Public Contracts Regulations 2006.

Jessica is instructed in a broad range of company and partnership matters, including shareholder disputes and unfair prejudice petitions, solvent restructurings (including schemes of arrangement), and company registration matters. She is also particularly able to assist in matters of company law which overlap with corporate insolvency issues, such as directors’ duties and director’s disqualification matters.

Recent matters include:

• Re Condor Gold PLC – acted for Condor Gold PLC in obtaining sanction of a scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006.
• Re Interactive Media Group Limited (In Liquidation) [2024] EWHC 528 (Ch) – instructed by the respondent shareholder on applications to strike out three unfair prejudice petitions on the bases that the petitioner was not a shareholder of two of the companies, and that the parent company was insolvent at all material times.
• Re Arch+Star Architecture and Engineering Limited – obtained an urgent order to rectify the register pursuant to sections 790V and 1096 of the Companies Act 2006, following the submission of false filings by the former accountant of the company which were adversely affecting criminal proceedings in Italy arising out of an alleged fraud on the company.
• Advised the director and minority shareholder of a currency exchange company following his summary dismissal and alleged triggering of “bad leaver” provisions.
• Advised the director and minority shareholder of a start-up footwear company following termination of his director’s service agreement and alleged triggering of “bad leaver” provisions.
• Re Genesis Training Group Ltd – acted on behalf of a director and minority shareholder on an unfair prejudice, and just and equitable winding up petition.
• Advised a leading distributor of needlecraft products as to competition and restraint of trade issues.
• Vaughan v Secretary of State for Business and Trade – advised a director as to proposed disqualification proceedings arising out of an application for a Bounce Back Loan, and an application for permission to act.
• Re World Lifestyle Business Limited  – urgently obtained an order to rectify the register pursuant to sections 790V and 1096 of the Companies Act 2006, following the submission of false filings by an aggrieved former accountant of the company.
• Re McFletch Limited and ors – acted on behalf of the executors of a deceased sole director/shareholder of a number of companies in obtaining an order to rectify the register of members to remove the deceased shareholder and include the executors.
• Advised a director of a cryptocurrency company as to the process for removal of his fellow directors pursuant to section 168 of the Companies Act 2006.
• Advised a Jersey company as to whether it was bound by a contract signed by a single director, purportedly for and on behalf of the company, and the available causes of action against that director.
• Advised two companies on formal reductions of share capital.
• Re Free.Zee Ltd  – obtained a public interest winding-up order on behalf of the Secretary of State.
• Re Dau Components Limited – successfully opposed a claim pursuant to s.1096(1) of the Companies Act 2006 to remove material from the register, acting on behalf of the Registrar of Companies.
• Khan v Pandya and Pandya – instructed by the Claimant, the son of a deceased partner, in the trial of a preliminary issue as to whether the deceased remained a partner to the date of his death.

• BPTC (Very Competent), Kaplan Law School, 2012
• GDL (Pass with Distinction), Kaplan Law School, 2011
• English and Related Literature BA (Hons) (First Class), University of York, 2010

• Barrister of the Year Award, Inspirational Women in Law Awards 2023
• Diversity & Inclusion: Future Leader Award, Chambers & Partners Awards, 2023
• Diversity & Inclusion Rising Star Finalist, Women, Influence & Power Awards, 2023
• BPTC Major Scholarship, Inner Temple, 2011
• BPTC Advocacy Scholarship, Kaplan Law School, 2011
• GDL Exhibition Award, Inner Temple, 2010
• GDL Scholarship, Kaplan Law School, 2010

• Chancery Bar Association
• Commercial Bar Association (COMBAR)
• R3 (Associate Member)
• Insolvency Lawyers Association (Associate Member)
• INSOL International

• Yes

‘Excellent technical lawyer and advocate – very effective, at home in the detail, and big picture strategy.’

Legal 500 UK Bar 2025 – Insolvency: Tier 4

‘A practical junior who is great on her feet.’

Legal 500 UK Bar 2025 – Company: Tier 5

‘Jessica is very bright and hard-working. She is always thorough and well-prepared, coupled with a calm demeanour. As well as being technically excellent, she is also very mindful of the need to take a commercial and pragmatic approach.’

Legal 500 UK Bar 2025 – Commercial Litigation: Tier 5

“She’s a pleasure to work with.”
“Jessica Powers has a very good knowledge of insolvency and has very good attention to detail.”
“She is very proactive, and deals with instructions quickly and effectively.”
“She’s able to break down complex commercial problems and relay them simply in court.”
“She’s strong on her feet and has an adaptable style.”
“Jessica is excellent in commercial insolvency disputes.”

Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2025 – Restructuring/Insolvency: Tier 5

“Jessica is a rising star.” “She has an incredible analytical ability and she is very persuasive on her feet.”
“She is technically very rigorous, very practical at finding solutions and very on top of the law and its applications.”

Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2024 – Restructuring/Insolvency: Tier 5

“All-rounder. exceptionally bright and conscientious, very approachable, and highly recommended by all clients.”

Legal 500 UK Bar 2024 – Commercial Litigation: Tier 5

“Technically brilliant and bright, very prompt and very likely with judges and clients alike.”

Legal 500 UK Bar 2024 – Restructuring/Insolvency: Tier 5

“She is clear and decisive in her advice.”

Legal 500 UK Bar 2023 – Restructuring/Insolvency: Tier 5

“Very bright, very thorough and a superb advocate.”

Legal 500 UK Bar 2022

“Very quick to get on top of complex material; detail focused, but also down-to-earth and easy to talk to; excellent on her feet.”

Legal 500 UK Bar 2021