Leeds District
Registry, this month dismissed an attempt by Mr Paul Robert
Williams, a practising barrister, to overturn a five-year
Bankruptcy Restrictions Order (BRO) imposed upon him. The BRO was
imposed on Mr Williams following an investigation by The Official
Receiver’s Office in Hull, part of The Insolvency Service.
Paul Robert Williams, 44, of York, practising as ‘Paul Williams’,
a self-employed criminal barrister, was made bankrupt on 12
November 2009, having presented his own petition.
On Friday 1 April 2011, York County Court made a five-year
Bankruptcy Restrictions Order against Mr Williams for neglecting
his business affairs. He had also failed to pay a total of
£137,692 in respect of self-assessed income tax, national
insurance contributions and VAT. These sums had been assessed as
being due based on returns previously submitted by Mr Williams. Mr
Williams’ actions had materially contributed to his own bankruptcy
which resulted in financial losses to all classes of creditors.
The Order was made in Mr Williams’ absence having made an
unsuccessful last minute application for an adjournment.
Under the terms of the Bankruptcy Restrictions Order Mr Williams
is restricted from acting as a company director without the
permission of the court. He must also disclose his bankruptcy
restrictions when applying for credit of more than £500, and the
name by which he was made bankrupt when seeking to do any business
in a different name.
In deciding the length of the restriction, the judge took into
the account the period of time that the pattern of neglect had
been building up.
Mr Williams was given leave to appeal against the decision not to
grant an adjournment of the application for a Bankruptcy
Restrictions Order, and against the making of the Bankruptcy
Restrictions Order. His appeal was dismissed on 7 July 2011 by the
Leeds District Registry of the High Court sitting at York County
Court. In addition, an order for was made against Mr Williams.
Ends
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Notes to Editors
1. The Bankruptcy Restrictions Order was imposed in York County
Court on 1 April 2011 following inquiries conducted by the
Official Receiver’s Office, Hull. 2. The Insolvency Service
administers the insolvency regime investigating all compulsory
liquidations and individual insolvencies (bankruptcies) through
the Official Receiver to establish why they became insolvent. The
Service also authorises and regulates the insolvency profession;
deals with disqualification of directors in corporate failures;
assesses and pays statutory entitlement to redundancy payments
when an employer cannot or will not pay employees; provides
banking and investment services for bankruptcy and liquidation
estate funds; and advises ministers and other government
departments on insolvency law and practice. Further information
about the work of The Insolvency Service is available from
http://www.insolvency.gov.uk 3. All public enquiries concerning
the affairs of Mr Williams should be directed to the Official
Receiver’s Office, Hull: 01482 323729 or
hull.or@insolvency.gsi.gov.uk 4. Media enquiries should be
directed to: Ade Daramy, Press Officer on 020 7596 6187
Contacts:
Ade Daramy
Phone: 020 7596 6187
ade.daramy@insolvency.gsi.gov.uk