Featured Member
Jane Marshall
How did you first become involved in the world of restructuring and insolvency?
By chance, like most good things in life. My last seat as a trainee was with a partner who was advising the liquidator of a bank. I stayed on with him after I qualified.
What is the best part of your job?
The talented, creative, funny, hardworking restructuring team around me.
What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
Balancing client needs and court deadlines with essential administration.
What character from a novel or film best describes your style of practice?
James Bond boss "M", although none of our staff are licensed to kill.
What is your favourite reported insolvency law case (you can only pick one)?
In re Hunting Lodges Ltd [1984] IEHC 3 on women directors and fraudulent trading "The day has long passed since married women were classified with infants and persons of unsound mind as suffering from a disability so far as responsibility for their acts was concerned."
If you had not been a lawyer what other job would you have done, would you have enjoyed that job better and would you have been any good at it?
I am very interested in the environment so maybe an ecologist. Enjoyed it - probably. Been any good at it - maybe not so good with bats.
What is your most memorable career moment?
Being invited to join the partnership in 1986.
What do you think are the greatest challenges / changes in our profession in the next 10 years?
Continuing to find innovative solutions for clients, which are flexible enough to meet their short term and longer term needs in a constantly changing environment.
What is your favourite novel, film and piece of music?
Let the Great World Spin by Colm McCann, Shawshank Redemption, 1812 Overture.
If you were able to repeal or change one insolvency rule or principle, which one would it be and why?
In the present economic environment in Ireland the thresholds required to get into and out of examinership (restructuring procedure) are inflexible and inappropriate in my opinion. The tests have been further narrowed by two decisions of the Supreme Court within the last year. Although in both cases I was on the side successfully arguing for the narrower tests, I would recommend the legislature to remove any test, other than insolvency, for entering the procedure and alter the focus from "survival of the company as a going concern" to survival of the business in a solvent entity for the exit.
What do you do in your 'down time'?
Catch up with my garden and some bird watching, if I really have time on my hands.
Jam or marmite?
Honey.
If you were able (and could afford) to retire tomorrow, what would you do?
Train to work on an adult literacy programme and spend some more time in France.
What prompted you to join the ILA and what benefit of membership would you most recommend to someone who is thinking of joining?
I was invited as one of the very early overseas members, an invitation which I greatly appreciated. The technical bulletins are very useful.
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