I’m a senior restructuring and complex disputes lawyer with over 22 years advising various ASX listed companies across a broad range of industries, from financial services, property management, construction and infrastructure, mining, education, retail, media and technology to credit funds and private equity.

What I enjoy most about working in the turnaround industry is that it is unique and dynamic. What has drawn me to this industry is the challenge of finding pragmatic solutions to what often appear to be unsolvable problems, and working alongside boards, financiers, stakeholders and industry peers to achieve outcomes that preserve value, jobs and positively impact industries.

I have been attending the TMA annual conference for many years. As a mid level lawyer, I found it to be highly valuable from both an educational and relationship building perspective. A few years ago, I stepped onto the NSW Committee and have since contributed to the NOW initiatives, the National Annual Conference and NSW Education Day. 

Something that my colleagues or fellow TMA members would be surprised to learn about me is that I have always had a strong passion for world music and dance, starting from classical ballet to Armenian, Georgian and Russian folkloric styles, to then Cuban salsa, Brazilian samba and zouk. This pursuit has taken me across the globe to various festivals and competitions. 

The best piece of professional advice I’ve ever been given is "be the calmest person in the room". 

The best things about being a TMA member are that there’s a real depth of connectivity for Australian professionals across the entire restructuring and turnaround ecosystem from lawyers, insolvency practitioners, to financiers, funds, investors and management consultants. It is truly a collaborative space where we all share learnings, stay ahead of market trends and build trusted relationships. 

One area of reform that I’d like to see for the turnaround and restructuring market would be a revision of our insolvent trading regime. While the introduction of the safe harbour regime has given boards a robust safety net to undertake turnaround and restructurings outside of a formal insolvency process, we can go further. The UK's wrongful trading regime is far more commercially aligned in my view, and in the US, Chapter 11 facilitates debtor-led restructurings without automatically penalising directors for trading while insolvent.

Learn more about Taline and Mills Oakley.