Karl Anderson
Barrister
Described as a “charming and first rate junior who produces written work of exceptional quality” and as an “excellent tactician” with a “formidable intellect” who “adds great fire power to any legal team”, Karl maintains a broad commercial practice. He is ranked in the Legal 500 as a ‘Leading Junior’ in Banking and Finance (Band 3), Insolvency (Band 4), and Civil Fraud (Band 4), and in Chambers and Partners as ‘Up and Coming’ in Company and Civil Fraud.
Karl has extensive experience as a High Court trial advocate. Described as a “skilled and efficient cross-examiner” who “holds his own as an advocate” and who “has a fine delivery style and builds up a nice rapport with judges”, Karl has conducted multiple trials as sole counsel.
In addition, Karl is regularly instructed as part of a larger counsel team in complex and high value claims in both the Commercial Court and the Chancery Division. A recent example is Autonomy Corporation Ltd v Lynch [2022] EWHC 1178 (Ch); [2025] EWHC 1877 (Ch) – a c.$8 billion civil fraud claim involving a 10-month trial which was described by the trial judge as “amongst the longest and most complex in English legal history”.
In addition to publishing various articles and case notes, Karl is a contributor to Loose and Griffiths on Liquidators 9th Ed. (LexisNexis 2019) and a contributor to Mithani: Directors’ Disqualification (LexisNexis).
Practice Area
Panels
- Case Analysis Panel
- Contributing Author
- Q&A Panel
Qualified Year
- 2017
Membership
- Chancery Bar Association
- COMBAR
- Insolvency Lawyers' Association
- Financial Services Lawyers' Association
Qualifications
- BPTC (2017)
- BCL (2016)
- BA (Hons) (2015)
Education
- BPP (2016-2017)
- Christ Church, University of Oxford (2015-2016)
- Queens’ College, University of Cambridge (2012-2015)
9 Contributions by Karl Anderson
PRACTICE NOTES
Compulsory winding-up by creditor’s petition in England and Wales: pre-issue checks, service, Gazette notice, hearings and orders
Practice Note
This Practice Note sets out the applicable practice and procedure that applies to the winding up of a company (the debtor) pursuant to a creditors’ winding-up petition.
The most frequent circumstances in which such a petition is presented are as follows:
a creditor has served a statutory demand on the debtor and, after the 21-day period has lapsed, the company has not paid, secured, or compounded the amount due (see Practice Note: Company statutory demand)...
Restructuring & Insolvency
PRACTICE NOTES
Compulsory winding-up order: required order contents, Official Receiver notifications and powers, liquidator appointment, statements of affairs, public examinations, and stays of proceedings (England and Wales)
The winding up of a company is treated as having begun on the day the winding-up petition is presented. While a prescribed template for a winding-up order no longer exists, the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 (IR 2016), SI 2016/1024, r 7.20 — and, with altered provisions in r 7.32 where the winding up follows the termination of an administrator’s appointment or there is a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) supervisor — set out the following particulars that must appear:
the case identification details
the judge’s name and title issuing the order
the petitioner’s name and postal address
the petitioner’s capacity entitling them to present the petition (for example, the company, a creditor, or a regulator)
the date the petition was lodged
an order that the company be wound up by the court under the Insolvency Act 1986 (IA 1986)
a statement confirming whether the proceedings are COMI proceedings, establishment proceedings, or proceedings to which Regulation (EU) 848/2015 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2015 on insolvency proceedings (recast) as it...
Restructuring & Insolvency
PRACTICE NOTES
Creditors’ voluntary liquidation (England and Wales): when an insolvent company can be wound up, how it is commenced, and distinction from a members’ voluntary liquidation
The procedure enabling an insolvent company to be voluntarily wound up is known as a creditors’ voluntary liquidation (CVL). In a CVL, the board initiates matters by convening a general meeting at which members decide on a resolution to place the company into liquidation. This route is commonly regarded as the alternative to a compulsory winding up by the court on a petition brought against the company, most often by a creditor, rather than through formal court proceedings...
Restructuring & Insolvency
PRACTICE NOTES
Creditors’ voluntary liquidation: effects on the company, directors, members, employees and legal proceedings; directors’ duties, statement of affairs and prohibited names (England and Wales)
This Practice Note outlines the impact of a creditors’ voluntary liquidation (CVL) on:
the company
the company’s officers
the company’s members
the company’s employees
legal proceedings
The effect on the company
From the date the resolution to wind up is passed, the company must halt its business, except to the extent continuation is needed for a beneficial winding-up. However, the company’s corporate status and powers persist until dissolution, regardless of anything inconsistent in its articles. Consequently, in a voluntary liquidation the liquidator must act in the company’s name unless the Insolvency Act 1986 or the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 (SI 2016/1024) specifically empower them to act personally. Shares in a company that has entered voluntary liquidation cannot be transferred without the liquidator’s sanction, and any change in the members’ status made after the commencement of the voluntary winding up is void. The liquidator is also under a duty to investigate whether there have been, among other things, any transactions at an...
Restructuring & Insolvency
PRACTICE NOTES
Dissolution following compulsory winding up or creditors’ voluntary liquidation: procedures, creditor notices, liquidator release, early dissolution, and post-dissolution consequences (England and Wales)
Compulsory liquidation or winding up by the court Where the Official Receiver is appointed
When the court makes a winding-up order, the official receiver (OR) takes office as liquidator. After the OR has finished their enquiries and considers the winding up practically complete, they may lodge a notice with the registrar of companies confirming that the court winding up has been concluded. A winding up is treated as complete when the liquidator has taken the company’s affairs as far as possible towards closure. The company is dissolved three months after the registrar registers that notice. Under the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 (IR 2016), SI 2016/1024, r 7.70, the OR must send creditors a notice of intention to dissolve before notifying the Secretary of State, under section 174(3) of the Insolvency Act 1986 (IA 1986), that the winding up is for practical purposes complete. That notice must be accompanied by a summary of the OR’s receipts and payments in their capacity as liquidator, which must also contain a statement setting out the amount paid to unsecured creditors under IA 1986, s 176A (the as referenced above and within the cited provisions concerning the winding up process herein as noted)...
Restructuring & Insolvency
PRACTICE NOTES
Statutory Demands for Company Debts: Purpose, When to Use (and Not), Content, Service and Winding‑Up Consequences (England and Wales)
The purpose of a statutory demand
The purpose of a statutory demand is to demonstrate that a company cannot pay its debts, rather than the creditor relying on section 123(1)(e) or section 123(2) of the Insolvency Act 1986 (IA 1986). A statutory demand is a written demand, in the prescribed form, for a debt over £750, served on a company by leaving it at the company’s registered office (IA 1986, s 123(1)(a)). This threshold is not altered by the increase in the bankruptcy level for bankruptcy petitions from £750 to £5,000 that came into force on 1 October 2015. If the statutory demand is left unpaid and is not disputed, the company is treated as unable to pay its debts, giving a creditor grounds to present a winding-up petition against the company.
When not to use a statutory demand
A statutory demand should not be used where:
there is a genuine dispute about the amount owed
the company has a cross-claim or counterclaim that equals or exceeds the sum due
the company has a reasonable excuse for non-payment, for example where payment is prohibited by law...
Restructuring & Insolvency
PRACTICE NOTES
Validation orders for post-petition dispositions: when to apply, procedure, evidence and court criteria under the Insolvency Act 1986, section 127 (England and Wales)
This Practice Note explains when a validation order should be sought and sets out the steps to be taken.
Why might an application for a validation order need to be made?
Under section 127 of the Insolvency Act 1986 (IA 1986), any disposition of a company’s property after the start of a winding up is void.
Examples of dispositions include:
payments from a bank account; on learning of a winding-up petition, a bank will often freeze the account, preventing trading
payment of wages, salaries and other routine day-to-day expenditure by the company
disposal of a company asset, for example a land transaction
Whether or not the disposition is at full market value is immaterial: it may still fall within IA 1986, s 127.
Although IA 1986, s 127 renders void dispositions of the company’s property after winding up has commenced, this does not extend to dispositions made by a receiver of property within the relevant charge...
Restructuring & Insolvency
PRACTICE NOTES
Voluntary winding-up in England and Wales: resolutions, MVL/CVL conversion, creditor decision procedures, statements of affairs, liquidator appointment, statutory notices, and vacancy/release
The resolution to wind-up
A company can move into voluntary liquidation only if one of the following applies:
its fixed duration has ended, or an event specified in its articles as triggering liquidation has occurred, and the company has approved an ordinary resolution to wind up; or
it passes a special resolution to be wound up voluntarily.
See:
97 Notice of meeting to pass ordinary or special resolution to wind up: Encyclopaedia of Forms and Precedents [1441]
103 Special resolution to wind up and appoint liquidator: Encyclopaedia of Forms and Precedents [1452]
The former practice of proceeding by extraordinary resolution is no longer available under the Companies Act 2006.
Where the directors make a declaration of solvency under section 89 of the Insolvency Act 1986 (IA 1986), the company may proceed by way of a members’ voluntary liquidation (MVL). For further information, see Practice Note: What is a members’ voluntary liquidation and when is it typically used?
If they cannot do so, the company must instead enter a creditors’ voluntary liquidation (CVL). For further information, see Practice Note: Creditors' voluntary liquidation—circumstances in which an insolvent company may be wound up voluntarily.
In either case, the resolution must be put to...
Restructuring & Insolvency
CHECKLISTS
Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation (England and Wales): From Appointment to Closure - Notifications, Committees, Director Conduct, Investigations and Dividends Checklist
This Checklist outlines the position in relation to a creditors’ voluntary liquidation (CVL) with effect from 6 April 2017.
Notifications
The appointed liquidator must provide the registrar of companies with the following:
a copy of the statement of affairs, to be delivered within five business days after the conclusion of the decision procedure or deemed consent procedure relating to the liquidator’s appointment
a copy of the notice of appointment of liquidator, to be sent within 14 days of the appointment
The registrar of companies should be notified using Form 600CH.
If the liquidator chooses to move the company’s registered office to their business address, they should also submit to the registrar of companies a copy confirming the change of registered office (if this has not already been filed).
In February 2014, Companies House issued guidance answering frequently asked questions about insolvency filings at Companies House (most recently updated on 10 March 2022). The guidance contains a list of the forms that the liquidator must file with the registrar of companies. See Companies House Guidance-Liquidation and insolvency GP08, February 2014, for details.
In addition, the liquidator is to advertise the following in the...
Restructuring & Insolvency
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