Nicholas Edwards

Partner, Head of Restructuring & Insolvency

Nicholas brings intellectual rigour, curiosity and creativity to all his work. As a Restructuring and Insolvency Partner, Nicholas is driven by the appeal of never having to face an ordinary situation, and always needing to bring innovative and novel solutions to the table. Whether helping clients address future risks, restructure debt or operations, sell assets or navigate troubled times, he keeps the lines of communication open and brings his trademark creativity and plain speaking to problem solving.

Advising on contentious and non-contentious issues arising from corporate distress, Nicholas represents financial institutions, insolvency practitioners, distressed debt funds, creditors, debtors and company directors. He has worked across a diverse range of industries, including retail, mining, media, construction and financial services.

Nicholas is the chairperson of KYUP! Project, a charitable organisation with the aim of ending the scourge of domestic violence and empowering the next generation to champion their safety and wellbeing.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Restructuring and Insolvency; Distressed Investing; Debt Trading

AWARDS

Best Lawyers (Australia), Litigation, 2025
Chambers and Partners, Asia Pacific Guide, Restructuring and Insolvency – Australia, Band 4, 2022 -2024
Lawyers Weekly, Partner of the Year Awards, Insolvency Partner of the Year, Finalist 2022-2024
Lawyers Weekly, Partner of the Year Awards, New Partner of the Year – 3 Years or Less, Finalist 2022
Legal 500, Asia Pacific Guide, Restructuring and Insolvency – Australia, Recommended Lawyer, 2022
Turnaround Management Association (TMA) Restructuring Deal of the Year, Mirabela Nickel Restructuring, 2014
Australasian Law Awards, Restructuring Deal of the Year and Deal of the Year, Channel 9 Restructuring, 2013

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Contemporary Cultures (Writing) – University of Technology Sydney
Australian Restructuring Insolvency and Turnaround Association (ARITA) Educational Program
Admitted to practice in New South Wales

SELECTED REPRESENTATIONS

Acting for Vaughan Strawbridge, Sam Marsden and Jason Tracy of Deloitte in their capacity as administrators of the Colette by Colette Hayman business.
Advising Gayle Dickerson, Phil Quinlan and Morgan Kelly of KPMG in their capacity as administrators of the Zanui business.
Advising on the restructure of Nine Entertainment (at the time largest debt for equity swap in Australia), working with Nine and its directors in leading the restructure and scheme of arrangement process, involving a $3.4 billion conversion of debt to equity.
Advising Martin Madden, David Winterbottom and Richard Tucker of KordaMentha in their capacity as administrators of Mirabela Nickel (first time section 444GA was used in a listed context), advising the administrators and the majority US noteholders on its successful restructure.
Advising Oaktree and Centrebridge on the recapitalisation and successful restructure of Billabong (fast paced and exciting transaction that involved a successful application to the takeovers panel).
Advising Richard Tucker, Jarrod Villani and Robert Hutson of KordaMentha as administrators of Black Oak Minerals.
Advising Brookfield on the restructure of the Flow Systems business through deed of company arrangement.
Advising Rahul Goyal, Richard Tucker and John Bumbak of KordaMentha as administrators of Australian Abrasive Minerals.