Directors Banned for Accepting Orders They Couldn’t Fulfill
George and Williamina Hay, directors of DWH Trading Ltd, were banned after continuing to accept orders they couldn’t fulfill, despite knowing the company was insolvent.
Neil O’Callaghan
Dispute Resolution, Commercial Litigation, Debt Collection
Neil is a partner and head of our Dispute Resolution Team.
Contact Information
TestimonialsIn terms of what makes the firm unique, having Neil O’Callaghan means that clients can get the same quality of service as they might expect from a specialist City firm, without paying City prices.Legal 500 2025Neil O’Callaghan is an excellent solicitor with a great command of the relevant legal framework and the facts of this case. During a conference with the client, Neil was very helpful in bridging the complex legal advice given and the commercial objectives of the client.Legal 500 2025Neil O’Callaghan is an excellent and knowledgeable lawyer and a pleasure to work with. He is a specialist in this area and a real asset to the firm. I wish to take this opportunity to thank those involved in my case for their wisdom and professional guidance throughout my case period.Legal 500 2025Neil O’Callaghan has great tactical and legal instincts, and is thorough and focused on getting the outcomes his clients want and needLegal 500 2024You were straight with me about the possible costs and you stuck to the agreed budget.Machins Solicitors LLP handles a range of contentious matters, including partnership and property disputes, insolvency litigation, and disputes arising from breach of fiduciary duty. Neil O'Callaghan heads the team, which recently acted for the defendant in a multi-party High Court bankruptcy claim. Other recent work includes acting in a High Court claim for damages in excess of £1.6m relating to faulty products connected to the oil industry, and successfully defending a client against claims for damages arising from allegations of harassment.Legal 500Neil O'Callaghan has 'excellent communication skills' and 'a great wealth of experience to draw upon'.Legal 500Neil O'Callaghan leads a very strong team of commercial litigators who punch above their weight. Always a pleasure to deal with and great with clients for whom they go above and beyond in securing good commercial resolutions to disputes.Legal 500 2022I take this opportunity to thank you and Janice for the sterling work your team has carried out on our behalf and achieved excellent results.I'd like to thank you for your excellent services and the professional manner in which you handled this matter.Assistant Manager, Haines WattsExemplary professionalismWe have just finished using Neil and team at Machins Solicitors for a business related legal matter - we found them to be extremely efficient, thorough and helpful. We would definitely recommend their services.Google 5* Review
In terms of what makes the firm unique, having Neil O’Callaghan means that clients can get the same quality of service as they might expect from a specialist City firm, without paying City prices.
Legal 500 2025
Neil O’Callaghan is an excellent solicitor with a great command of the relevant legal framework and the facts of this case. During a conference with the client, Neil was very helpful in bridging the complex legal advice given and the commercial objectives of the client.
Legal 500 2025
Neil O’Callaghan is an excellent and knowledgeable lawyer and a pleasure to work with. He is a specialist in this area and a real asset to the firm. I wish to take this opportunity to thank those involved in my case for their wisdom and professional guidance throughout my case period.
Legal 500 2025
Neil O’Callaghan has great tactical and legal instincts, and is thorough and focused on getting the outcomes his clients want and need
Legal 500 2024
You were straight with me about the possible costs and you stuck to the agreed budget.
Machins Solicitors LLP handles a range of contentious matters, including partnership and property disputes, insolvency litigation, and disputes arising from breach of fiduciary duty. Neil O'Callaghan heads the team, which recently acted for the defendant in a multi-party High Court bankruptcy claim. Other recent work includes acting in a High Court claim for damages in excess of £1.6m relating to faulty products connected to the oil industry, and successfully defending a client against claims for damages arising from allegations of harassment.
Legal 500
Neil O'Callaghan has 'excellent communication skills' and 'a great wealth of experience to draw upon'.
Legal 500
Neil O'Callaghan leads a very strong team of commercial litigators who punch above their weight. Always a pleasure to deal with and great with clients for whom they go above and beyond in securing good commercial resolutions to disputes.
Legal 500 2022
I take this opportunity to thank you and Janice for the sterling work your team has carried out on our behalf and achieved excellent results.
I'd like to thank you for your excellent services and the professional manner in which you handled this matter.
Assistant Manager, Haines Watts
Exemplary professionalism
We have just finished using Neil and team at Machins Solicitors for a business related legal matter - we found them to be extremely efficient, thorough and helpful. We would definitely recommend their services.
Google 5* Review
About Neil
Neil heads up the Dispute Resolution team and has substantial experience as a litigator dealing with a vast array of commercial disputes. He has a broad commercial practice covering contractual disputes, director and shareholder disputes, joint venture and partnership disputes, professional negligence, corporate and personal insolvency, and aviation disputes.
Neil is commended by clients for being “user-friendly, down-to-earth and commercial”. His stellar reputation as a seasoned litigator has resulted in frequent instructions from numerous insolvency practitioners, accountancy firms, and other law firms.
Neil regularly deals with cases in the County Court, different divisions of the High Court and the Court of Appeal.
Over the years, Neil has built up a vast amount of experience in many different areas of law which he now uses for his clients’ benefit to gain early and commercial settlements where appropriate. He provides pragmatic, commercially sensible advice to provide added value to clients.
Specialist practice areas- Commercial litigation and mediation
- Professional negligence
- Corporate and personal insolvency litigation
- Aviation litigation
- Shareholder disputes
Latest news by Neil O’Callaghan
In Memoriam: Robert Bedford
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Robert Bedford, a former partner of Machins Solicitors LLP, who passed away on Saturday, 15th February. Robert joined Machins in 1993 from Penman Johnson, a firm based in Watford. During his time with us, he specialised in employment and personal injury law, working on
Compulsory company liquidations soar by 66% in year to January
The number of compulsory company liquidations soared by 66% in the year to January, according to the latest figures from the Insolvency Service. The number of all company insolvencies was 5% higher than the number in January 2023. Of the 1,769 registered company insolvencies in January 2024: Nicky Fisher, President of R3, the UK’s insolvency
Sharp rise in number of firms facing insolvency and financial distress
The number of firms going out of business or facing serious financial distress has risen sharply this year, according to the latest figures. The Insolvency Service says there were 5,629 corporate insolvencies in Q2, an increase of 12.7% compared to Q1’s figures of 4,995, and an increase of 81.3% compared to Q2 2021 (3,105). Meanwhile,
This year sees ‘busiest quarter for corporate insolvencies since 2012’
The first quarter of this year was the busiest for corporate insolvencies since 2012, according to the latest figures. It’s feared there may be worse to come because of rising inflation, increased fuel costs, and reduced consumer spending. The increase in interest rates is also likely to have an adverse effect on business viability. Data
Late payments threaten future of thousands of small businesses
The late payment problem is getting worse and is now threatening to destroy thousands of small businesses, according to a survey carried out by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). The study of more than 1,200 business owners found that one in three businesses (30%) have seen late payment of invoices increase over the last