Govinder Chambay

Govinder is a specialist insolvency practitioner.

He is the co-author of: A Practical Guide to Contested Administration Applications for Insolvency Professionals’ and is also the co-author of a forthcoming book concerning contested bankruptcy petitions which is due for publication in Summer 2026.

In the last 12 months, Govinder has:

• Successfully resisted an application which sought to annul a bankruptcy on the footing that the debtor did not have a place of residence in the United Kingdom.
• Successfully resisted the making of a bankruptcy order on the basis that alleged petitioning creditor failed to establish standing.
• Successfully represented the administrators in Haw & Anor v QM Systems Ltd [2024] EWHC 1944 (Ch) in obtaining an order confirming the validity of their appointment notwithstanding various procedural defects.
• Successfully resisted an application to restrain advertisement of a winding up petition in Portland Stone Firms Ltd v Albert Goodman LLP [2025] EWHC 702 (Ch).
• Successfully obtained an order admitting into evidence documents thought to be covered by legal advice privilege and subsequently obtained a possession and sale order on the back of it.
• Successfully resisted an appeal against a decision by a District Judge which refused permission to rely on late evidence in the context of an application for possession and sale of a property.
• Successfully obtaining/resisting orders to restrain the presentation of a winding up petition on numerous occasions.
• Successfully obtaining an adjournment of a bankruptcy petition where a party had applied (though the application had not been determined) for a Mental Health Crisis Moratorium under The Debt Respite Scheme (Breathing Space Moratorium and Mental Health Crisis Moratorium) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020.
• Appeared in numerous applications to bring an administration to an end.
• Acted for both creditors/debtors in numerous bankruptcy and winding up petitions.
• Acted for officeholders in applications to fix the basis of their remuneration.
• Advised (along with senior counsel) on various breach of duty/s.423 IA claims.
• Settled pleadings (along with senior counsel) on various breach of duty claims.
• Advised (along with senior counsel) an officeholder on various breach of directors duties claims.
• Appeared on numerous applications to extend an administrator’s term of office.
• Drafted/reviewed numerous bankruptcy petitions/winding up petitions.
• Advised on Insolvent Administration Orders and obtained such orders.

More generally Govinder has experience in:

• Resisting orders seeking disclosure in insolvency proceedings.
• Settling pleadings in claims concerning inter alia breach of fiduciary duty and fraudulent trading.
• Advising on various limitation issues including s.32 of the Limitation Act 1980 in an insolvency context.
• Possession and sale claims – Govinder represented the trustees in bankruptcy in Re Hussain (A Bankrupt) [2023] EWHC 493 (Ch) on a possession and sale application, which involved seeking a declaration that a transfer of equity by the bankrupt to his spouse amounted to a transaction at an undervalue under s.339 IA.
• Advising on s.423 IA and consequently, the merits of a possession and sale application.
• Applications to set aside statutory demands (for both creditors and debtors).
• Annulment applications.
• Applications under s.279 IA .

Featured Insolvency and Restructuring cases

Portland Stone Firms Ltd v Albert Goodman LLP [2025] EWHC 702 (Ch).

Govinder successfully resisted an application seeking to restrain Albert Goodman LLP from advertising a winding up petition. An undisputed debt (or debt which is incapable of being disputed on substantial grounds) is sufficient at the injunction stage for a petition to continue. Even if evidence apparently showing cash-flow solvency is produced/there are low prospects of persuading a court on the hearing of the petition that the company is insolvent.

Haw & Anor v QM Systems Ltd [2024] EWHC 1944

Govinder successfully represented the administrators in obtaining an order confirming the validity of their appointment notwithstanding filing and heading defects in relation to the notice of appointment.

Re Hussain (A Bankrupt) [2023] EWHC 493 (Ch) (ICC Judge Jones):

Govinder represented the trustee in bankruptcy on an application which, inter alia alleged that a transfer of equity by a bankrupt to his spouse was a transaction at an undervalue under s.339 of the Insolvency Act 1986.