Director Disqualification

OUR EXPERTISE
We are regularly advise and represent clients in relation to director disqualification claims and proceedings. Our dedicated team of experts has substantial experience in dealing with cases ranging from those involving relatively modest sums to those involving multi-million pounds and cross border issues. Since 1997 we have utilised our extensive resources, experience, and skill to advise and represent clients in the largest investigations, prosecutions and claims brought by the major government agencies, including the Insolvency Service.
Director Disqualification: An Overview

Director disqualification proceedings are usually commenced under the provisions of the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 (‘CDDA 1986’). Such proceedings are brought against “directors”. However, it is not only the directors registered at Companies House who may be the subject of an investigation or court proceedings.

A person may be a “director” in law, and therefore subject to proceedings, even if not registered at Companies House. Such persons may be targeted as “de facto” directors or as “shadow” directors.

Proceedings usually have to be commenced against the director within two years of the date of the formal insolvency of the company to which the conduct relates. Disqualification lasts between 2 and 15 years, depending on the severity of the admitted or proven “unfit conduct.”

In order to prove the case, the Secretary of State will usually have to demonstrate that the director has been involved in or allowed others to be involved in unfit conduct, usually arising out of a failed company. The question of what constitutes unfit conduct must be determined on the facts of each individual case.

Each case must be considered on its own merits and in the context of all relevant facts. The company director is best placed to know those facts and to provide the relevant instructions to the legal team defending the claim.

It is vital that the company director seeks and obtains specialist legal advice as early as possible as insolvency law, procedure and director disqualification claims are complex and require expert advice if the matter is to be brought to a successful conclusion.

Got a question?

Can't find what you need? Get in touch with our experience team, who are happy to answer any questions you have. Call us on 0333 370 4333.
What is a 'Director's Response'?

The response from a company director will very much depend on the facts of each case and on what the director wishes to achieve by way of an outcome.

The options available to a company director include:

  • Fighting to defeat the claim in its entirety, or
  • Negotiating a lower period of disqualification than that being offered by the Secretary of State, or
  • Entering into a director disqualification “undertaking” in agreed terms to end the proceedings
Is disqualification inevitable?

No. It isn’t.

The Secretary of State in putting together a case against a company director often only knows one side or part of the story. It is vital that the director who has “lived” the story puts this version of the events to the Secretary of State at the earliest opportunity.

What do I do if faced with Director Disqualification?

In response to a letter from the Secretary of State (or its appointed solicitors) the well advised director will meet the claim head on and respond to it in appropriate terms.

This will usually involve preparing written representations to the Secretary of State and/or having a face-to-face meeting with the Secretary of State to ensure that the director’s position is fully understood by the Secretary of State.

Obtaining and interpreting the Secretary of State’s evidence bundle is a crucial first step, so that the full extent of the alleged case against the director is understood.

Many director disqualification cases can be successfully defended on the basis of misunderstandings and errors contained in the Claimant’s evidence.

The Secretary of State surely won’t withdraw the threat of proceedings?

Yes, this can and often does happen if the director can demonstrate that at no stage could any action or inaction by the director be deemed to amount to unfit conduct.

The Secretary of State can and does review the director disqualification proceedings at every stage of the case, even after the issue and service of formal court proceedings.

It is not unusual for director disqualification proceedings to be abandoned by the Secretary of State, even after the commencement of legal proceedings.

What is “Unfit Conduct”?

Each case will be unique but there are many common examples when the Secretary of State may allege that the director is guilty of unfit conduct.

For example, the Secretary of State may allege that the director:

  • Caused the company to trade on for too long (“trading to the detriment of the Creditors” or “trading with knowledge of insolvency”)
  • “Traded to the detriment of the Crown” or failed in the statutory obligations, by allowing the company to run up Crown debts, in respect of any combination of VAT, PAYE and Corporation Tax
  • Entered into transactions to the detriment of the company (e.g. paying off a personally guaranteed bank debt prior to insolvency) or by selling company assets at an undervalue
  • Failed to maintain, preserve or deliver up the books and records of the company to its appointed Insolvency Practitioner
If I am disqualified, can I still manage and run a new business?

Not necessarily.

A Director Disqualification Order usually precludes the disqualified director from being involved in “the promotion, formation or management” of another Limited Company, during the currency of the disqualification.

“Management” is widely construed and it is very easy for a director to become involved in a new business and to unwittingly breach a Director Disqualification Order.

Such a breach has criminal law and civil law consequences for the Director.

What if I'm not sure I can afford to oppose the claims?

Often the Secretary of State will not seek to recover legal costs from the director if matters resolve before the commencement of proceedings.

Legal Aid is not ordinarily available to defend director disqualification claims. The director may be compelled to fund the legal expense of defending or negotiating a settlement of the claim.

If the right advice is sought and given at the very early stages of a claim it is often money well spent.

How can the director end the proceedings?

This can happen in several ways and some examples of how the director can bring proceedings to an end include by:

  • Successfully defend the claim at a final hearing, or
  • Persuading the Secretary of State to abandon the case, or
  • Entering into a Director Disqualification Undertaking
What is a Director Disqualification Undertaking?

An “Undertaking” is a document which details the unfit conduct that a director may be willing to admit to in order to end the claim as quickly and cost effectively as possible.

An Undertaking can be entered into before or after the commencement of formal court proceedings.

The terms of the Undertaking need to be carefully scrutinised and agreed in terms that are acceptable to the director so that, for example, those terms do not leave the director exposed to other civil or criminal action.

Contact Kangs

The expert lawyers at Kangs are available to assist you. We can arrange initial consultations in person, by video call or telephone.

Please contact one of our experts listed below or contact us at:

E: info@kangssolicitors.co.uk

T: 0333 370 4333

 

Testimonials

Kangs is rated for the ‘proactive, expert defence’ it provides to executives and high-net-worth individuals.
THE LEGAL 500
Kangs is in the highest tier of firms. Frequently represents high-profile individuals.
CHAMBERS UK
The team has substantial expertise in multi-jurisdictional criminal and financial regulatory investigations.
THE LEGAL 500
The lawyers are known for providing a very personal service from specialist and experienced Partners.
THE LEGAL 500
It has very bright individuals at all levels who know the system inside out.
CHAMBERS UK
Superior firm with that rare quality of being client centred and commercial at the same time and without detriment to either.
THE LEGAL 500
It is a top notch firm with strength and depth.
CHAMBERS UK
Often instructed by senior legal, accounting and financial services professionals.
CHAMBERS UK
Director Disqualification, Insolvency
Whilst the Order or Undertaking will not prevent an individual from being employed by a company, (save in very rare exceptions where court permission has been granted), the disqualified director will not be able to: Any breach of a Directors Disqualification Order, or a Disqualification Undertaking, in appropriate cases, could be punished by way of […]
06/10/23
Criminal Litigation, Director Disqualification, Services
The Corporate Criminal Offence (‘CCO’) was introduced by the Criminal Finances Act 2017 (‘the Act’) which imposes on companies, limited liability partnerships and partnerships the obligation to implement procedures with the view to preventing the criminal facilitation by associated persons, such as employees, directors and those providing a service, of tax evasion by a third party.   At the […]
01/02/23
Director Disqualification, Regulatory
The Insolvency Service has recently reported that Mr Chin Seong Lam, a restaurateur and company director (‘Mr Lam’), has been banned from being involved in the running of any company for twelve years after admitting to the fraudulent evasion of payment of VAT. Timothy Thompson of Kangs Solicitor reports upon the circumstances. The Criminal Proceedings […]
31/07/19

Get in touch