What McTear Williams & Wood does

McTear Williams & Wood Limited is an independent UK business rescue and insolvency advisory firm founded in 2000 and headquartered in Norwich. It operates as a licensed insolvency practitioner firm regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), offering both formal insolvency procedures — including Creditors' Voluntary Liquidation, company administration, pre-pack administration, Company Voluntary Arrangements, compulsory liquidation, administrative receivership, LPA/fixed charge receivership, and Members' Voluntary Liquidation — and turnaround and rescue services such as cashflow stabilisation, creditor negotiation, HMRC Time-to-Pay arrangements, turnaround finance sourcing, and interim management. The firm also provides advisory services covering directors' personal guarantees, director disqualification risk, bankruptcy and Individual Voluntary Arrangements, Bounce Back Loan and CBILS support, forensic accounting, and insolvency fraud investigations. Distribution is concentrated in distressed-business founders and directors, with secondary demand from accountants, solicitors, lenders, and creditors who co-manage or refer into engagements.

The firm is delivered through a team of approximately 70 staff, comprising licensed insolvency practitioners, chartered accountants and insolvency specialists, distributed across 13 UK offices spanning East Anglia, the Midlands, the South and London (including Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Colchester, Ipswich, Leicester, London, Milton Keynes, Peterborough and Reading). Service delivery is practitioner-led, with engagements typically initiated through a free initial consultation and then governed by a formal terms-of-engagement letter; case-specific fees are quote-based rather than publicly disclosed.

Revenue is generated from professional fees on insolvency appointments and turnaround engagements, sourced primarily through a sales-led motion combining direct outreach to distressed businesses, a professional referral network (accountants, solicitors, lenders), quarterly Professionals Network events across multiple UK cities, and affinity partnerships including one with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). Digital channels — including a free Business Health Check Tool and the firm's Business Distress Index publication — support top-of-funnel awareness. The firm is privately held with no disclosed external investment, parent company or acquisition activity in the source data.

Name

McTear Williams & Wood

Legal name

McTear Williams & Wood Limited

Website

https://mw-w.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

McTear Williams & Wood is an independent UK insolvency and business rescue firm licensed by ICAEW, offering formal insolvency procedures, turnaround advisory and director support across 13 UK offices to distressed businesses, directors, accountants, solicitors and lenders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Insolvency and Business Rescue Services

NAICS

Offices of Certified Public Accountants (541211), All Other Legal Services (541199)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Insolvency, Restructuring & Bankruptcy Administration (BPAHABAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bankruptcy, Restructuring & Insolvency Law (BPAHAAAH), Bankruptcy, Insolvency & Restructuring Servicing (Consumer) (FSAKAJAK), Financial Hardship & Forbearance Assistance (FSAEAFAJ), Litigation Support & Expert Witness (Valuation-Related) (BPAHANAG)

Keywords

• Insolvency practitioner services
• Business rescue advisory
• Creditors voluntary liquidation
• Corporate restructuring services
• Company turnaround advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Norwich

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Insolvency Services: Professional fees from acting as licensed insolvency practitioners in various insolvency procedures including CVL, administration, CVA, and liquidation appointments

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

McTear Williams & Wood is an independent full-service business rescue and insolvency advisory firm providing licensed insolvency practitioner services across the UK. Its core services cover corporate insolvency procedures (Creditors' Voluntary Liquidation, Company Administration, Pre-pack Administration, Company Voluntary Arrangements, Compulsory Liquidation), personal insolvency (Bankruptcy, IVA, MVL), business turnaround and rescue, directors' advisory work, HMRC Time-to-Pay negotiations, forensic accounting and fraud investigations. Services are delivered by a team of 70 licensed insolvency practitioners and chartered accountants regulated by ICAEW.

Product overview

McTear Williams & Wood is an independent full-service business rescue and insolvency advisory firm offering professional services across the UK. The portfolio consists of core insolvency and restructuring services (Business Rescue, Insolvency Advisory, Company Administration, Creditors' Voluntary Liquidation, Pre-pack Administration, Company Voluntary Arrangement) complemented by specialist advisory services (Directors' Personal Guarantees, HMRC Time to Pay, Bankruptcy, IVA, MVL, Bounce Back Loan Support, Director Disqualification Advisory, Interim Management, Forensic Accounting, Fraud Investigations, TUPE Advisory). The firm also provides a free digital Business Health Check Tool for initial company assessment. Services are delivered through a team of licensed insolvency practitioners and chartered accountants across multiple UK office locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Rescue Services Professional support for businesses facing financial distress, helping them overcome adverse financial situations and return to profitability through turnaround planning and restructuring. Aimed at company directors and owners of distressed UK businesses.
• Creditors' Voluntary Liquidation (CVL) Director-initiated liquidation process that shuts down a business and uses remaining assets to pay off creditors in an orderly manner. Targeted at UK company directors choosing to wind up a solvent or insolvent company on a voluntary basis.
• Company Administration Court-ordered legal process that protects a limited company or partnership, providing time to restructure, sell, or wind down the business while keeping it operational. For UK limited companies and partnerships facing insolvency.
• Pre-pack Administration Structured insolvency solution allowing continued trading while a business is reorganised, with the business sold quickly to a new owner. For distressed UK companies where trade continuity is feasible.
• Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) Formal arrangement with creditors allowing a company to repay debts over time while continuing to trade. For viable UK companies that need to restructure their debt burden.
• Business Turnaround Services Expert intervention to help struggling businesses restore cashflow and profitability through assessment, restructuring, and recovery planning. For owners of financially distressed but viable UK businesses.
• Compulsory Liquidation Court-ordered liquidation process initiated typically via a creditor petition, used to wind up a company that cannot pay its debts. For UK companies subject to winding-up petitions.
• Members' Voluntary Liquidation (MVL) Solvent company liquidation for businesses with sufficient assets to pay all debts, often used for tax-efficient closure. For solvent UK companies being closed by their members.
• Bankruptcy Advice Personal insolvency guidance for individuals facing bankruptcy, including advice on proceedings and alternatives. For UK individuals facing personal financial collapse.
• Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVA) Formal debt solution for individuals allowing them to make affordable payments to creditors over a fixed period. For UK individuals with unmanageable personal debt.
• Directors' Personal Guarantees Advisory Guidance for directors on personal guarantees, their implications, and how to minimise risk when guarantees may be called upon. For UK company directors facing call on personal guarantees.
• HMRC Time to Pay Arrangements Negotiation services with HMRC to establish payment schedules for tax arrears, buying time for businesses to resolve financial difficulties. For UK businesses with HMRC tax debt.
• Bounce Back Loan Support Specialist guidance for businesses struggling with Bounce Back Loan repayments. For UK businesses that took Bounce Back Loans and cannot repay.
• Director Disqualification & Misconduct Advisory Advice for directors on avoiding disqualification and understanding their legal responsibilities during insolvency. For UK directors facing or concerned about disqualification proceedings.
• Interim Management Solutions Provision of experienced turnaround managers to work with distressed companies during restructuring periods. For UK businesses needing interim leadership during a turnaround.
• Forensic Accounting Services Investigation and analysis of financial records for insolvency, fraud, and legal proceedings. For solicitors, lenders and insolvency practitioners requiring forensic accounting support.
• Insolvency Fraud Investigations Investigation services to identify and address fraudulent activity in insolvency situations. For solicitors, lenders and insolvency proceedings requiring fraud review.
• TUPE Advisory Guidance on Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) regulations during business sales and restructuring. For UK businesses transferring employees as part of a sale or restructuring.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 80% of clients return to full profitability
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• R3 - Association of Business Recovery ProfessionalscoreOthersTrade body for insolvency, restructuring and turnaround specialists. Firm references R3 guidance for creditors' committees, SIPs, and professional standards.
• ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales)coreOthersRegulatory body that licenses the firm as insolvency practitioners. Firm is fully licensed and regulated by ICAEW.
• The Insolvency ServicecoreOthersGovernment body that oversees insolvency practitioners. Firm references their guidance publications and is bound by their regulatory framework.
• FSB (Federation of Small Businesses)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBespoke free service for FSB members providing preferential access to insolvency advice services.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Kroll: Global financial advisory firm with a substantial restructuring and insolvency practice. Competes for larger UK mandates and offers cross-border capability that MWW does not, while overlapping on mid-market restructuring.
• Alvarez & Marsal: Global professional services firm with deep restructuring and turnaround capabilities. Overlaps on interim management, turnaround, and large corporate restructuring engagements in the UK market.
• RSM UK: Top-10 UK accounting and advisory firm with a dedicated restructuring advisory practice. Overlaps with MWW on SME and mid-market insolvency appointments as part of a broader portfolio.
• BDO UK: Major UK accounting network with a restructuring and insolvency practice competing for mid-market and large corporate mandates alongside MWW.

Direct peers

• Begbies Traynor Group: UK-listed insolvency and business recovery practice offering CVL, administration, CVA, and turnaround services across the UK. Closely comparable in service mix and geographic breadth, serving similar SME and mid-market distressed clients.
• FRP Advisory: UK restructuring advisory firm delivering corporate restructuring, insolvency, and forensic services. Directly comparable in licensed insolvency practitioner credentials, mid-market focus, and full-service restructuring offerings.
• KSA Group: Independent UK insolvency practice focused on company and personal insolvency appointments. Similar practitioner-led model and SME client focus.
• Menzies: UK chartered accountancy practice with a dedicated restructuring and insolvency division. Comparable in chartered-accountant-led insolvency services and mid-market client base.
• Leonard Curtis: UK insolvency, recovery, and advisory firm with regional offices. Similar product set spanning CVL, administration, turnaround, and creditor services aimed at SMEs and mid-market companies.
• Carter Backer Winter: London-based insolvency and turnaround practice serving distressed SMEs and mid-market businesses. Comparable service mix and licensed insolvency practitioner staffing model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about McTear Williams & Wood