About the Lawyer

Paul Hutchinson is a leading Australian insolvency and commercial disputes lawyer with over twenty years of experience advising insolvency practitioners, corporations, creditors, directors, and stakeholders in complex financial distress matters.

As Solicitor Director of Modus Law, Paul specialises in corporate and personal insolvency, restructuring, recovery litigation, and director liability disputes. He represents clients throughout Australia and is regularly engaged in matters involving significant asset recoveries, corporate collapses, bankruptcy administrations, and cross-jurisdictional disputes.

Paul is recognised for combining technical insolvency expertise with practical commercial insight. His advice is focused on identifying strategic solutions that maximise recoveries, manage risk, and achieve efficient outcomes for clients facing financially distressed situations.

In 2014, Paul established his own specialist insolvency and commercial litigation practice. Under his leadership, the firm grew from a start-up practice into a respected insolvency law firm acting for insolvency practitioners, corporate groups, financiers, and creditors across Australia. Today, through Modus Law, he continues to advise on some of the most challenging insolvency and restructuring matters in the market.

Experience

Paul has practised almost exclusively in insolvency and commercial litigation throughout his legal career.

He advises on all aspects of corporate and personal insolvency, including formal appointments, restructures, asset recovery strategies, director liability issues, and insolvency-related litigation. He regularly acts in proceedings involving:

Voidable transactions, including unfair preference and uncommercial transaction claims.
Insolvent trading matters.
Recovery actions brought by liquidators, trustees, and administrators.
Director and officer liability disputes.
Bankruptcy investigations and recovery proceedings.
Complex creditor disputes and contested insolvency administrations.

Paul acts for liquidators, administrators, receivers, bankruptcy trustees, secured creditors, unsecured creditors, directors, and corporate stakeholders. His practice spans all Australian jurisdictions and regularly involves multi-party disputes and substantial recovery actions.

Prior to founding his own practice in 2014, Paul worked in specialist commercial and insolvency litigation roles. He now leads Modus Law and continues to focus on insolvency, restructuring, and commercial dispute resolution.

Corporate Insolvency

Advising on voluntary administrations, liquidations, receiverships, deeds of company arrangement, and restructuring processes, including disputes arising from formal insolvency appointments.

Personal Insolvency and Bankruptcy

Acting for bankruptcy trustees and creditors in bankruptcy administrations, recovery proceedings, examinations, and disputes regarding transactions, priorities, and proofs of debt.

Insolvency Litigation

Conducting complex litigation involving voidable transactions, insolvent trading claims, recovery actions, breach of duty claims, and disputes arising from insolvency administrations.

Director and Officer Advisory

Advising directors and officers on duties in the vicinity of insolvency, safe harbour considerations, governance obligations, and risk management strategies.

Creditor Rights and Recovery

Representing secured and unsecured creditors on enforcement options, recovery strategies, insolvency appointments, and participation in restructuring processes.

Restructuring and Turnaround

Providing commercially focused restructuring advice designed to preserve enterprise value, maximise stakeholder outcomes, and facilitate business recovery where viable.

Professional Memberships and Qualifications

Professional Member, ARITA (Australian Restructuring Insolvency and Turnaround Association)
Advanced Certificate in Insolvency, University of Technology Sydney (2020)
Nationally Accredited Mediator (2017)
Master of Laws (Applied Law) – Commercial Litigation, The College of Law (2016)
AICM Legal Representative of the Year (2014)
Admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales (2011)
Bachelor of Laws (Honours), Coventry University (2004)