Moore Stephens insolvency head to join Baker Tilly

MOORE STEPHENS national head of insolvency Phillip Sykes has joined Baker Tilly to lead its London restructuring and recovery division, in a welcome fillip for the firm which has lost a clutch of insolvency practitioners since its merger with RSM Tenon.

Sykes (pictured), who is set to become president of trade body R3 later this year, has specialised in corporate restructuring for over 30 years across a number of sectors, including retail, property and construction, financial services, insurance, manufacturing, commodities and international trade, engineering and agriculture.

“Phillip brings with him a great deal of experience and knowledge in the area of corporate restructuring. He is well known and respected in the industry and his experience will be of huge benefit to existing and potential clients,” said Graham Bushby, national head of restructuring and recovery at Baker Tilly.

His appointment ends a run of departures from the mid-tier firm’s restructuring division which has lost in excess of 40 people to Quantuma, the insolvency practice launched in January 2013 by former RSM Tenon head of restructuring Carl Jackson.

Sykes’ decision to move to Baker Tilly from Moore Stephens also represents the latest tussle between the two firms over key partners. In September, Accountancy Age revealed that Baker Tilly’s former chief operating officer , Jon Randall, joined Moore Stephens along with three fellow Baker Tilly tax partners.