{"id":952,"date":"2026-09-27T18:51:35","date_gmt":"2026-09-27T08:51:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/taylordavid.com\/?page_id=952"},"modified":"2026-10-01T15:34:19","modified_gmt":"2026-10-01T05:34:19","slug":"scott-d-taylor","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/taylordavid.com\/ar\/about\/scott-d-taylor\/","title":{"rendered":"Scott D. Taylor"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Scott<\/div>\n
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People<\/a> \/ Scott D. Taylor<\/span><\/div>\n

Scott D. Taylor<\/span><\/h1>\n
Principal<\/div>\n

Scott is the founding Principal of Taylor David Lawyers. He is an expert in debt restructuring and insolvency, with over 20 years\u2019 experience.<\/p>\n

Email Scott<\/a>+61 7 3229 9800<\/a>LinkedIn<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n
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Expertise<\/div>\n
Reconstruction & Turnaround
Insolvency
Private equity and M&A (mining and resources)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jurisdictions<\/div>\n
Australia, the Middle East, New York, London, Singapore and Hong Kong<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Memberships<\/div>\n
Queensland Law Society
American Bar Association
ARITA
INSOL International
Turnaround Management Association
Australian Institute of Company Directors<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Profile<\/h2>\n
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Scott has advised on many of Australia’s largest and most notable insolvency administrations. His clients range from federal government departments and foreign investment banks to insolvency practitioners and SMEs.<\/p>\n

His practice covers complex debt restructuring, workouts and insolvency. He has led the turnaround of many companies and annulled the bankruptcies of many high-profile identities, and has particular expertise in private equity and M&A for Australian and international mining and resources assets.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Selected matters<\/h2>\n
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Acted for the successful liquidator in Metal Manufactures Pty Limited v Morton<\/i> [2023] HCA 1, which determined set-off is not a defence to an unfair preference claim.<\/div>\n
Annulled one of the largest bankruptcies in Australian history, with more than $2.12 billion of admitted creditor claims.<\/div>\n
Led negotiations for European Lithium Limited (ASX:EUR) on its joint venture with Obeikan Investment Group to form Arabian New Energy to build and operate a lithium hydroxide plant in Saudi Arabia.<\/div>\n
Led negotiations for an Australian debtor with a New York investment bank on a US$220m debt-equity swap.<\/div>\n
Led the restructure of Vac Group Pty Ltd through voluntary administration and a DOCA, bringing in private equity and saving over 100 jobs.<\/div>\n
Engaged by United States Government appointed Receivers to preserve Australian assets of a Cayman Islands hedge fund.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\nExplore all 23 matters \u2192<\/span>Show fewer matters \u2191<\/span><\/summary>\n
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  1. Acting for Mr Jon Adgemis, founder of Public Hospitality Group, in his bankruptcy.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Acting for the successful respondent liquidator in the historically significant decision of the High Court of Australia in the matter of Metal Manufactures Pty Limited v Morton<\/i> [2023] HCA 1. This decision determined set-off is not available as a defence to a liquidator\u2019s unfair preference claim under s588FA of the Corporations Act 2001<\/i> (Cth).<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Leading negotiations and advising European Lithium Limited (ASX:EUR) on its joint venture with Obeikan Investment Group to form Arabian New Energy to build and operate a lithium hydroxide plant in Saudi Arabia.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Acting for the successful plaintiff liquidator in the Full Federal Court of Appeal in Morton as Liquidator of MJ Woodman Electrical Contractors Pty Ltd v Metal Manufactures Pty Limited<\/i> [2021] FCAFC 228, confirming set-off is unavailable as a defence to a preference claim.<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Successfully opposing a liquidator\u2019s application to extend the time to bring proceedings under section 588FE in Baskerville v Baskerville & Ors<\/i> [2021] QSC 292.<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Obtaining costs orders for the liquidator against 21 respondents after successfully having the date of insolvency determined: In the matter of Cullen Group Australia Pty Ltd (in liq)<\/i> [2020] QSC 367.<\/span><\/li>\n
  7. Engaged by the United States Government appointed Receivers to preserve Australian based assets for a Cayman Islands based hedge fund.<\/span><\/li>\n
  8. Acting for the successful liquidator to have certain transactions declared unfair preferences within the meaning of section 588FA of the Corporations Act 2001<\/i> (Cth): Trenfield, in the matter of ACN 089 008 668 Pty Ltd (in liq) v JMD Park Pty Ltd<\/i> [2019] FCA 2154.<\/span><\/li>\n
  9. Leading the successful restructure and turnaround through a voluntary administration and deed of company arrangement of Vac Group Pty Ltd, negotiating down significant debt, incoming private equity and saving over 100 jobs.<\/span><\/li>\n
  10. Acting for Mr Nathan Tinkler throughout his bankruptcy to successfully negotiate with creditors, annulling the $500m+ bankruptcy for $1.2m.<\/span><\/li>\n
  11. Successfully setting aside the decision of Mr Nathan Tinkler\u2019s bankruptcy trustee, permitting Mr Tinkler to travel in Tinkler v Melluish (Trustee); in the matter of Tinkler (A Bankrupt)<\/i> [2017] FCA 52.<\/span><\/li>\n
  12. Leading negotiations for an Australian based debtor with a New York Investment Bank for a US$220m debt-equity swap.<\/span><\/li>\n
  13. Successfully annulling one of the largest bankruptcies in Australian history, with more than $2.12 billion of admitted creditor claims.<\/span><\/li>\n
  14. Successfully annulling the $29 million bankruptcy of hospitality entrepreneur Mr Damien Griffiths.<\/span><\/li>\n
  15. Facilitating negotiations to mitigate construction and operational losses for a US$330m silver mine in Central America after the collapse of a global mining machinery manufacturer involving cross border issues between Europe, North and Central America; South-East Asia; and Australia.<\/span><\/li>\n
  16. Successfully negotiated a debt swap and reduction with a syndicated lending group for more than US$350m.<\/span><\/li>\n
  17. Successfully pursuing pre-insolvency advisors on behalf of liquidators for aiding and abetting director breaches (largely around phoenix activity) under section 79 of the Corporations Act 2001<\/i> (Cth).<\/span><\/li>\n
  18. Successfully recovering unfair preference payments in the matter of Morton & Anor v Rexel Electrical Supplies Pty Ltd<\/i> [2015] QDC 49; thereafter successfully opposing the Appeal with costs in the matter of Rexel Electrical Supplies Pty Ltd v Morton<\/i> [2015] QCA 235; thereafter successfully obtaining indemnity costs of the entire action in the matter of Morton & Anor v Rexel Electrical Supplies Pty Ltd (No 2)<\/i> [2016] QDC 6.<\/span><\/li>\n
  19. Conducting the public examination of several members of an India based billionaire family on behalf of liquidators.<\/span><\/li>\n
  20. Acting for stakeholders in the Golden Heritage Golf Pty Ltd insolvency administration \u2013 owners of the Yarra Valley Lodge and Golden Heritage Golf Courses.<\/span><\/li>\n
  21. Advising the liquidators of a mining company on the recovery of several million euros from entities operating throughout Finland and Canada.<\/span><\/li>\n
  22. Advising Australian based liquidators on the realisation of a tin mine located in Uganda.<\/span><\/li>\n
  23. Advising the Administrators of Allied Brands Limited (Baskin Robbins) regarding establishing a creditors trust for re-listing on the ASX.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n
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    Other activities<\/h2>\n
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    • Speaker<\/strong> at the Future Minerals Forum, \u2018Charting the GCC\u2019s development into a world-class processing and manufacturing centre\u2019, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 2025.<\/li>\n
    • Fundraising:<\/strong> New York City Marathon (2018); Berlin Marathon (2019); and Boston Marathon (2022), raising over $50,000 for charity.<\/li>\n
    • Author:<\/strong> Scott D. Taylor<\/span> (2019) Restructuring and Insolvency in Australia: Overview. Restructuring and Insolvency Global Guide<\/i> [Online]. Thomson Reuters, London.<\/li>\n
    • Speaker<\/strong> at the Association of Independent Insolvency Practitioners (AIIP) Forum, \u2018Statutory set-off against voidable and insolvent trading claims\u2019, Melbourne. 2023.<\/li>\n
    • Speaker<\/strong> at the Hedgeye Risk Management Wall Street Thought Leaders Round Table, New York: International Mining Bankruptcy Law. 2016.<\/li>\n
    • Author:<\/strong> Taylor, S. D., (2015). Australia. In: Bernstein, D. The International Insolvency Review<\/i>. 3rd ed. London: Law Business Research. 17-31.<\/li>\n
    • Speaker<\/strong> at QLD IPA Insolvency Forum, Brisbane: Pre-Packaged Insolvency Arrangements 2013.<\/li>\n
    • Chairman<\/strong> of the 12th Annual Insolvency Practice Symposium. 2012.<\/li>\n
    • Mediator and Chair<\/strong> for the Marine Industry In Crisis forum at the Brisbane Convention Centre. 2011.<\/li>\n
    • Founding Member (2011-2013):<\/strong> Insolvency Practitioners Association of Australia Young Professionals QLD Division (now ARITA).<\/li>\n
    • Former Non-Executive Director:<\/strong> InteliCare Holdings Limited (ASX: ICR).<\/li>\n
    • Former Co-Chair:<\/strong> Hymans Annual Charity Luncheon (over $600,000 raised to date).<\/li>\n
    • Former Board Member (2016-2020):<\/strong> Children\u2019s Hospital Foundation Queensland.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n