ABRT Committee Member

Ben Sewell is the founder and principal of Sewell & Kettle Lawyers, a boutique law firm that specialises in insolvency and commercial litigation advocacy, recovering commercial debts and saving insolvent SMEs (micro, small and family businesses). Ben has always been highly engaged when it comes to business restructuring and turnaround and continues to strongly advocate for legislative reform and more effective protocols, professional standards and systems. In addition to practising as a lawyer, Ben also holds a Masters in Business Administration degree and is a fully qualified practising accountant.

Ben has 20 years’ experience as a specialist in the insolvency field, and helps families and entrepreneurs by advocating on their behalf and sharing Sewell & Kettle’s industry-best knowledge. Ben Sewell became the second duly appointed specialist Small Business Restructuring Practitioner under 5.3B of the CA 2001 nationally in 2023 (specialist liquidator subclass regulated by ASIC) since the legislative become effective.

Ben is the first practising lawyer and accountant to gain the new Australian ‘debtor in possession’ regime, which became effective during the pandemic (1 January 2021) and is designed to provide a streamlined process for small businesses to restructure where liabilities are under $1 million.

Ben is a well renowned for his passion for insolvency and restructuring. A thought leader and disruptor, Ben has published multiple journal articles, given seminars, taught insolvency law and performed policy making consultation and strategic advisory services. Ben was on the International Committee of the American Bankruptcy Institute which gave him the flavour for the use of ‘debtor-in-possession’ insolvency regimes and their performance across multiple jurisdications.

A pioneer in the emerging Restructuring and Turnaround Profession, Ben was instantly interested in supporting the ABRT from inception. Ben continues to volunteer his time through his research, content contribution, feedback & criticism.  Ben’s development of research & training material continues to make him a key contributor to the ABRT Executive Certificate in Restructuring & Turnaround Leadership.

Areas of expertise:

• Insolvency and restructuring (pre-pack insolvency arrangements, voluntary administration, liquidation and safe harbour restructuring)
• Small Business Restructuring Practitioner under 5.3B CA 2001 (Liquidator subclass).
• Commercial litigation advocacy
• Commercial debt recovery
• Personal Property Securities (PPS) law and receivables financing
• Trading trusts and business structuring methodology
• Cryptocurrency fraud and failed investment claims

Education, Professional Memberships & Attainment:

• ABRT Certified Restructuring & Turnaround Practitioner – RTP®
• ASIC regulated ‘Small Business Restructuring Practitioner’ (specialist Liquidator subclass under 5.3B of the CA 2001).
• Law Society of NSW Member & Law Institute of Victoria Member.
• Corporate Reconstruction Accountant with the IPA (holding a public practice certificate). MIPA AFA. 
• American Bankruptcy Institute Member.
• Graduate Certificate in Advanced Insolvency (IPA/ARITA) with the University of Southern Queensland.
• Master of Business Administration with Macquarie University. MBA. 
• Master of Corporate and Commercial Law with UNSW. LLM. 
• Bachelors of Arts and Law with Macquarie University. BA, LLB.