Affiliate Event: Navigating the Small Business Restructure Regime by B&T Advisory

Phillip Di Bella, Australia’s “Coffee King” is an internationally respected businessman with an extraordinary ability to visualise and commercialise what most others never see. Over 20 years ago, Phillip established ‘Di Bella Coffee.’ Through a unique capacity to engage with customers, it quickly became Australia’s largest specialty coffee company. Phillip’s entrepreneurial spirit has spearheaded success for other businesses, including International Coffee Traders and Abbotsford Road Specialty Coffee in New York.

Most recently, Phillip Founded The Coffee Commune. As the Managing Director, this world first business has become Australia’s peak body in advocating for café owners across the county. The 1 thousand members (and growing) hospitality businesses together. Through workshops and mentoring, members have achieved operational and marketing growth.

Facing insurmountable business debts during the immediate aftermath of September 11, 2001, Hank de Jonge urgently sought direct advice on managing his own financial crisis. While Hank had a highly capable lawyer and accountant, neither had the specialized knowledge in insolvency that he needed to navigate those completely unforeseeable circumstances. Hank soon discovered that insolvency practitioners couldn't guide him due to potential conflicts of interest with creditors.

Realizing the complexity and emotional toll of the situation, Hank founded de Jonge Read in 2006 to support business owners facing financial distress, offering clear guidance through restructuring, asset protection, and insolvency. de Jonge Read is a firm dedicated to assisting clients in navigating the insolvency framework with high-quality technical and emotional support. What sets de Jonge Read apart is their commitment to guiding clients through every step of the process, providing expert advice and empathetic support. de Jonge Read firmly believes in holding a client’s hand through every step of this process.

Today, under Hank’s leadership, de Jonge Read has grown into a nationally recognized firm with offices in Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne, employing a skilled team of professionals including lawyers, accountants, business bankers, and insolvency specialists. They collaborate with a large network of professional advisors to achieve outstanding outcomes for their clients, earning commendations for their unparalleled expertise and proven results.

Glenn is currently the National Chairman of McInnes Wilson Lawyers and National Head of McInnes Wilson’s Disputes & Insolvency Division.

Glenn is a former State Chairman and member of the National Board of the Turnaround Management Association and is a professional member of the Australian Restructuring Insolvency & Turnaround Association.

Glenn has extensive experience in advising companies and their officers in financial distress, from SME’s through to listed ASX entities including in hospitality, transport, airline, manufacturing, mining and retailing.

Glenn is also one of the most experienced tax litigators in Australia and since 2007 has acted for the Commonwealth Commissioner of Taxation including in respect of various high profile matters in the High Court of Australia.

Glenn’s accounting and legal background ensures that he approaches matters through a commercial lens and is highly regarded as a trouble shooter and problem solver rather than simply offering legal advice.

Peter is the Founding Director of B&T Advisory and has over 28 years experience as an insolvency accountant in the Brisbane CBD. He has held a number of senior positions and partnership roles as well as previously being an Official and Registered Liquidator. His expertise extends to all company sizes and a vast array of industries which he utilises to achieve an outcome to benefit all stakeholders. Peter is also a Certified Practicing Accountant.

Peter has developed a keen interest in the Small Business Restructure regime and finds it rewarding assisting clients through the process.