ABOUT US OUR PEOPLE John Keenan

Meet Our People

Keenan John 053 0032

John Keenan

Principal,

Through early intervention commercial outcomes are possible for all parties.

John has over 20 years’ commercial, professional and restructuring experience with expertise in retail, professional services, insurance, manufacturing, clubs and charities.

John specialises in corporate recovery and business reconstruction in Sydney, where his technical abilities complement his commercial skill. He prides himself on his ability to critically analyse a client’s business to identify underlying strengths and weaknesses in times of distress.

John has wide ranging expertise and experience in dispute resolution, including litigation, where formal appointments are often used to bring commercial reality to parties and unlock opportunities. On many occasions, he has sold businesses and introduced new capital partners as part of a turnaround and restructure.

John has provided an extensive range of restructuring and reconstruction services to corporate clients using the voluntary administration (“VA”), deed of company arrangement (“DOCA”), creditors’ trust, receivership and liquidation processes. His focus is always to find a commercial outcome for all stakeholders.

Outside of work, John enjoys spending time with his family, traveling and loves sport, in particular golf, baseball and rugby.

Experience
  • Ocean Informatics
    Multinational IT business with a viable software platform but cash flow difficulties, recapitalised and restructured using a VA and DOCA.
  • Brightwater Engineering
    Large-scale engineering business in a loss-making contract with an ASX listed company, returned to solvency and contractual dispute resolved to allow project to continue, using a VA and DOCA.
  • Infa Products
    Former child seat manufacturer in long-running litigation resolved and company returned to solvency, using a VA and DOCA, incorporating a Creditors Trust.
  • King of Knives
    Franchise retail network recapitalised and restructured using a VA and DOCA, incorporating a Creditors Trust.
  • Kingsford Timber and Hardware – Mitre 10
    Large-format retail business sold and dispute resolved between shareholders and secured creditors, using a VA and DOCA.
Qualifications And Memberships
  • BCom (Accounting) – Macquarie University
  • Registered Liquidator
  • Member, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand
  • Member, Australian Restructuring Insolvency and Turnaround Association
  • Qualified Member, Turnaround Management Association

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Insights by John Keenan
What is Voluntary Administration?
Fri Mar 20Resources

What is Voluntary Administration?

Voluntary administration is a process a company can choose when it starts getting into serious financial trouble. It’s usually used by directors who act early, rather than waiting until things get worse.  The idea is to give the business a chance to recover, rather than shutting it down straight away.  When a company goes into voluntary administration, […]
Payday Super Changes: Guide for Employers
Wed Feb 11News

Payday Super Changes: Guide for Employers

A major change to the super system, with real consequences for directors  From 1 July 2026, Australia’s superannuation rules will change fundamentally.  Under the new Payday Super regime, employers will be required to pay superannuation at the same time as wages, rather than quarterly. While the policy intent is to improve outcomes for employees and reduce unpaid super, the impact on business cash flow and director risk is real — and […]
Case Study – Premier Air Services An Unconventional Turnaround – insolvent to solvent through good advice and tough negotiation
Thu Mar 30Industry Insights

Case Study – Premier Air Services An Unconventional Turnaround – insolvent to solvent through good advice and tough negotiation

When the Directors of Premier Air Services first came to see us, the construction company was in a dire financial situation. Having run out of funds defending litigation of a disputed defect and damages claim from a well-healed former customer, the directors were left with little option but to place the company into Creditors Voluntary […]
Restructuring Rabbit
Tue Feb 21Industry Insights

Restructuring Rabbit

Restructuring Rabbit In the wake of prevailing economic headwinds facing Australian business, you will likely be hearing about companies “Restructuring” in order to return to profitability, or indeed survive. Such economic headwinds are a result of surging inflation, interest rates hikes, declining consumer confidence, supply chain constraints, a more assertive ATO and the like. Companies […]
ATO – Reporting Tax Defaults to Credit Bureaus
Wed Jul 20Industry Insights

ATO – Reporting Tax Defaults to Credit Bureaus

You may have heard about the ATO’s new policy to disclose non-compliant businesses with tax debts greater than $100,000 to Credit Reporting Bureaus. This is another tool available to the ATO to encourage taxpayers to manage and pay outstanding debts. Recent market volatility, interest rate hikes, inflation, and ballooning tax debts through Covid, makes this […]
Time to Act – Director Identification Number
Thu Apr 21News and Opinions

Time to Act – Director Identification Number

Did you know that all new Directors now need a Director Identification Number? Take note – the Director Identification Number (“DIN”) system is now in place. This new system has been coming for some time, and the transitional arrangements have ended. All new directors now need a DIN. The DIN system has been designed to […]
Small Business Restructuring
Tue Feb 9News and Opinions

Small Business Restructuring

The introduction of the Small Business Restructuring laws on 1 January 2021 provides a new regime to save businesses which are viable but struggling coming out of the Covid-10 pandemic. The process is a debtor led restructuring, which means owners remain in control of their business as a restructuring plan is developed. The timeframe is […]
BRI Ferrier and macpherson kelley webinar – insolvency law reforms – do you qualify?
Tue Oct 20Industry Insights

BRI Ferrier and macpherson kelley webinar – insolvency law reforms – do you qualify?

Online Wednesday 28 October 12.00 – 1.00pm AEST The Federal Government has announced that it will be reforming the insolvency laws to allow directors of small businesses which are financially distressed to remain in control with a view to restructuring rather than immediately being placed in the hands of an administrator. The changes will become effective […]
BRI Ferrier and macpherson kelley webinar – charities and not for profits
Tue Jul 14News and Opinions

BRI Ferrier and macpherson kelley webinar – charities and not for profits

BRI Ferrier and Macpherson Kelley invite you to view their webinar on current directors’ duties & restructuring options focusing on the not for profit and charity space. The impacts of COVID-19 have been significant for not for profits & charities. Join John Keenan and Gavin Robertson as they examine the unique challenges in the current environment including changing duties for directors and […]
Justifying a deed of company arrangement – the case of Britax vs Infa Products
Thu Dec 8Industry Insights

Justifying a deed of company arrangement – the case of Britax vs Infa Products

In a recent matter involving the appointment of BRI Ferrier’s Peter Krejci and Robyn Karam as voluntary administrators, a major creditor (by value) challenged the deed of company arrangement (DOCA) incorporating a creditors’ trust that had been accepted by vote of all other creditors (by number) and the administrators’ casting vote. Infa Products Pty Ltd […]