Riverside Legal Services Enters Administration
Administrators have been appointed to Riverside Legal Services Limited, according to a statutory notice published in The Gazette on 21 October 2026. The appointment was made under Schedule B1 to the Insolvency Act 1986 in the High Court of Justice Business and Property Courts of England and Wales under case number CR-2026-007927.
Corporate intelligence records show this administration follows prior compulsory liquidation action initiated by HM Revenue and Customs in the summer of 2026. For credit controllers and legal counterparties, tracking the transition from a creditor petition to an administration order is critical to preserving commercial recovery rights.
Gazette notice details
The statutory appointment details published on 21 October 2026 under notice code 2410 record the following formal entries:
- Company Name: Riverside Legal Services Limited
- Company Number: 09097936
- Court: High Court of Justice Business and Property Courts of England and Wales, Insolvency & Companies List (ChD)
- Court Reference: CR-2026-007927
- Notice Publication Date: 21 October 2026
- Appointing Party: [Shown in the creditor report →](#offers-creditor)
- Joint Administrators: [Shown in the creditor report →](#offers-creditor)
Company snapshot
Public filings at Companies House record the corporate background of the firm:
- Incorporation Date: 23 June 2014
- Current Status: Active on the register (subject to administration proceedings)
- Standard Industrial Classification (SIC): 69102 (Solicitors)
- Registered Office: 15 New Bridge Street, London, England, EC4V 6AU
- Latest Financials: Not supplied in recent register extracts
Directors and ownership
The register of officers and Persons with Significant Control (PSCs) at Companies House shows the following recorded entries:
Officers
- Mr Deniz Andrew Berk: Director, appointed on 23 June 2014. British nationality, resident in England, born October 1971.
- Ms Mahgol Afjari: Director, appointed on 4 December 2023, resigned on 6 December 2023. British nationality, resident in England, born March 1987.
Significant Control
- Mr Deniz Andrew Berk: Individual person with significant control, notified on 23 June 2016. The public register records ownership of shares of 75% to 100%, voting rights of 75% to 100%, the right to appoint and remove directors, and significant influence or control over the entity.
Public register facts are reported without commentary on individual conduct.
Recent filings and Gazette activity
The administration notice follows previous public insolvency filings involving the company:
| Publication Date | Notice Type | Forum / Case Number | Summary Details |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 21 October 2026 | Administration | High Court (ChD), CR-2026-007927 | Notice of appointment of administrators under code 2410. |
| 7 August 2026 | Winding-up Petition | High Court (ChD), CR-2026-005250 | Petition presented on 3 July 2026 by the Commissioners for HM Revenue and Customs (Ref 2134032), listed for hearing on 19 August 2026. |
What administration means for creditors and customers
The entry of a company into administration under Schedule B1 brings into immediate effect an interim statutory moratorium under paragraph 43 of Schedule B1 to the Insolvency Act 1986. This moratorium prevents any creditor from initiating or continuing legal proceedings, executing judgments, or petitioning for winding up without permission of the court or the consent of the administrators.
This information serves as general legal and regulatory background, not formal legal advice. For parties dealing with the business:
1. Unsecured Creditors: Outstanding debts accrued prior to the administration date become unsecured claims in the administration estate. Creditors should await formal notification and submit a proof of debt form to the appointed insolvency practitioners.
2. Ongoing Contracts: Administrators act as agents of the company. Counterparties must determine whether contracts are being adopted or disclaimed.
3. Custody and Legal Records: In professional services and legal firms (SIC 69102), regulatory oversight from bodies like the Solicitors Regulation Authority often runs in parallel to manage client monies and open files.
Creditor decision framework when administration follows an HMRC petition
When a company faces an HMRC winding-up petition that culminates in administration, commercial counterparties should execute a structured assessment:
- Step 1: Check security registrations. Run a company charge check to determine whether debentures or floating charges exist ahead of unsecured claims.
- Step 2: Cease trade credit. Immediately suspend credit facilities and demand cash on delivery for any goods or services requested by the administrators.
- Step 3: Preserve reservation of title (ROT). If physical assets or records were supplied under ROT terms, notify the administrators in writing immediately before assets are consolidated.
- Step 4: Lodge a proof of debt. Obtain the administrators' contact details from the full Gazette filing and lodge formal claim paperwork.
Realistic creditor scenario
Consider an IT infrastructure supplier providing cloud hosting to an advisory firm. In August, the supplier reviews credit exposure after hearing market rumours but delays action. If the supplier had executed a formal winding up search in August, HMRC's petition CR-2026-005250 would have shown a direct winding-up risk, prompting an immediate demand for advance payments. By waiting until the October administration notice, the supplier faces a statutory moratorium and unsecured creditor status for outstanding service fees.
For conveyancers, credit teams and legal advisers
Professional advisers handling transactions with counterparties must conduct thorough solvency checks before completing contracts or extending substantial credit. Relying solely on basic Companies House profile pages frequently conceals active litigation or pending court hearings that take weeks to register. Performing a targeted winding up petition search across the High Court cause lists ensures that petition filings and interim insolvency protections are discovered before financial exposure occurs.
Setting up automated alerts via free company monitoring ensures your credit risk team receives instant notification when statutory notices or petitions are filed against partners or suppliers.
FAQ
What is the purpose of administration under Schedule B1?
Administration aims to rescue the company as a going concern, achieve a better result for creditors as a whole than an immediate liquidation, or realise property to make a distribution to secured or preferential creditors.
How does an administration affect an active HMRC winding-up petition?
An administration appointment imposes a statutory moratorium. If an administration order is made by the court or an out-of-court appointment takes effect, the active winding-up petition is typically dismissed or stayed to allow the administration process to take precedence.
How can creditors verify whether an insolvency petition is active?
Creditors should run a winding up search using the Central Registry of Winding-up Petitions or the High Court Rolls Building cause lists, which track petitions prior to gazetting.
Who has control over the company once administrators are appointed?
The powers of the statutory directors are suspended in relation to company management. Executive control passes to the appointed insolvency practitioners, who manage the business and assets for the benefit of creditors.