Camilla became a Partner at Ashurst in 2018 in a cohort of strong female leaders, where seven out of ten Australian partners promoted were women.
Calm in a crisis, clients turn to Camilla to solve complex restructuring and insolvency problems. She’s advised on some of Australia’s most significant restructurings over the past decade including Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal, Boart Longyear and Atlas Iron schemes of arrangement.
Camilla regularly acts for corporate clients, directors, banks and insolvency practitioners on all aspects of corporate insolvency, restructuring and enforcement strategy.
Outside work, she practices her negotiation skills with her daughter and tries to go skiing as often as possible.
Get to know Camilla
Q: How did you choose a career in insolvency and restructuring?
Curiosity, an affinity for chaos and crisis, good people and chance. I didn’t set out to become a restructuring lawyer. To be honest, I wasn’t sure I would like dealing with disputes all the time. But a wise person told me to try everything when you are starting out. Even things you think you won’t like. It turned out to be very good advice. Once I found restructuring I discovered I did like it and I stayed. I enjoy the challenges of working with clients in difficult circumstances. Not just the technical and creative aspects of helping to solve tricky problems, but the opportunity to work alongside clients and to become part of their team. It’s amazing what strong relationships can be forged in challenging circumstances.
I like high pressure situations. I am relatively comfortable with chaos and crisis. I think these are probably pre-requisites for people in restructuring.
Q: What advice do you have for parents returning to work?
In my experience, being a working parent is not easy. But there are many silver linings. For me, it has also been an opportunity for improvement. If you find that your old way of working no longer suits you once you become a parent, be open to new solutions that are within your control. There are so many things you can’t control. Client needs, the time those needs arise, pick up and drop off times and situations where all your best laid plans go sailing out the window. My experience has been that I need to be more efficient and effective than I was before. I need more of a buffer so that everything still works when things go wrong. For that I’ve needed to learn some new skills, to embrace early mornings and other quiet windows.
Just before I went on parental leave, another wise person told me I’d be a better lawyer for becoming a parent. I think this quest for self-improvement is what he was talking about.
Finally, be patient and have courage. It is daunting returning to work, knowing that you will need to rebuild your practice. But you can use all the skills you used before you became a parent, plus a few new tricks, to re-establish yourself. It takes time.
Q: What has been your most memorable moment during your career?
Two stand out. Working on the Atlas Iron scheme of arrangement and completing the Boart Longyear restructuring. Both were all consuming, I learned a great deal and worked alongside some interesting and impressive people. Atlas was the first time a provision allowing a creditors’ scheme to release shareholder claims without a vote was used and Boart tested the boundaries of class composition.
At one point, an appeal was filed against the Boart scheme, heard and decided all on the same day. Just as I was kicking off my shoes back at the office, another opponent filed a special leave application. It was relentless.
They didn’t feel like moments at the time, but they do now.
Q: What is an interesting fact about you?
I’m in the midst of a cake making extravaganza for my daughter’s second birthday. Some of you may know of Katherine Sabbath. I’m attempting to re-create her Palm Springs Wedding Cake. Wish me luck! I’m sure I’ll wish I just bought one by the end of it all.
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March 2023
Camilla Clemente
Camilla became a Partner at Ashurst in 2018 in a cohort of strong female leaders, where seven out of ten Australian partners promoted were women.
Calm in a crisis, clients turn to Camilla to solve complex restructuring and insolvency problems. She’s advised on some of Australia’s most significant restructurings over the past decade including Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal, Boart Longyear and Atlas Iron schemes of arrangement.
Camilla regularly acts for corporate clients, directors, banks and insolvency practitioners on all aspects of corporate insolvency, restructuring and enforcement strategy.
Outside work, she practices her negotiation skills with her daughter and tries to go skiing as often as possible.
Get to know Camilla
Q: How did you choose a career in insolvency and restructuring?
Curiosity, an affinity for chaos and crisis, good people and chance. I didn’t set out to become a restructuring lawyer. To be honest, I wasn’t sure I would like dealing with disputes all the time. But a wise person told me to try everything when you are starting out. Even things you think you won’t like. It turned out to be very good advice. Once I found restructuring I discovered I did like it and I stayed. I enjoy the challenges of working with clients in difficult circumstances. Not just the technical and creative aspects of helping to solve tricky problems, but the opportunity to work alongside clients and to become part of their team. It’s amazing what strong relationships can be forged in challenging circumstances.
I like high pressure situations. I am relatively comfortable with chaos and crisis. I think these are probably pre-requisites for people in restructuring.
Q: What advice do you have for parents returning to work?
In my experience, being a working parent is not easy. But there are many silver linings. For me, it has also been an opportunity for improvement. If you find that your old way of working no longer suits you once you become a parent, be open to new solutions that are within your control. There are so many things you can’t control. Client needs, the time those needs arise, pick up and drop off times and situations where all your best laid plans go sailing out the window. My experience has been that I need to be more efficient and effective than I was before. I need more of a buffer so that everything still works when things go wrong. For that I’ve needed to learn some new skills, to embrace early mornings and other quiet windows.
Just before I went on parental leave, another wise person told me I’d be a better lawyer for becoming a parent. I think this quest for self-improvement is what he was talking about.
Finally, be patient and have courage. It is daunting returning to work, knowing that you will need to rebuild your practice. But you can use all the skills you used before you became a parent, plus a few new tricks, to re-establish yourself. It takes time.
Q: What has been your most memorable moment during your career?
Two stand out. Working on the Atlas Iron scheme of arrangement and completing the Boart Longyear restructuring. Both were all consuming, I learned a great deal and worked alongside some interesting and impressive people. Atlas was the first time a provision allowing a creditors’ scheme to release shareholder claims without a vote was used and Boart tested the boundaries of class composition.
At one point, an appeal was filed against the Boart scheme, heard and decided all on the same day. Just as I was kicking off my shoes back at the office, another opponent filed a special leave application. It was relentless.
They didn’t feel like moments at the time, but they do now.
Q: What is an interesting fact about you?
I’m in the midst of a cake making extravaganza for my daughter’s second birthday. Some of you may know of Katherine Sabbath. I’m attempting to re-create her Palm Springs Wedding Cake. Wish me luck! I’m sure I’ll wish I just bought one by the end of it all.