Our Team
For free initial advice or further information speak to any of our experienced team.
Hamish Adam - Partner
Hamish is a Licensed Insolvency Practitioner. He has over twenty five years of insolvency experience and was formerly a Senior Manager with the Corporate Recovery and Insolvency Services practice of Ernst & Young in Exeter. He has both Certificate of Proficiency in Insolvency and JIEB qualifications and experience in all sectors and types of corporate and non-corporate formal insolvency work.
Hamish has lived in the West Country since 1985 and is a family man. He lives in Exeter with his wife Helen and adult children. Outside work his interests include St Michaels & All Angels (C of E), Heavitree, hill walking, playing cricket, watching Exeter Chiefs and playing golf.
Sam Bailey - Partner
Sam Bailey is a partner in the firm and is responsible for advising clients in respect of corporate and personal recovery and insolvency matters.
Sam joined Richard J Smith & Co in 2008 shortly after qualifying as a Chartered Accountant, qualified as a Licensed Insolvency Practitioner in 2012 and became a partner in the firm in 2016.
He has experience of all formal personal and corporate insolvency processes, and has successfully completed assignments for clients that need restructuring that can take place without the need for a formal insolvency appointment. Sam also works on forensic accounting reports, assisting Giles Frampton.
Sam is married with two young sons and follows most sports; particularly football (Man City), golf and rugby.
Jonathan Trembath - Partner
Jonathan graduated from Plymouth University with a degree in Business Economics and Accounting in 2006 and soon after joined a niche insolvency practice in Plymouth. He went on to successfully pass the CPI qualification in June 2008, followed by the JIEB licensing exams in November 2009 at his first attempt. By doing so, Jonathan became one of the country’s youngest Licensed Insolvency Practitioners when he qualified at age 24.
In 2012, Jonathan joined a national practice, where over the next seven years he broadened his experience on a variety of sectors in both corporate and personal insolvency cases and spent time in their London office undertaking a financial due diligence assignment for a major clearing bank.
Jonathan joined Richard J Smith & Co in May 2019 and manages a varied case load of both corporate and personal cases while growing his professional business network within Devon and Cornwall.
Outside of work, Jonathan is married with two young children that keep him very busy. He is an active member of Plymouth Round Table where he takes part in various fund raising events throughout the year with the funds raised being donated to local worthy causes. Jonathan is currently vice chairman and set to become chairman in 2020.
When time permits, he enjoys socialising, playing and watching most sports, especially cricket (for Saltash Town CC), golf, tennis and going to local music festivals.
Ken Cole - Manager
After obtaining a degree in Accounting, Ken spent 12 months travelling around Australia before joining the Corporate Tax department of KPMG in Southampton. However, Ken decided to return to the West Country and joined Richard J Smith & Co in 1999 as an Insolvency Administrator.
Since joining, Ken has gained experience in liquidations and Company Voluntary Arrangements and all aspects of personal insolvency. In 2002 he obtained the Certificate of Proficiency in Insolvency qualification and in 2007 qualified as a Licensed Insolvency Practitioner. Ken is a Manager in the insolvency department.
Ken lives with his wife and two young sons in Ivybridge and his interests include following the fortunes of Plymouth Argyle and reading non-fiction. Ken also helps out with the local Ivybridge Juniors football team and is a important member of the Richard J Smith & Co 5-a-side team.
Shaun Rowe - Assistant Manager
After graduating from Plymouth University, Shaun joined Richard J Smith & Co in 2017 as an Insolvency Administrator.
Since joining, Shaun has gained experience in liquidations, Company Voluntary Arrangements and Individual Voluntary Arrangements. In August 2019 he obtained the Certificate of Proficiency in Insolvency qualification achieving first place in England and Wales.
Shaun lives in Kingsbridge and has one young son. Outside work his interests include playing football for his local team and supporting Plymouth Argyle.
Karen Quant - Insolvency Administrator
Having worked for H M Revenue & Customs within the Voluntary Arrangement section, upon their relocation in 2001 she joined Richard J Smith & Co as an Insolvency Administrator. She has a BA (Hons) degree in Business Administration and has also achieved her Certificate of Proficiency in Insolvency qualification. She has extensive experience in both personal and corporate casework.
Karen is married with three children and her interests are football (watching not playing!), cooking and wine tasting.
Steve Baggett - Insolvency Administrator
Steve joined the team at Richard J Smith & Co in 2020 having spent the previous 15 years in legal practice management and accounts.
Since joining, Steve’s portfolio of cases has steadily increased and he now deals with both personal and corporate casework including liquidations, administrations, company voluntary arrangements, individual voluntary arrangements and bankruptcies.
Steve passed his ICAEW Certificate in Insolvency qualification in October 2022.
Outside of work, Steve enjoys spending time with his friends and family.
Abi Law - Insolvency Administrator
Abi joined Richard J Smith & Co in January 2023, with 5 years of insolvency experience after starting her career in 2018. She has gained a wide range of experience over the years and has a background of managing both corporate and personal insolvency cases.
Abi’s portfolio of cases is steadily increasing, dealing with predominantly Members Voluntary Liquidations, Creditors Voluntary Liquidations, Bankruptcies, and Individual Voluntary Arrangements. Abi has started her Insolvency qualification study, with a view to working towards her Certificate of Proficiency in Insolvency qualification.
Outside of work, Abi enjoys spending time with her partner and family and enjoys being outside and going for walks around the Devon Coastline.
Roxana Vrabie - Insolvency Administrator
Roxana joined Richard J Smith & Co in August 2023, after attaining a First Degree in Business Management, Specialising in Project Management at the University of Plymouth.
Roxana’s portfolio has steadily increased since joining the firm, dealing with predominantly Corporate casework, whilst gaining exposure to Personal casework.
She has started studying for her Insolvency Qualifications and looking forward to extending her Professional Qualifications in the upcoming years.
Outside of work, Roxana enjoys spending time outdoors with her partner and their dog, as well as being passionate about Yoga, Pilates and general exercise.
Dan Brown - Insolvency Administrator
Following almost a decade of service as a local Councillor in the South Hams, and having worked for a Member of Parliament, Dan joined the firm in June 2024.
Dan attained a degree in Politics from the University of Greenwich in 2014, followed by a Masters Degree in International Relations from the University of Plymouth in 2017.
Outside of work, Dan enjoys following football and cricket.
Giles Frampton - Consultant
Giles is a Chartered Accountant (1982) and Licensed Insolvency Practitioner (1989). He is also a practising member of the Academy of Experts (1995). He trained with Thomson McLintock & Co in London and then moved to KPMG in Plymouth where he became a partner in 1991. Seeing the benefit of a niche practice dedicated to insolvency and forensic accounting he joined Richard Smith in 1994 to form Richard J Smith & Co.
He is a past President of R3 and a past chairman and past member of both its Policy Group and General Technical Committee. He is an Editor of ‘Individual Voluntary Arrangements’ published by LexisNexis and lectures on insolvency topics. In past years he was the accounting member of the Lord Chancellor’s Rules committee, the JIEB personal insolvency paper Examiner, and Chairman of the Insolvency Licensing Committee of the ICAEW.
Outside the profession he is chairman of The Exeter Diocesan Board of Finance.
He is married to Ruth who is a priest in the Church of England, has two sons, one daughter-in-law, a daughter-in-law elect and two grandsons. In his spare time he sings (tenor) watches cricket and gardens.