Steve Illes Partner at Insolvency Practitioners Antony Batty

Find Out More About Steve Illes

We asked Steve Illes, Partner at the Insolvency Practitioners Antony Batty and Company (based at their London office) to tell us a bit more about himself. Aside from being an experienced insolvency professional, what sort of person do you get when you instruct Steve? What makes him tick? Other than Brighton and Hove Albion, of course.

• Why did you choose a career in Insolvency?

“I imagine like most people you don’t set out to work in insolvency, but after working for NatWest and dealing with insolvency, an opportunity to work for Baker Tilly arose and I jumped at the chance to work in Crawley and London.”

• Your most embarrassing moment in Insolvency?

“Embarrassing/funny: I was once invited to a cricket event by a lawyer. I was sitting next to one of the players who accidentally tipped a glass of red wine all over my beige trousers, it looked like I had wet myself for the whole day!”

• Your proudest moment in your Insolvency career?

“Passing JIEB – the Joint Insolvency Examination Board – it is an incredibly tough set of exams.

• What piece of wisdom would you pass onto a new recruit starting off in the world of Insolvency?

“It isn’t just about having the technical knowledge. If you want to progress and make a career in insolvency, and perhaps work for a firm of Insolvency Practitioners, you need to make sure you have the soft skills and contacts to work with in the future. It’s actually all about people.”

• What is your unfulfilled ambition?

“There are so many amazing places to go and see, but as a kid I always thought it would be amazing to get to go into Space, so I’ll go with that.”

• Persons who most influenced your career/life?

“Family aside, I’ve worked with an interesting group of people over the years, but in terms of changing my career it would be Louise Brittain, who gave me my first break.”

• Pet hates?

“People not buying their round!”

• Favourite book?

“I’m a big fan of Tom Clancy, so I’d go with Red Storm Rising, a classic book which would make a great movie. “

• Favourite movie?

“The Matrix, a great movie.  I remember it coming out at the cinema and the Nokia phone scene, I just had to get one.”

• Favourite song?

“I don’t really have one. I’m a child of the 70’s/80’s and I always remember listening to the charts then, so perhaps something by Duran Duran if I was pushed!”

• Greatest invention ever?

“Plenty of good inventions, but to go with my Space theme I’d go with flight/Space flight.”

• Biggest regret?

“That I’m not an Astronaut, although that was never on the cards!”

• The person from history you would most like to have a pie and pint with?

Julius Caesar, he did some interesting stuff.

• How would you spend your fantasy 24 hours, with no travel restrictions?

My partner and I have a brood of young children, which means any kind of travel is a nightmare right now. So, with my swarm of child helpers, I’d like to jump into my teleporter and visit family and friends in the US and Australia, among other places.

So, now you know a bit more about Steve…..

As you can see, there’s much more to the Insolvency Professional that Steve is in his working life. He didn’t mention Brighton and Hove Albion, but he does support them!!

If you do need advice and help from Steve – or any of our Insolvency Practitioners – in any area of insolvency, just call him at our London office on 0208 088 0633 or contact him. The first discussion, over the ‘phone or a coffee, is free.