It is with great sadness that we mark the passing of Peter Phillips, co-founder of Buchler Phillips and one of the defining figures of the insolvency profession during its modern era.
Peter co-founded Buchler Phillips in 1988 alongside David Buchler, establishing what would become one of the most respected independent restructuring and insolvency boutiques in the country. Together, they built a Mayfair practice whose influence far exceeded its size, acting on many of the most high-profile and complex insolvencies of the 1980s and 1990s, including Maxwell, BCCI and British Leyland.
Peter’s roots in the profession ran deep. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant at Bernard Phillips & Co, working under the guidance of his father Bernard and uncle Percy. It was there that David Buchler was articled to Peter, beginning a professional partnership and friendship that would shape both their careers and leave a lasting mark on the profession itself.
The pair later left Bernard Phillips & Co to join Arthur Andersen, where Peter immediately became a partner, with David joining the partnership soon after. During their years at Arthur Andersen they worked on a succession of major insolvency assignments that established both men as leading practitioners in a rapidly evolving field.
David departed Andersen in 1987, with Peter and several colleagues following in 1988 to officially launch Buchler Phillips. The firm quickly earned a formidable reputation for handling large and often sensitive assignments with technical excellence, commercial judgment and discretion — qualities Peter embodied throughout his career.
Professionally accomplished though he undoubtedly was, Peter will perhaps be remembered most warmly for his personality. He was a man of immense charm: approachable, calm and possessed of an exceptionally easy manner. These qualities were combined with an acerbic wit which he deployed with impeccable timing and to great effect.
It surprised nobody who knew him well to discover that he was also a gifted conjurer and a member of The Magic Circle: arguably a useful attribute for an Insolvency Practitioner. Beyond professional life, Peter also served as a Magistrate in Finchley and was deeply committed to public service.
Peter was elected President of the Insolvency Practitioners Association in 1989, recognition from his peers of the regard in which he was held across the profession.
Always disciplined in his planning, Peter had long intended to retire fully from professional life by the age of 65, gradually reducing his commitments over a five-year period so that he and his wife Wendy could devote more time to their many interests together. He achieved that ambition in the same thoughtful and measured way that characterised his entire career.
While many colleagues, not least his co-founder, were ardent Tottenham Hotspur supporters, Peter remained loyally devoted to Birmingham City Football Club. Quite why, we never entirely understood!
Peter leaves behind his wife Wendy, two children Kira and Leo, an enormous number of friends, former colleagues and admirers, all of whom benefited from his wisdom, humour and generosity over many decades.
He will be greatly missed.
*Posted on LinkedIn on Thursday 7 May 2026* – Dear colleagues and friends, I would like to share some very sad news that reached us this morning. It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing of my long-term business partner and dear friend, Peter Phillips. Peter was an exceptional professional, a trusted colleague, and a man of great integrity and kindness. Over many years, we built not only a successful professional relationship, but also a lasting friendship. His contribution to our work and to the wider community was immense, and he will be greatly missed by all who knew him. On behalf of everyone at Buchler Phillips, I would like to honour his memory and extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.
So sad. I remember Peter so well ‘back in the day’ when I was starting out as a very young lawyer in London. Peter was an inspirational practitioner and human being in every respect. He will be sadly missed. In an increasingly faceless world, the insolvency profession has truly lost one of its greatest ever characters. – Richard Obank
I have fond memories of my time at Buchler Phillips and Peter was a lovely man. My condolences to his family and all that knew him. The insolvency service has lost a legend. Peter’s legacy lives on in the people he mentored and inspired.
I first started working with Peter and David as a fresh faced new recruit at Arthur Andersen from Touche Ross in March 1984 . This move was the catalyst for my ( continuing ) 42 year career in the insolvency and restructuring profession . It could not have happened without the leadership and guidance that I gained from Peter and David and which led me to follow them in October 1989 to join what was then a fledgling Buchler Phillips . The rest is history .
The profession has lost an icon with Peter’s passing and I have lost a mentor and friend . It is very sad but I will look back on all the good times we all shared which I will never forget and am eternally grateful for .
Rest in peace Peter.
That is very sad news indeed. IPP was one of the first London based IPs I acted for in the early 1980s. As so many have already said below, an exceptional professional and a very decent man. Sincere condolences to Peter’s family and to you David.
I am deeply saddened to hear of Peter’s passing. I had the privilege to work with him for over 10 years, and throughout that time he was not only an exceptional professional, but also a genuinely kind, respectful and supportive person.
He will be greatly missed by so many people. My sincere condolences to you David, Peter’s family and friends and all the Buchler Phillips team that you and Peter assembled during this difficult time. Best wishes. Stoney.
Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of a wonderful man and mentor.
Peter was a truly respected and inspirational man who had a lasting impact on so many people, myself included. I will always be grateful for his guidance and support.
Rest in peace 🕊️
Such very sad news , Peter was so kind to me in my year at IPA , a truly decent human and and an exceptional professional . My sincere condolences .
What terribly sad news. Peter was one of the very first IPs I ever dealt with during my formative insolvency days at Lovell White Durrant. Rest in peace and my condolences to all of his family and friends.
A great man who has been a star in the insolvency firmament throughout my career since I started in the profession in 1979. He will be missed.
I have been thinking how best to reflect my feelings with Peter’s passing. I would not have reached my business and personal achievements without the grounding, discipline and encouragement provided to me by Peter and David. I am eternally grateful.
How very sad. Peter was one of the first IPs I met as an aspiring insolvency lawyer. Always someone to admire. A huge loss especially for you David and Peter’s family.
Peter was a very fine man who contributed hugely to the insolvency profession. He always had something interesting to say and had a sparkle in his eyes! He will be truly missed. My condolences to his family and friends.
Such sad news. I will always remember how kind he was to me especially when I was new to the insolvency world of work. My condolences to you, David and to Peter’s family and friends.
That is very sad news. As a fellow Past President of the Insolvency Practitioners Association he will be deeply missed. RIP
Peter has been part of our industry since I started out, he set standards and influence so many people for good.
David, Thanks for sharing this very sad news. Peter was always polite and friendly company whenever I, much the junior professional, met him, at numerous IPA events over the years. I will miss seeing him. Mark
So sorry to hear the news David . I have always felt so privileged to have been part of the partnership that you and Peter created . Sincere condolences to you and Peter’s family .
He was quite something and left a great legacy.
I am deeply saddened by the news of Peter’s death , please send my condolences to his family.
Peter and his partners , including you ,were a great help to me when I started my insolvency career at Bernard Phillips & Co.
Very sad news indeed. My thoughts are with Peter ‘s family at this difficult time.
A real gentleman and a great IP. He will be greatly missed.
So sorry to hear.
Thank you for sharing this very sad news David. Peter was a consummate professional but always had a mischievous twinkle in his eye. I have very fond memories of my time shared at the firm that bore his name, Buchler Phillips. May he rest on peace.
Condolences to his family.
May his memory be a blessing. He was very kind to me when I was younger.
I’m so sorry to hear this news. Like everyone here, I remember Peter as a gentleman and am glad to have known him.
So sorry David. Peter was a lovely and talented man. Condolences to you and Peter’s family.
Such a wonderful man and professional. A great privilege to be able to call him a good friend. Sadly missed by everyone who knew him.
So sorry to hear this sad news David. Peter was a true gent. Thinking of his family, colleagues and friends.
So sorry to hear this news David. Peter, you & I go back a very long way…
Sending my thoughts to and sincere condolences.
Very sad news. Thoughts are with family and friends. RIP.
So sad to hear the news of Peter’s passing. I had the pleasure to work for him from the late 1980’s for about 10 years and he was just a wonderful professional and kind person and will be greatly missed.
Peter and his extended family are the legacy of our insolvency family as we know it today. A man admired, loved and respected by all who knew him.
Echoing David Buchler’s and Lee Manning’s comments. Peter was a legend in his time and always a pleasure and delight to work with. His memory will live on.
Awefully sad news. Still have great memories of a very special and enjoyable Company conference and away few days in Poole with activities. A great gentleman and a true font of knowledge. Condolences to family and friends.
That is such sad news. Peter was a kind and generous guy, and the pair of you made an excellent and very successful team. May he rest in peace.
I have known Peter since the 1960s when we both worked at Bernard Phillips & Co . He remained a good and sincere friend from then.
I will miss him greatly and send my deepest condolences to his wife Wendy and the rest of his family – George Rishi
I was so saddened to hear the news of Peter’s passing – a legend and a gentleman who we all in the NatWest Mayfair Corporate office had the pleasure of knowing. God bless you Peter.
What sad news. Peter was a true professional with an abundance sincerity and kindness. Such a wonderful human being. My deepest condolences to his family and friends .
Peter was very much a respected professional and the profession is now the poorer.
Sending my support and thoughts to you and his family, David. Glad to be able to say that in person yesterday on what must have been a difficult day. What a terrific partnership you had and what a life to celebrate. All best wishes.
David -so very sad (and shocked) to hear this news. I know how close you were as partners in business and friendship. Wishing you, Katerina and your colleagues my heartfelt condolences and ‘long life’.
The host of tributes above speak for themselves. He was a special human being.
That is very sad news indeed. Peter was a gentleman and a class act with a good sense of humour…..
Such sad news. What a great professional and personality he was. My most sincere condolences to all his family and friends.
Rest in peace Peter.
Very sorry to hear that news David. Peter was a true gentleman.
Very sorry to hear this. I really liked Peter and had many happy lunches with him. He was great fun to be with.
Very sad news. He was indeed a legend and will be missed.
Very sad news – he was a true gentleman!
What bad news David, my personal condolences to his family.
Sorry for your personal and professional loss. Wishing you and his family a long life / condolences.
I’m so sorry to hear that – my thoughts are with all his family, friends and colleagues.
Terrible and very sad news. Sending support to all of you.
My deepest condolences to Peter and his family, and to David and the Buchler Phillips team.
Sad news David .
Sending my deepest condolences to the entire team at Buchler Philips.
Our deepest condolences, David, to the family and to the members of your firm.
Sorry to hear David . Condolences to his family yourself and your team.
Condolences, David.
I was so sad to hear about Peter’s passing. I just wanted to write and share how much he meant to me, especially in the early days of my career. I first met him in 1996 when I joined the IPA, and at that time I was very young and quite shy. The insolvency world felt rather daunting, but he was always warm, kind, and welcoming towards me. I have such fond memories of chatting with him at IPA events like the Bernard Phillips Memorial Lecture and the Past President’s Luncheon’s. He had a wonderful way of putting people at ease and making them feel included. His genuine kindness made a lasting impression on me, and I will always be grateful for the encouragement he gave me without even realising it. Please know that my thoughts are very much with you and your family at this sad time.
With love and best wishes,
Nikki
I was informed yesterday of the sad passing of Peter Phillips, a former President of the Insolvency Practitioners Association, and colleague of yours and Mr Buchler.
I am emailing on behalf of everyone at the IPA, including Board members and staff, past and president, to offer our deepest condolences, and to ask you to pass our sympathies to Mr Phillip’s family, friends, and work colleagues. I am sure he will be very much missed.
With all our best wishes,
Marcial Boo
Chief Executive
IPA: THE UK INSOLVENCY REGULATOR
What sad news. Sincere condolences David .
I’m very sorry to hear that, David.
I am very sorry for this loss, my condolences David.
So very sorry to hear this very sad news.
Sorry to hear that David.
Very sorry to hear the news.
our deepest condolences…
Sincere condolences. I met Peter in the 80’s when I was just starting out as an IP.
He immediately struck me as a genuine person of high integrity and a person who was always willing to give help and advice.
He stood out from the pack!
Thank you for sharing this very sad news. Peter was a towering figure in the insolvency and restructuring world. He created an extraordinary legacy, evidenced by the great success of so many BP alumni. My first senior partner as a new graduate recruit. He will be sadly missed.
Dear Wendy,
I was so sorry to hear these sad news.
Peter was, unquestionably, a legend in the Insolvency profession. Following in Bernard’s footsteps he transformed the practice together with David.
Whenever I met him, latterly at IPA Past Presidents’ lunches , he would have that cheeky smile and a story to tell. He was always immaculately dressed and upright.
I am not sure many Insolvency Practitioners have been members of the Magic Circle and JPs but he managed to carry off both offices with aplomb.
I will miss seeing him and I offer my condolences to you and your family and wish you ” Long Life “.
Very sad news … Condolences to his family and close friends.
This is very sad news indeed. I have such fond memories of working with Peter, a wonderful professional & charming man who took time to encourage and be interested in the careers of others. My highlight of working with Peter was not actually work! He knew I was interested in politics and kindly invited me to the Labour Conference in Brighton in 1995 for Blair’s breakthrough speech – it was quite the moment. Condolences to you, David Buchler and to Peter’s family.
As with everyone who had the privilege and pleasure of knowing Peter, I will hold him long, fondly and with admiration in my memory for his warmth, humour and intellect. Truly, in the annals of insolvency he will always rank in the top pages.
I first met Peter when I had a client who needed advise. It was at Peter’s father’s firm in the West End. Such a caring professional !
He did great work in the matrimonial space.
I loved his chose of cars !
A founding Father and Insolvency services.
RIP
Thanks for sharing this, David. Very sad. I first met Peter (and you!) when Bernard was still with us in 1983 working with Mike Fitzgerald in the early days with Andersen. Peter was a formidable figure then and his stature only increased thereafter. My thoughts with all of his friends and family.
Totally agree with David – all these messages are a real testimony to who the man Peter was – I have known and worked with Peter for over 30 years. My profound observation of him over the years, was that he was uncompromising and walked the path of a true professional on the one hand, but also had a certain boyish jocular charm on the other. I recall of old when we kept winning the R3 v IS annual cricket match and him making the Bernard Phillips Cup presentation with great pride – with a tear in eye I will dearly miss Him.
Peter was a really nice guy whom I met later in my career. I really liked the way he developed and followed other meaningful paths in retirement. Condolences to his wife whom I met and his family.
My condolences to you David and to Peter’s family. I knew Peter through my long career in Business Recovery and latterly, in retirement through my work with St Jude’s in Hampstead Garden Suburb where Peter lived for many years.
I am so very sorry to hear this sad news. I first encountered Peter on British & Commonwealth. Since then, there have been many exciting cases where Peter’s insight was much appreciated. A very sad loss.
Peter was a true gentleman and a great help to me in the early days of my insolvency career as was Bernard and yourself, David. Good days.
Sad news. I worked for Peter as an 18 year old at Bernard Phillips and Co.
Terrible news, Peter was at the forefront of our profession and a true gentleman. My sincere condolences to his family.
My sincere condolences to Peter’s family and may his soul rest in peace.
Thanks for David and Peter in opening up your office and hearts to the many Aussies that called Buchler Phillips their home for an important part of the career, friendship and fond memories .
Sad news and good memories going back to Insolvency conferences in Europe and OZ.
Always had a smile and was always a gent. He’ll be missed.
One of the industry greats.
David Buchler, I am so sorry to hear this. I remember meeting you both in the very early days. Sincere condolences to all.
Very sad to hear about Peter’s passing. May he rest in peace.
Lovely man. One of the old school. RIP.
David, I agree with you and send my condolences to his family and friends.
So sorry for your loss. May he RIP.
Oh dear. That’s really sad news.
Very sad news indeed.
David, really sorry to hear that! Condolences to his family and friends.
So sorry for your loss.
I was so sorry to hear this sad news. Peter was always so warm and kind, especially in the early days when I joined the IPA. I have such fond memories of chatting with him at the Bernard Phillips Memorial Lecture’s and Past President’s Luncheon’s. He had a wonderful way of putting people at ease and making them feel included. His genuine kindness made a lasting impression on me, and I will always be grateful for the encouragement he gave me without even realising it.
I am Peter’s daughter, Kira, and am deeply moved by these heartfelt messages about my wonderful dad and what he meant to you all.
He was, as many of you say, a true gentleman. He was also very special father and we will miss him terribly.
Thank you ❤️