Professionals 'feasting on carcasses'

A High Court judge has expressed "general concerns" about various professionals "feasting on the carcasses" of insolvent and semi-solvent companies at a time when many sectors are "taking a hit" and many people have had pay reductions.

Some professionals appeared to be getting good pickings from troubled sectors when other people who are working just as hard are getting less, Mr Justice Brian McGovern said.

He made the comments today after approving "a very large figure" of €509,543 fees, plus outlay and VAT, making a total of €647,382, sought for five months' work by Luke Charleton of Ernst & Young, the chartered accountant appointed as special manager to Newbridge Credit Union on January 13th last. Some €70,977 in legal fees were also approved.

The fees cover the period January 13th to June 14th, 2012. As Mr Charleton's appointment was previously extended for another six months to the end of this year, a separate application for fees for that period will be made later.

The fees will be paid by the 37,000 members of the credit union whose representatives said they could not consent to such a large sum but were not opposing it. The fees are based on hourly rates descending from €375 an hour at partner level.

The level of fees, the court heard, was agreed to by the Central Bank whose counsel Brian Kennedy described Mr Charleton's work as necessary, proportionate and of a high professional standard.

Rossa Fanning, for Mr Charleton, said his client's work was "very significant, complex and novel" and he was the first special manager appointed under new legislation entitling the Central Bank to make such appointments when considered necessary.

The appointment was sought by the Central Bank with approval of the Minister for Finance arising from uncertainty about the credit union's financial position.

Mr Justice McGovern said he would approve the fees. While he saw "a very large figure", the Central Bank said this work was necessary and professionally done, it was in a better position to judge and the members were also not opposing the fees.

He would make the order but had general concerns in a context where many sectors are taking a hit but insolvency and other professionals were feasting on the carcasses of troubled companies, the judge said.

Mr Charleton's appointment was sought in circumstances where there was said to be a lack of clarity about he financial position of the credit union.

In an affidavit, Mr Charleton said a very considerable amount has been achieved with regard to identifying issues that need to be addressed to ensure the viability of the business of the credit union. Most of the work completed by his team was done at senior level and he believed all members of his staff had properly engaged in the work assigned to them.

Bernard Dunleavy, for the Supervisory Committee of the Credit Union representing the members, said they would have to bear the costs of the special manager and could not consent to what they considered to be "very large" fees. The members recognised Mr Charleton had done significant work but had drawn his attention to matters that might assist in reducing his team's costs.

Mr Dunleavy said Mr Charleton's appointment had been extended for another six months but the members hoped that represented "an outside date" rather than a target date and the manager's appointment could be concluded as soon as possible with a view to having the fees capped.