RSM expands insolvency services amid elevated bankruptcy rates
RSM Australia has announced an expansion of its business restructuring and recovery services as insolvency rates remain higher than usual.
Professional services firm RSM Australia has merged with Melbourne-based insolvency practice Brooke Bird.
The merger, which took effect on Monday, would see RSM’s Melbourne restructuring and recovery practice double in size.
“In the face of challenging business conditions and rising insolvencies among businesses of all sizes, the integration of Brooke Bird into RSM helps us meet the growing demand for restructuring and insolvency services among our clients and the mid-market sector,” RSM Australia chief executive partner Jamie O’Rourke said.
RSM’s expansion of insolvency services comes as ASIC data revealed that insolvency rates have steadily increased year-on-year since 2022. This shift came after the ATO resumed its regular approach to tax debt collection following a relatively lax period during the pandemic.
Restructuring appointments in particular have surged in recent years, almost doubling from 1,424 in the 2023–24 financial year, to 2,572 in the financial year to May 2025.
Total insolvencies over the financial year to May have climbed to 12,791, outpacing the insolvency rates observed in the 2023–24 (11,053) and 2022–23 (7,942) financial years.
The addition of Brooke Bird would see RSM’s Melbourne practice size double to more than 200 active assignments, 16 team members and $5 million in fees, O’Rourke said.
Following the merger, Brooke Bird’s Adrian Hunter is set to join the RSM team as a restructuring and recovery partner. Hunter is a registered liquidator with decades of experience in corporate reorganisation and insolvency advice.
“This merger represents a tremendous opportunity to leverage the scale and resources of RSM while continuing to provide the high-quality insolvency solutions our clients have come to expect,” Hunter said.
Robyn Erskine would also join RSM as a consultant, bringing in 30 years of experience as a corporate and personal insolvency practitioner. She was also the first woman to become president of the Australian Restructuring Insolvency and Turnaround Association.
“When facing financial difficulty, timely and informed guidance can make all the difference in achieving a successful outcome,” Erskine said.
“We’ve been at the frontline of financial distress for decades, and this unique position gives us a window into the business community that few others have – insight we’re proud to bring to this new chapter.”
The merger would see RSM take on approximately 70 ongoing insolvency engagements including both personal and corporate insolvency cases.
