Sam Gurner

Senior Manager - Adelaide

Sam is an insolvency and restructuring specialist at RSM Australia, working with individuals, middle market SMEs, and large corporate entities during periods of financial distress.

He focuses on helping clients navigate complex debt issues, protect key assets, and find practical pathways forward at what is often the most challenging point of their personal or business lives. 

Sam is known for his calm, structured approach and his ability to bring clarity to situations that feel overwhelming. He works closely with clients to understand their full financial position, assess available options, and develop solutions that balance commercial outcomes with personal realities. Whether advising individuals facing insolvency or supporting businesses dealing with significant debt pressure, Sam’s focus is always on achieving the best possible outcome under difficult circumstances.

A key part of Sam’s work involves assisting individuals who are struggling with debt and feel they have run out of options. He regularly advises on alternatives to bankruptcy, including Personal Insolvency Agreements, helping clients protect important assets such as the family home while working constructively with creditors. His advice is practical, empathetic, and grounded in a strong understanding of insolvency law and restructuring processes in Australia.

“I help people find clear, practical paths through financial stress so they can protect what matters most and move forward with confidence.”

Sam also works with small and medium enterprises experiencing financial distress. He supports business owners through periods of significant pressure, helping them assess whether a business can be restructured and stabilised, or whether a controlled and measured wind-down is the best course of action. In both cases, Sam’s goal is to reduce uncertainty, manage risk, and help clients regain control of their situation.

What Sam enjoys most about his role is being able to provide clear direction at a time when clients often feel stuck or unsure of their next step. He understands that insolvency is not just a financial issue, but a deeply personal one. Seeing the relief that comes when a sensible plan is put in place, and watching clients move forward with confidence, is what makes the work meaningful to him.

Before joining RSM, Sam spent over a decade working in a boutique insolvency firm in Adelaide, where he specialised in complex insolvency litigation. He later moved to a full-service Sydney-based firm, where he led the Adelaide office and was responsible for the firm’s personal insolvency practice. This experience gave Sam deep exposure to both technical insolvency matters and the human impact of financial distress.

Earlier in his career, Sam began working in insolvency as an in-house lawyer before transitioning into accounting and advisory. This legal background strengthens his ability to navigate complex negotiations, creditor arrangements, and formal insolvency processes with confidence and precision.

Sam brings a steady, reassuring presence to his work, combining technical expertise with genuine empathy. Clients value his ability to explain complex issues in plain language and guide them through each step of the process with transparency and care.

Outside of work, Sam enjoys travelling with his wife and children and has a strong appreciation for French culture. He is a keen cyclist and enjoys fine wine, interests that reflect his appreciation for balance, discipline, and enjoyment beyond the office.

Solutions Sam Gurner provides

Sam provides expert knowledge in the following areas:

• Bankruptcy services
• Liquidation
• Personal insolvency agreements
• Small business restructuring and turnaround services

Significant Project

• Assisted individuals in structuring Personal Insolvency Agreements as an alternative to bankruptcy, helping protect key assets including the family home while reaching workable outcomes with creditors.
• Supported multiple small and medium enterprises through periods of significant debt pressure, advising on business restructures or facilitating controlled wind-downs where continuation was not viable.
• Advised a client following a partnership breakdown and significant personal debt, negotiating with creditors to allow the client to retain their business, compromise debts, and return the business to profitability.

Associations

• Member, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ)
• Member, Australian Restructuring Insolvency Turnaround Association (ARITA)

Qualifications

• ARITA Advanced Certificate in Insolvency
• Bachelor of Laws (Honours), University of Adelaide