For The People Agency is under liquidator investigation after entering liquidation, with the award-winning branding business estimated to owe around $8 million to creditors.
The case centres on whether the agency traded while insolvent and whether parts of the business were moved to a similarly named entity, For The People Agency Australia, after the Australian Taxation Office began Federal Court action.
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The liquidator is also examining potential phoenix activity. Phoenixing generally involves moving a company’s assets or operations to a new entity, while debts remain with the failed company.
What is being investigated?
The Federal Court ordered For The People Agency to be wound up in February 2026 after an application by the ATO.
Liquidator Shelley-Maree Brooks was appointed to examine the company’s affairs and distribute any recoverable assets to creditors. Her preliminary report identifies about $8 million in liabilities.
The ATO is among the largest creditors, estimated at more than $4.6 million. The report also identifies employee entitlements among the unpaid liabilities, with 24 staff estimated to be owed about $305,000, mostly in superannuation.
Insolvency and phoenix activity claims
Brooks’ preliminary investigations suggest the company may have been insolvent from at least 1 May 2019. The date could be earlier, as the liquidator has only received limited books and records to date.
The report also notes that some employees were told in late January or early February 2026 that their contracts would transfer to For The People Agency Australia.
That company was registered in 2023 at a Chippendale address. It was registered for GST on 14 October 2025, shortly after the ATO filed its winding-up application.
Investigations into any potential phoenix activity remain ongoing. No finding of illegal phoenix activity has been made.
Agency background
For The People was founded in 2014 by Jason Little and Damian Borchok, later building a reputation as one of Australia’s leading independent branding studios.
Chris Billing became sole director in July 2019, after the founders ceased their directorships. At its peak, the agency had staff across Australia and in the United States.
The agency worked with clients including Australian National University, Blue Mountains Tourism and Equator. It had also been recognised across several industry award programs.
Chris Billing
What happens next?
Brooks has flagged a report to ASIC over alleged director breaches. Any report to the regulator is not publicly available.
Her investigations may also examine transactions between For The People Agency and related parties, including possible uncommercial transactions, unfair preferences and director-related transactions.
The outcome will matter for staff, freelancers and creditors seeking payment. It will also be closely watched by Australia’s branding and design sector, where independent agencies often rely on small teams and freelance partners.