A lawyer stepped forward yesterday to represent missing businessman Tony Duggan, a move which stopped company receivers immediately selling off his assets.

Mr. Duggan has not been seen since last month when his company Precision Engineering-Technical Company went into receivership with debts in excess of $1 million.

The receiver appointed by the Bank of Bermuda issued a writ two weeks ago which expired at 5 p.m. yesterday, requiring Mr. Duggan or a lawyer representing him to come forward to discuss settling his debts. If he had failed to do so, the receivers could have begun selling off his assets to cover his debts.

The Royal Gazette has learned that a lawyer, whose identity has not been revealed, contacted receiver David Goodwin of Cox Hallett Wilkinson yesterday morning.

Mr. Duggan, a Scottish businessman who owned Oasis night club in Hamilton until he sold it earlier this year, however, is still off the Island and has not been seen since he sailed off last month in his luxury catamaran Assagai.

Another of his companies, Office Supplies, also went into receivership last month when the Bank of N.T. Butterfield exercised a charge over the company's assets to meet unpaid debts.

Neither Mr. Goodwin nor Justin Williams for the Bank of Bermuda would comment when contacted yesterday.