The ‘diverse and committed’ restructuring and insolvency offering at A&O Shearman is well-regarded for its ‘hands-on mentality and an ability to simply get things done’. The team has a strong reputation for its capabilities handling the array of work, including advising on the restructurings and workouts of companies in financial distress, and on the structuring of new deals. The matters the team works on are frequently international in context and involve ultra-high-values, while its client portfolio features well-known companies, private equity investors, and financial institutions. The group is headed up by Sigrid Jansen, who is described as being ‘strong commercially’ and has particular expertise in corporate finance, secured lending and distressed debt trading work. The ‘swift and to-the-point’ Aroen Kuitenbrouwer is a key practitioner in the team, as is cross-border work focused Andrew Thomas. Duco Postma departed to Dentons in September 2023.

The ‘well-informed’ and ‘dedicated’ restructuring and insolvency team at Clifford Chance has strong expertise handling the gamut of complex matters for its diverse roster of clients. ‘Safe pair of hands’ Ilse van Gasteren and Jelle Hofland, who is well-regarded for his ‘realistic and pragmatic view of matters’, co-lead the practice. Gasteren also co-heads the broader continental Europe practice for the firm. The team is well equipped to advise financial institutions, investors and borrowers on the array of work in both domestic and international contexts, which consistently involve values in the multi-millions. Specialist counsel Evert Verwey is noteworthy for his work in Dutch scheme proceedings, high-profile bankruptcy, and restructuring mandates. Financial disputes-focused associate Sander Hendrix is also a name to note.

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek‘s restructuring and insolvency practice is headed up by the ‘creative and solution-minded’ Ferdinand Hengst who splits his time between the firm’s Amsterdam and London offices. Former co-lead of the team Reinout Vriesendorp retired from in May 2023. The group's workload consists of advising well-known clients on the plethora of high-value and ultra-high-value insolvency work and through its accompanying processes, in both domestic and cross-border contexts. It is regarded as ‘the go-to practice for international bet-the-company restructurings’, with a client roster that features names from various industries. Bas Boutellier was notably promoted to partnership in January 2023; specialist counsel Matthias Haentjens joined the team in the same month.

Houthoff‘s restructuring and insolvency team has strong capabilities handling the broad range of matters for its clients, including advising on the complex restructuring schemes of multi-million euro companies; on suspension of payments matters; and on the distribution of high-value interest claims to high numbers of creditors in multi-party cases. At the team’s helm is ‘trusted partner and impressive negotiator’ Christiaan Zijderveld, who is well equipped to advise clients on the array of distressed situations. Frédéric Verhoeven is another noteworthy practitioner in the team with a banking and finance specialism and particular experience in cross-border matters. David Heems is focused on the full-range of contentious work in relation to insolvencies, while senior associate Karien van Boekel is noted as being ‘a reliable expert in her field’.

Implementing composition plans through suspension of payment proceedings, advising on high-value bankruptcies and handling negotiations involving in high-stakes restructurings are all key areas of focus for the ‘top-notch’ restructuring and insolvency team at Loyens & Loeff, which is noted as going ‘above and beyond to deliver’. The team has a strong reputation for its abilities advising groups of creditors as well as groups of lenders in their best interests in various high-value restructuring scenarios, in both national and international contexts. Team head Vincent Vroom is noted as being ‘a leader in Dutch insolvency with broad corporate expertise’. Senior associates Joris Dunki Jacobs and Kim de Bruijn are key members of the cohort who specialise in related contentious and risk management work.

The restructuring and insolvency group at NautaDutilh is regarded as being formed of ‘leaders in the field’. The practice assists reputable clients in the array of complex matters, from high-value restructurings to wind-downs. Its work includes guiding its clients through the range of high-stakes distressed circumstances. Robert van Galen has a particular focus on cross-border issues therein, which are a key specialism of the team, whilst practitioner Barbara Rumora-Scheltema has impressive expertise in both litigious matters and non-contentious negotiations. Teun Struycken advises sponsors, lenders and borrowers in the array of cases. At the team’s helm is the ‘technically excellent’ Marc Orval, while senior associate Saskia Heumakers is developing a focus on asset-based lending matters alongside cases involving various financing arrangements.

At the helm of CMS‘ restructuring and insolvency team are banking and finance specialist and court-appointed bankruptcy trustee Marc van Zanten, and Marcel Groenewegen who is a court-appointed administrator in suspension of payments matters, a silent trustee in pre-pack scenarios and a trustee in bankruptcy proceedings with particular expertise in cross-border matters. The group is well-regarded for its ‘unwavering commitment to getting the job done’. Van Zanten and Groenewege are supported by specialist practitioner Marlous de Groot, who has a particular specialism advising banks, creditors, as well as factoring and lease companies on the array of insolvency work.

DLA Piper‘s ‘strong and pragmatic’ restructuring and insolvency group is well known for its capabilities handling the plethora of restructuring and insolvency matters, including advising on complex, cross-border business restructurings and related business acquisitions. Additionally, the group is equipped to advise its clients, who span industry sectors from oil, gas and energy, to retail, on high-stakes bankruptcies and the array of proceedings therein. The team is part of the firm’s wider finance, projects and restructuring department, and is led by Marc Molhuysen. Promotions in the team include that of Wilmy Westerhof to legal director, and of Olmo Weeshoff to senior associate, both in July 2023.

Florent‘s restructuring and insolvency cohort is well equipped to handle complex bankruptcy proceedings for its array of well-known clients, for which the team often acts in cross-border matters. The practice is co-led by Hanneke De Coninck and Kees van de Meent; both are described as being ‘extremely skilled, straight to the point and pleasant to work with’ and both are also court-appointed insolvency trustees. Senior associate Joris Opstroom and disputes specialist associate Merijn Moeliker are noteworthy team members.

The ‘capable, sharp and practical’ restructuring and insolvency group at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is renowned for its capabilities advising its roster of key clients, on the gamut of related matters. Its workload consists in large part of cases including large-scale and high-value company restructurings, distressed sales and acquisitions in multi-jurisdictional contexts. ‘Solutions-oriented and versatile’ team lead Michael Broeders is particularly adept at handling high-profile mandates and has a particular strength in emergency financing litigation matters. Specialist in corporate disputes work Mijke Sinninghe Damsté bolstered the practice with her May 2023 arrival from Loyens & Loeff. ‘Excellent senior associate’ Tim Elkerbout sports expertise in transactional work.

The ‘exceptionally good’ Omar Salah heads up the restructuring and insolvency practice at Norton Rose Fulbright which is well regarded for its abilities advising on the remit of complex matters. Its client portfolio features a plethora of well-known banking institutions. The team has impressive expertise advising such lenders on high-stakes restructuring processes, frequently involving values in the multi-millions and multiple jurisdictions. Salah is supported by the firm’s project finance specialist Wouter Hertzberger.

Stibbe‘s restructuring and insolvency group is well equipped to advise its client roster of high-profile borrowers and lenders on the plethora of complex work. The team is noted as harnessing ‘real depth of experience in the restructuring sphere’; its workload features a broad range of work, from advising on high-value recapitalisations and high-stakes bankruptcies to assisting clients in relation to their compliance with relevant case law. ‘Brilliant lawyer’ Rein van Helden, who splits his time between London and the Netherlands, is key to the practice, which is led by Job van Hooff who has particular expertise advising on cross-border financial restructurings, including schemes of arrangement and distressed transactions. Counsel Daisy Nijkamp is experienced in related contentious work.

Van Doorne‘s restructuring and insolvency group is led by Stefan van Rossum who has impressive experience advising on the gamut of complex cases on the side of both lender and borrower clients. The team handles the array of acquisition and restructuring work, and its matters are frequently of high-value and involve multiple jurisdictions. Jelmer Baukema, who has a focus on advising namely financial institutions on financing and restructuring transactions, was notably promoted to partnership in January 2023, as was ‘very good practitioner’ Joost Volkers, who has developing expertise in litigious contexts.

The Utrecht-based restructuring and insolvency group at Wijn & Stael Advocaten N.V. is adept at handling the range of related matters in both domestic and international contexts; such matters frequently involve high values. Its varied client list features those from sectors ranging from telecoms and retail, to healthcare and tech. The practice is overseen by a multitude of specialists, being financial specialist Noor Zetteler who frequently advises clients on liability issues and internal investigations matters, Willem Jan van Andel, Remco Vermaire, who provides ‘tailor-made’ advice, and Robert van Faassen. Anne Mennens is a key associate in the team.

The ‘practical, swift and experienced’ Rotterdam-based Fouad el Houzi is a key practitioner in AKD‘s ‘knowledgeable and committed’ restructuring and insolvency group, with particular expertise handling the array of related disputes including debt restructurings and corporate distress matters. The team is well equipped to act in high-profile bankruptcies for its varied portfolio of clients, and is headed up by Barend de Roy van Zuidewijn. Paul Peters and Thijs Hekman are also noteworthy members of the team.

Boels Zanders Advocaten‘s restructuring and insolvency team is experienced advising its client list on the range of work. The team is overseen by frequent court trustee Jeroen Bakkers from the Venlo office; Peter Brouns and Remco Rosbeek from Maastricht; and Eindhoven-based Flip Schreurs. The team frequently works as insolvency trustee for well-known national corporations and additionally supports its clients through administration proceedings.

The Hague-based practice at Buren is well known for its capabilities assisting with matters pertaining to the settlement of insolvency issues, as well as acquisition, rent, real estate and corporate law disputes and litigation. Martijn Vermeeren heads up the practice restructuring and insolvency group alongside Stefan van Wijk who is adept at advising clients on impending insolvencies as well as on restructurings. Senior associate Ruud Brunninkhuis ‘has a lot of expertise and is a good sparring partner’.

Jan Davids leads the restructuring and insolvency cohort at Davids Advocaten; Davids, alongside key practitioners Mark-Hendrik de Vries and Joris Boddaert, is described as being ‘excellent’. The team’s workload includes advising on multiple bankruptcies, a noteworthy example being its appointment as administrator in the bankruptcies of multiple companies in connection with the well-known NEXT fashion group. The group also advises on the array of restructurings.

HVG Law LLP’s restructuring and insolvency team is experienced acting as bankruptcy trustee for its portfolio of clients, often in cases involving numerous creditor employees. The clients the team assists cover the array of industry sectors, from retail and energy to travel and leisure, with workloads frequently in the multi-millions. It also advises on the liquidation of funds in cross-jurisdictional contexts. The team is headed up by Robin De Wit, Jan Padberg and Johan Westerhof.

The restructuring and insolvency group at Jones Day is well regarded for its ‘very strong insolvency capabilities’. ‘Established advisor’ Jasper Berkenbosch is at the team’s helm and is well equipped to handle the gamut of restructuring and reorganisation work. Additionally, the group is frequently appointed as trustee of high-value bankrupt estates.

Linklaters‘ restructuring and insolvency group is led by Paul Kuipers, who is described as having ‘excellent technical knowledge’ of the area. The team has abilities handling equity and debt restructuring work, which is often multi-jurisdictional in nature. It frequently collaborates with the firm’s international offices in order to provide the full service to well-known clients, on matters of considerable value.

Rutgers & Posch‘s restructuring and insolvency group is headed up by ‘one of the top lawyers in the insolvency sector’ Loek Kerstens, who specialises in dispute resolution-related work in particular and has experience handling complex domestic and international restructuring matters also. The team is experienced assisting with bankruptcy proceeding issues at Court of Appeal level, and its workload frequently involves cases of significant value. Senior associate Gief de Gruijter supports Kerstens.

The Rotterdam-based restructuring and insolvency group at Windt Le Grand Leeuwenburgh ably assists its clients through the processes surrounding liquidation and insolvency and is well regarded for its ‘customer-first mentality’. The team also advises clients in recovery from or prevention of such issues. The group is led by specialist in financial mismanagement of companies Richard le Grand, who is described as ‘a savvy litigator with good tactical thinking’.