A&O Shearman continues to field a first-rate team that counts debtors, creditors, and bidding companies in its client base and regularly works cross-practice to provide integrated expertise on transactional matters, insolvency proceedings, and out-of-court restructuring. The team particularly stands out for its transactional expertise, regularly working for buyers and sellers on distressed M&A, and also draws on the expertise of experienced litigator Thales Mertens to offer clients standout advice in restructuring and insolvency disputes. Mertens co-leads the practice with Filip Tanghe, who maintains close relationships with a large number of major banks and acts primarily on debt restructurings and corporate reorganisations. Further key contacts in the team include Bart De Bock, who has represented lenders and investors in high-profile contentious matters, as well as banking and finance expert Matthias Purnal.

Members of the team at DLA Piper have ‘outstanding knowledge and experience‘ across a wide breadth of distressed matters and are regularly appointed to act as bankruptcy trustees and administrators in court-ordered bankruptcy and asset transfer proceedings. Experienced team lead Ilse Van de Mierop‘s broad insolvency practice furthermore encompasses representing lenders in complex insolvency and asset recovery litigation. Charlotte Sas is very well-versed in judicial reorganisation proceedings, while Charles Dumont De Chassart is noted for his experience acting as a liquidator in bankruptcy proceedings. Joris De Vos, who primarily advises distressed companies in contentious matters, is also recommended..

NautaDutilh is capable of handling the full spectrum of restructuring and insolvency proceedings, with a large team of litigators and arbitrators that stands out for its ability to represent both debtors and creditors in contentious matters. The team regularly acts for clients in court proceedings to obtain consent for the transfer of distressed businesses, represents banks in asset recovery and insolvency litigation, and handles complex judicial reorganisations. Out-of-court restructurings are a further area of focus for the team and are chiefly handled by Sophie Jacmain, a commercial disputes expert who co-leads the practice with reputed insolvency specialist Stan Brijs. Corporate and insolvency litigator Karel De Smet is also recommended, as is Charlotte Van Themsche, who joined from Jones Day in February 2023.

Liedekerke is well-regarded for its cross-border insolvency capabilities, which enable the firm to represent debtors and creditors in matters ranging from bankruptcy filings and associated liability litigation to insolvency proceedings surrounding asset and business activity transfers. The team has a particularly strong reputation for advising bidders on distressed M&A at the intersection of competition and insolvency law, and it is also capable of advising on complex issues such as conservatory garnishments. The 'exceptional and extremely intelligent' insolvency litigator Roel Fransis heads up the practice.

Loyens & Loeff provides its client base, which encompasses debtors in a wide range of industry sectors as well as lenders and bondholders, with 'very knowledgeable and creative' advice in connection with cross-border restructurings and insolvency proceedings. Cross-practice capabilities enable the team to advise on employee and asset transfers in the course of debt restructurings and judicial reorganisations, represent clients in litigation related to asset recoveries and liquidation orders, and handle a growing volume of distressed financing matters. Vanessa Marquette leads the team and stands out for her insolvency litigation expertise, while Marc Vermylen is a key contact for financing and restructuring work and Kris De Schutter primarily handles employment issues.

Boutique firm Quinz combines corporate and financial expertise with capacities in dispute resolution and competition to provide its clients with multidisciplinary advice on a wide range of insolvency, reorganisation, and asset recovery matters. While primarily representing creditors in contentious insolvency proceedings and liability claims, the firm also guides distressed companies through out-of-court restructurings. Experienced litigator and arbitrator Benoît Allemeersch is furthermore capable of acting as a court-appointed liquidator in the context of large-scale bankruptcies. Allemeersch heads up the practice, which is bolstered by the expertise of insolvency and corporate finance expert Stijn De Dier.

Racine‘s ‘excellent insolvency and restructuring practice‘ is composed of insolvency practitioners who regularly act for clients in domestic and cross-border litigations and stand out for their routine appointments as trustees and liquidators in bankruptcy proceedings. The team is very active on asset recovery and enforcement and also represents debtors and creditors in liability claims. Insolvency and liability expert Joan Dubaere leads the team together with Stijn Vanschoubroek, who is noted for his experience acting as a trustee and liquidator. Rubben Lindemans left for DNA Law in March 2024.

Stibbe is home to experienced insolvency litigators who are regularly appointed to act as administrators and liquidators in the context of voluntary post-bankruptcy dissolutions, though the team is also capable of representing creditors as well as debtors in asset recovery proceedings and criminal liability claims. Distressed bond and asset transactions are a further area of of focus for the team, which is led by cross-border insolvency litigation specialist Oliver Stevens. Further key contacts include Paul Van der Putten and Pieter Wouters, who are both experienced liquidators and act across a wide range of insolvency proceedings.

Under the leadership of experienced insolvency litigator and practitioner Bart De Moor, a 'seasoned professional with a pragmatic approach', Strelia's team is uniquely qualified to act in domestic and cross-border insolvency proceedings and shareholder disputes. The team also advises and acts as administrator for distressed companies on their out-of-court and court-appointed restructurings. Marine Callebaut's portfolio includes representing shareholders and insurers in post-bankruptcy liability claims as well as handling alternative dispute resolution.

White & Case LLP is prolific in advising on distressed M&A and asset transfers, having advised creditors such as Deutsche Bank on post-bankruptcy acquisitions as well as acting for individual and corporate creditors in post-insolvency asset recovery proceedings. The team, which is active across Belgium and Luxembourg and frequently collaborates with the firm’s global network to advise on cross-border matters, also represents its debtor clients in high-profile restructurings and disputes arising out of financial distress. Practice head Thierry Bosly is a key contact for distressed asset purchases, while Alexandre Hublet is highly recommended for her commercial litigation experience.

Agio Legal is instructed by a wide range of companies facing financial difficulties to advise on preventative restructurings, judicial reorganisations, and distressed financings, and also increasingly acts for clients in post-bankruptcy disputes. Notably, the team is home to a number of practitioners who are routinely appointed to act as bankruptcy trustees, including Inge De Haes, Philippe Termote, and Tom Toremans, who co-lead the practice together with the 'very impressive' Philippe Van den Broecke.

ALTIUS' team is well-versed in the contentious and non-contentious aspects of restructuring and insolvency practice, from advising debtors on out-of-court restructurings and applications for judicial protection to representing creditors in asset recovery and liability claims. Practice head Bart Heynickx, who specialises in commercial litigation, furthermore displays extensive experience in advising on asset takeovers and insolvency proceedings. Insurance expert Alexander Hansebout is also recommended.

Experienced multidisciplinary partner and firm co-founder Leo Peeters heads up the practice at Andersen, which represents creditors, investors, and debtors in judicial reorganisations as well as in disputes arising out of liquidation and insolvency proceedings. The team also acts for distressed companies seeking to avoid insolvency and advises on preventative restructurings and sales. Toon Rummens, who maintains close relations with clients in the real estate sector, is a key name in the team.

Clifford Chance's team stands out for its expertise in bankruptcy-related litigation and dispute resolution, acting for multinational corporate clients as well as private and institutional creditors in a wide variety of reorganisation and insolvency proceedings. Asset recovery and enforcement matters represent a key area of focus, with creditors instructing the team to defend claims in court as well as to handle cross-border asset freezes and search operations. Experienced litigator Dorothée Vermeiren leads the practice.

CMS‘ insolvency and restructuring practice comprises a large team of specialists who primarily advise creditors and investors on distressed M&A and post-insolvency takeover bids, recovery claims in insolvency proceedings, and criminal complaints, though the team is also capable of assisting distressed debtors with judicial and out-of-court restructurings. Liability and insolvency litigation expert Jean-François Goffin leads the practice together with distressed M&A specialist Virginie Frémat and Grégory de Sauvage, who is a key contact for cross-border contentious matters.

Dispute resolution and contract law expert Jürgen Egger leads the team at Deloitte Legal, which represents clients in proceedings at the intersection of insolvency and criminal law. The team has extensive experience negotiating restructuring plans as well as bankruptcy filings and is also very active in advising on asset recovery. Glenn Hansen, who advises both debtors and creditors on preventative restructurings and insolvency proceedings, is a further key contact in the team.

The team at Janson advises across the full spectrum of contentious and non-contentious restructuring and insolvency matters, with a particular focus on handling distressed M&A, advising debtors on pre-insolvency reorganisation and liability management initiatives, and acting in asset recovery claims as well as contentious insolvency proceedings. Cedric Alter leads the team and is well-regarded for his ability to advise distressed companies on preventative restructuring measures. Banking and finance expert Dominique Blommaert is also recommended.

Lydian‘s insolvency and restructuring practice is instructed primarily by debtors and distressed companies to advise on corporate reorganisations and handle insolvency proceedings, though the team also advises a growing number of creditors on asset recovery, liability proceedings, and distressed M&A. The practice is led by experienced commercial litigation specialist Yves Lenders. Kim van Zummeren, who primarily handles liability and insurance issues, is a further key name in the team.