A&O Shearman advises companies, banks, and funds on a range of matters including out-of-court and in-court restructurings, acquisitions of distressed companies, and work involving StaRUG proceedings. The practice is jointly led by Franz Bernhard Herding, who handles out-of-court restructurings and debtor-in-possession proceedings, and Sven Prüfer, who assists domestic and international enterprises, investors, managers, and financial institutions on national and cross-border restructuring and distressed M&A transactions. Josef Parzinger handles cross-border financial restructurings of stressed and distressed businesses, and Hauke Sattler brings expertise in restructurings and insolvencies within the automotive sector. Walter Uebelhoer is another key member of the team.

Clifford Chance offers restructuring and insolvency expertise across the full spectrum of services crucial in distressed situations. Team head Stefan Sax advises companies in financial difficulties on obligations arising from crisis situations. Sax is supported by Kolja von Bismarck, who regularly advises management teams and boards of directors regarding their duties in financially distressed situations; Andreas Steiger, who handles financial and operational restructurings in both non-insolvency and insolvency situations; and Patrick Schulz, who focuses on cross-border and multinational restructurings and distressed transactions. Diana Schoch and Martin Jawansky are also key members of the team.

CMS supports clients through every stage of the restructuring process, leveraging its experience in managing both emerging and acute corporate crises. Team head Alexandra Schluck-Amend advises on reorganisation and restructuring matters, with a focus on the preparation and implementation of reorganisation concepts, both in out-of-court restructurings and during insolvency proceedings. Schluck-Amend is supported by Maximilian Seidel-Hacker, who advises German and international creditors on the liquidation of collateral in turnaround situations and assists companies during insolvency in self-administration and in distressed M&A transactions.

Dentons has extensive experience in all areas of restructuring and insolvency law, advising clients on matters involving distressed M&A, restructuring of financial liabilities, self-administration proceedings, and insolvency litigation. The team is jointly led by Andreas Ziegenhagen, who regularly in restructuring cases, self-administration proceedings, and insolvency plan proceedings; and Arne Friel, who focuses on restructuring and insolvency law, with particularly emphasis on distressed M&A. Dirk Schoene advises companies, directors and shareholders in restructuring processes, while Daniel Fritz focuses on restructuring and insolvency matters in the automotive, manufacturing, and healthcare sectors. Holger Ellers and Judith Schmid are also key members of the team.

Gleiss Lutz is well-versed in both German and international restructuring and insolvency law, supporting clients across financial restructuring and refinancing, StaRUG proceedings, bond restructuring, distressed M&A, and insolvency-related litigation. Under the leadership of Andreas Spahlinger, the practice offers deep automotive, real estate and chemicals sector knowledge. Spahlinger brings extensive experience, handling restructuring, M&A, and corporate transactions, while Matthias Tresselt assisting on judicial and extrajudicial restructurings. Kai Birke and Helge Kortz support the team with expertise in refinancings and restructuring; Birke assists corporate clients in restructuring their financial debt, while Kortz advises on matters concerning syndicated loans.

act legal covers a full spectrum of work concerning operational restructuring, financial restructuring, and distressed M&A transactions, handling interim management, refinancing, waiver solutions, and distressed debt matters. The practice is jointly led by Sven Tischendorf, who handles work at the interface of restructuring, employment law, and distressed M&A in the private equity sector; Alexander Höpfner, who represents clients in complex self-administration and protective shield proceedings; and Matthias Müller, who specialises in the real estate space. Felix Melzer advises domestic and foreign companies, investors, and shareholders in restructuring and M&A transactions, while Fabian Laugwitz focuses on special situations, restructurings and reorganisation projects.

GÖRG Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB supports companies, strategic investors, and hedge funds in financial distress, with a focus on self-administration, protective shield proceedings, StaRUG proceedings, and out-of-court liquidations. The practice is jointly led by Christian Bärenz and Gerrit Hölzle, with Bärenz covering all aspects of corporate crises, and Hölzle focusing on insolvency and restructuring proceedings in the automotive, energy, and retail sectors. Helmut Balthasar and Martin Stockhausen are also key members of the team.

Hengeler Mueller advises clients on cross-border and domestic restructuring proceedings, leveraging extensive experience with financial instruments including loans, bonds, private placements, and a broad range of other financial products. Daniel Kress advises companies, banks, and financial investors on financial restructuring and insolvency law issues, with particular focus on the real estate and travel industries. Arvid Morawe assists shareholders, lenders, borrowers, and investors in distressed situations, while Martin Tasma handles cross-border distressed M&A transactions and related litigation.

Heuking advises in all legal fields related to crisis, reorganisation, and insolvency. The firm is highly regarded for its expertise in guiding companies and investors through complex domestic and cross-border restructurings, including financial and StaRUG-based reorganisations, as well as distressed M&A and divestment transactions. Team leader Georg Streit is supported by Arnold Büssemaker and Kai Uwe Büchler.

Kirkland & Ellis International LLP handles domestic and cross-border restructuring and insolvency matters across the automotive, media, manufacturing, energy, and healthcare sectors. Cristina Weidner  advises on financial and corporate restructurings, acting for sponsors, management, and supervisory boards, creditors, and investors in turnaround situations; while Michael Berger focuses on cross-border restructurings advising both debtors and creditors on acquisitions, disposals and reorganisations of stressed and distressed businesses. Ann-Kathrin Ziegler is another key partner in the practice.

Latham & Watkins LLP focuses on structuring, negotiating, and implementing complex financial and operational restructuring transactions, as well as insolvencies and distressed M&A deals in Germany and beyond. The team is jointly led by Frank Grell and Daniel Splittgerber; Grell supports clients in financial restructurings and acquisitions of distressed companies, while Splittgerber handles both in-court and out-of-court restructurings and rescue financings.

Linklaters focuses on cross-border and interdisciplinary restructuring and insolvency transactions in the crisis sectors of automotive, real estate, and chemicals, advising on the sides of companies, creditors, and shareholders. Sabine Vorwerk and Riaz Janjuah jointly head the practice, with Vorwerk advising lenders in cases where borrowers face insolvency or financial distress and supports corporates on restructuring matters, and Janjuah specialising in financial restructurings, refinancing, and distressed or special situations.

Noerr supports clients in a broad spectrum of restructuring and insolvency matters, including pre-insolvency proceedings, distressed M&A, refinancings, as well as distressed disputes, for which the firm has a dedicated team to handle the rising number of litigation in this area. Marlies Raschke and Simone Schönen jointly lead the practice, with Raschke handling out-of-court reorganisations and insolvency proceedings, and Schönen advising on complex financial restructurings. Thomas Hoffmann brings over 20 years of experience within corporate crisis management and insolvency situations, while Dorothee Prosteder focuses on financial restructurings and M&A transactions.

The team at White & Case LLP handles complex restructuring and insolvency situations, advising clients in the real estate, energy, retail, healthcare, and maritime sectors on matters such as preventive restructuring, distressed M&A, and formal insolvency. Team head Sven-Holger Undritz has extensive knowledge of restructuring law in relation to insolvency plan proceedings and distressed M&A transactions for both German and international clients. He is supported by key partners Christoph Schulte-Kaubrügger and Sylvia Fiebig.

Under the leadership of Jörn Kowalewski and Ulrich Klockenbrink, the Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP's practice has particular strength in classic Anglo-American restructuring regimes and cross-border restructuring under German StaRUG law. Kowalewski and Klockenbrink advise clients on complex restructurings and distressed M&A deals, with the former focusing on debt-to-equity transactions, and the latter handling enforcement situations, both in and out of court. They are supported by Wolfram Prusko, who is well versed within real estate and international bank restructurings, and Hendrik Hauke, who is often involved in large-scale restructurings in the automotive, retail, and manufacturing industries.

McDermott Will & Schulte advises alternative financiers in restructuring and insolvency situations, including disputes related to directors’ and officers’ liability, protective shield proceedings, and reorganisations under StaRUG. Matthias Kampshoff and Uwe Goetker jointly lead the team, with Kampshoff focusing on restructuring companies in crises and guiding them through debtor-in-possession proceedings; and Goetker handling both in-court and out-of-court restructurings.

Milbank advises on national and cross-border restructurings, representing creditor-side ad hoc groups and steering committees in large-scale financial restructuring transactions. The team is co-led by Mathias Eisen, who supports financial institutions, investors, sponsors and corporate clients in distressed situations, and Marlene Ruf, who is well versed within cross-border financial restructurings, both in-court and out-of-court. They are supported by key associates Robert Kastl and Alexander Theisen.

Norton Rose Fulbright‘s restructuring and insolvency team advises creditors and strategic investors on stabilising distressed businesses, utilising StaRUG outside of formal insolvency proceedings, executing distressed M&A transactions, and pursuing loan-to-own strategies. Bernhard Fiedler, Sylwia Maria Bea-Pulverich, and Oliver Sutter co-lead the practice, with Fiedler handling debt financing transactions, Bea-Pulverich focusing on cross-border reorganisations and restructuring matters, and Sutter specialising in acquisition financing and corporate loan transactions.

Taylor Wessing advises institutional creditors, financial investors, strategic bidders, and insolvency administrators on a broad spectrum of insolvency and restructuring matters, including filing requirements, debt restructurings, distressed M&A transactions, and large-scale bank financings. Hendrik Boss, who heads the team, supports national and international companies during their financial restructuring. He is supported by Christian Saueressig and Daniel Kunz, who are positively noted by clients.

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner advises global banks, funds, insurers, and corporates in cross-border restructuring and insolvency matters, including StaRUG plans, trust structures, and debt-to-equity swaps. Practice head Mike Danielewsky supports companies and executive bodies in crisis situations to develop sustainable restructuring solutions.

DLA Piper represents companies, creditors, and other financial stakeholders in all aspects of business and financial restructurings and risk mitigation. Wolfram Distler leads the team and brings over 20 years of experience in acquisition, corporate, and venture debt financing deals. Florian Bruder and Theresa Keß are equally praised by clients for their restructuring expertise.

Greenberg Traurig Germany advises creditors, debtors, and investors in insolvency and restructuring cases, handling insolvency administration and self-administration proceedings, out-of-court restructurings, and distressed M&A deals. Team head Gordon Geiser facilitates restructuring through debtor-in-possession, traditional insolvency proceedings, and out-of-court restructuring, often taking a management role.

Grub Brugger advises banks, shareholders, managing partners and directors, and CEOs in restructuring situations in the automotive, mechanical, retail, and start-up industries. The practice is jointly led by Frank Schäffler and Volker Muschalle from the Stuttgart office; Hans Konrad Schenk, Sebastian Gall, and Richard Scholz from the Frankfurt office; as well as Michael Vilgertshofer and Hendrik Wolfer from the Munich office.

GSK Stockmann specialises in covering all aspects of real estate restructuring and real estate insolvency. Andreas Dimmling  and Raoul Kreide jointly lead the team, with Dimmling advising on fund restructurings, distressed M&A, and crisis real estate projects, and Kreide focusing on distressed project development and StaRUG proceedings in the real estate sector.

Hogan Lovells International LLP advises companies, investors, creditors, debtors, as well as insolvency administrators on all issues arising from company crisis situations. Heiko Tschauner leads the team and handles complex financial restructuring and insolvency matters, while Christian Herweg focuses on distressed M&A deals and all types of financing, particularly corporate finance and acquisition finance.

Jones Day advises clients on the full scope of restructuring and insolvency matters, from distressed acquisitions to reorganisation and emergency planning, particularly in the automotive, technology, life sciences, and real estate sectors. Alexander Ballmann, who leads the team, supports distressed enterprises, debtors, lenders, and investors on restructuring solutions, insolvency proceedings, and distressed M&A transactions. He is supported by Olaf Benning and Anna Bretting.

The team at Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH handles complex restructurings across all crisis stages, advising on self-administration, bond and real estate fund restructurings, and distressed financing. The practice is led by Gunnar Müller-Henneberg, who focuses on reorganisation proceedings under StaRUG and in debtor-in-possession and protective shield proceedings.

Simmons & Simmons advises lenders, creditors, debtors, managing directors, investors, and shareholders in financial distress, particularly in the real estate sector, handling restructurings of failing project development or stranded assets. Team leader Christopher Kranz has extensive experience in distressed refinancing and M&A, as well as all types of restructuring and insolvency proceedings. Simon Kirschner is well versed within all aspects related to financial crises and insolvency law.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP has strong experience in all areas relevant for restructuring, including finance, acquisition out of insolvency, and the liability issues of special importance in Germany. The team is co-led by Gerhard Schmidt and Britta Grauke, who have extensive experience within national and international restructuring work, with Grauke focusing on assisting creditors, sponsors, investors, and managing directors in complex crisis situations.

Anchor Rechtsanwälte supports companies in crisis situations, handling self-administration and protective shield proceedings, as well as distressed M&A deals. Florian Harig and Alexander Reus are equally praised by clients, with Harig advising on restructuring options, including preventive restructuring under StaRUG, and Reus dealing with debtor-in-possession management.

Ashurst LLP assists clients on all aspects of corporate and financial restructurings, as well as insolvency-related mandates. Practice head Karsten Raupach handles out-of-court restructurings related to loans, promissory notes, and bonds, as well as financial restructurings connected to insolvency proceedings.

Baker McKenzie advises banks, domestic and international companies, their shareholders, creditors, debt funds, and other stakeholders on all aspects of restructuring and insolvency law. Team head Joachim Ponseck focuses on insolvency litigation and defends insolvent managements and their creditors against insolvency-related claims.

GvW Graf von Westphalen is highly experienced in insolvency and restructuring law, advising clients on self-administration proceedings, distressed M&A transactions, insolvency litigation, and proceedings under StaRUG. Team head Wolfram Desch focuses on directors’ and officers’ liability, as well as professional liability, including coverage law issues.

Mayer Brown LLP supports clients in the automotive, real estate, chemicals, food, and retail industries in cases involving insolvencies, restructurings, and bankruptcies. Team head Marco Wilhelm acts for borrowers, secured and unsecured creditors, distressed investors, and shareholders on restructuring, refinancing, and bankruptcy issues, and is supported by key associate Inga Rupp.

The restructuring practice at Deloitte Legal Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH has extensive experience in planning and implementing large-scale restructuring projects in Germany and abroad, handling refinancings, operational restructuring assignments, and distressed M&A transactions. Practice head Frank Tschentscher  specialises in complex corporate debt restructurings.

Loschelder advises national and international investors, management consultants, and shareholders on insolvency and restructuring law, including distressed M&A and related litigation. Practice head Nils Derksen supports clients in special situations, insolvency proceedings, and in-court and out-of-court restructuring matters.