The ‘very dependable’ group at A&O Shearman harnesses capabilities assisting financially distressed clients in the array of restructuring matters of multi-billions of euros in value, often in complex and cross-jurisdictional contexts. Financial institutions, private equity investors and corporations feature in the team’s client roster. Sigrid Jansen whose workload includes handling corporate and multi-bank debt restructuring deals oversees the practice; it is noted that ‘Jansen and the whole team stands out for excellence’. Aroen Kuitenbrouwer is well-equipped to assist with the team’s most prominent clients with large-scale restructurings, while Andrew Thomas has a particular specialism in cross-border matters, including those involving debt restructuring, leveraged finance, syndicated lending and acquisition finance aspects. Kelly Visser-van der Vooren left to Stek in July 2024.

The practice at Clifford Chance, noted for its ‘proactiveness and strategic thinking’, is well equipped to handle the gamut of complex restructuring mandates for its clientele, the list of which spans sectors from real estate to shipping. Ilse van Gasteren frequently advises financial institutions, borrowers and investors on cross-jurisdictional and complex restructuring matters, while Jelle Hofland who is regarded for his ‘outstanding qualities’ has expertise in leveraged finance transactions and syndicated lending as well as in complex restructuring cases; the pair co-head the offering. A practitioner to note is court-appointed bankruptcy receiver and senior partner as of April 2024 Evert Verwey for his abilities handling major bankruptcy and restructuring matters of significant value.

The group at De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek offers its clients advice on the full scope of insolvency and restructuring matters in international and domestic contexts. Financing and corporate reorganisation are areas the team frequently advises on, as are claw-back risks, stakeholder management and board fiduciary duties. Further, it is well-placed to advise on bet-the-company restructuring matters. Acting in high-stakes liability litigation in matters at Supreme Court and Court of Appeal level is also an area of focus of the practice. Distressed finance and restructuring deals are areas of expertise of ‘sound advisor’ Ferdinand Hengst who heads up the offering with Bas Boutellier, an experienced partner handling public and private debt financing cases. Corporate litigator Jeroen van der Schrieck is another key member of the team.

Houthoff‘s practice is considered ‘one of the best in the Netherlands’ by clients, the list of which features well-known names. On the non-contentious side, the team is well equipped to advise clients in financial distress on such transactions as acquisitions and subsequent structuring, and on general financial regulatory issues. Frédéric Verhoeven is a noteworthy practitioner with capabilities advising US and UK-based hedge funds, Dutch private equity firms and government entities in cross-border restructuring and insolvency matters of significant value. On the contentious side, David Heems is a key contact who harnesses particular expertise acting for both debtors and creditors in complex restructuring litigation cases. Karien van Boekel is a key contact in international restructuring matters. ‘Very bright technical lawyer’ Christiaan Zijderveld leads the practice.

Loyens & Loeff‘s team is well regarded for its abilities advising on complex domestic and cross-border corporate restructuring matters. International and privately-held companies, and shareholders are amongst those the team assists in both non-contentious and litigious contexts. An example of its advisory work includes its assisting secured creditors of a global company with all aspects of the implementation of a multi-billion dollar restructuring. Team lead Vincent Vroom is noted for his ‘spot-on perspective’ and has experience advising on schemes of arrangement, on US chapter 11 proceedings, and on foreign restructuring regulations in addition to his contentious capabilities. Joris Dunki Jacobs has advisory and contentious capabilities in international restructuring matters, and Kim de Bruijn is highly regarded for her ‘deep knowledge’ of the area.

NautaDutilh‘s client list features corporates, debtors, insolvency trustees and alternative debt providers and its matters span the variety of industry sectors from telecoms and shipping, to real estate and pharmaceuticals. The team advises on the array of high-value structuring, restructuring and distressed matters. ‘Restructuring leader’ Marc Orval oversees the practice and notably recently advised on the first WHOA for a syndicated group of lenders. Barbara Rumora-Scheltema is a is a name to note for her abilities handling multi-billion dollar, high-profile restructuring matters in predominantly cross-border contexts. International work is also a focus area of Robert van Galen. Team changes include the departures of Teun Struycken and Catrien Rozeman in July and November 2024 respectively, and Saskia Heumakers‘ April 2024 transfer to the firm’s London office.

CMS‘ team is well-regarded for its capabilities assisting clients including real estate funds and investors, and financial institutions and investment funds on the broad variety of restructuring matters, including in WHOA proceedings. Areas of industry sector focus include consumer products and retail as well as life sciences and healthcare. ‘True expert in the field’ Marc van Zanten heads up the offering with expertise handling pre-pack proceedings and bankruptcy work for well-known names. Following the January 2024 departure of Marcel Groenewegen, Marlous de Groot newly co-leads alongside van Zanten and has experience assisting clients with corporate and debt restructuring matters.

The well-established practice at DLA Piper has noteworthy abilities handling corporate and financial insolvency and restructuring matters in an advisory capacity. Further, the team harnesses capabilities handling contentious matters. Marc Molhuysen oversees the group and has experience ranging from advising clients on all aspects of restructuring cases, to assisting with foreclosure sales. Olmo Weeshoff is a ‘talented lawyer’ with expertise in WHOA procedures, while Wilmy Westerhof frequently advises on the impacts of insolvencies on proprietary, as well as on bankruptcy matters.

The practice at Florent is noted for its ‘exceptional dedication’ to assisting its clients. The practice is well-placed to advise companies in financial distress on the remit of issues, including in WHOA proceedings, as well as to advise clients in bankruptcy proceedings. ‘Highly intelligent strategist’ Hanneke De Coninck helms the offering and has experience acting as court-appointed trustee in high-stakes insolvencies. At the team’s head alongside De Coninck is Kees van de Meent who advises in high-profile proceedings spanning the array of industry sectors and is ‘appointed in some of the biggest insolvencies in the Netherlands’.

The cohort at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer ‘acts at an exceptional level’. Its workload features acting for clients spanning industry sectors from travel to retail, in the breadth of high-stakes restructuring, insolvency and related litigious matters, as well as advising high-profile individuals on liability, securities and related disputes. Michael Broeders heads up the team and has experience advising companies in financial crisis with the remit of issues. At the helm alongside Broeders is Mijke Sinninghe Damsté who has a corporate litigation specialism. Tim Elkerbout advises lenders and borrowers on voluntary restructuring matters, and Huub Boekhorst is considered ‘very experienced’.

The practice at Linklaters is well equipped to handle multi-jurisdictional as well as domestic restructuring matters for its roster of clients, which includes dual-listed multinationals and investment banks, amongst others; matters the team handles consistently involve multi-millions and billions of euros. Banking expert Paul Kuipers oversees the team and is described as ‘one of the best restructuring lawyers in the Netherlands’ by clients. Counsel as of May 2024 Marc Noldus is noteworthy for his capabilities handling litigious restructuring and insolvency matters as well as non-contentious work.

The practice at Norton Rose Fulbright has capabilities advising on both domestic and cross-border restructuring matters of considerable value, as well as advising on formal insolvencies, distressed M&A, and high-profile bankruptcy litigation cases. The team has particular expertise advising in complex matters wherein WHOA proceedings have a parallel UK Scheme of Arrangement. Omar Salah is the team lead who is ‘always involved in high-profile restructuring cases’ spanning industry sectors from shipping, to energy, to oil and gas.

The collective at Stibbe is experienced advising its roster of clients on the plethora of restructuring matters, both domestic and international in scope. In terms of advisory work, the team assists debtors, creditors, bidders and sponsors in financial distress; the team is also equipped to handle litigious restructuring matters. Areas of industry sector specialism include energy and natural resources, healthcare and retail. Job van Hooff oversees the group and has expertise in WHOA proceedings and cross-jurisdictional insolvency and bankruptcy litigation. Partner as of January 2025 Daisy Nijkamp is a key contact in the team, considered ‘exceptional’ alongside Marleen Jonckers.

Van Doorne‘s offering is well-equipped to handle complex transactional aspects of restructuring matters of significant value, an area of specialism of Jelmer Baukema. Further, the team’s workload includes advising on restructuring and insolvency filings, WHOA proceedings, and bankruptcy matters across industry sectors including fashion, oil and gas, and healthcare. The ‘outstanding’ Stefan van Rossum helms the cohort and has stand-out expertise in high-profile distressed debt, restructuring matters and related transactions. Litigation is an area of expertise of Joost Volkers.

Wijn & Stael Advocaten N.V.‘s Utrecht-based cohort is known for its abilities handling cross-jurisdictional and domestic restructuring and bankruptcy matters. Financing, securities and insolvency specialist Noor Zetteler and Remco Vermaire, who counsels the broad range of clients on restructuring matters, co-lead the practice alongside corporate, insolvency and liability litigator Thijs van Zanten. Former co-lead of the team Willem Jan van Andel retired in April 2024, and former co-lead Ida Lintel departed to an in-house role in September 2024. Anne Mennens is a key contact.

The practice at AKD is equipped to assist its clients in the range of insolvency and restructuring cases, including cross-border matters. Further, it has capabilities advising those in financial distress on recapitalisation, reorganisation and wind-up procedures. Thijs Hekman and Rotterdam-based Fouad el Houzi who ‘consistently achieves top outcomes’ co-head the practice. Barend de Roy van Zuidewijn departed the team in December 2024.

The ‘smart and fast’ team at Boels Zanders Advocaten is overseen by Maastricht-based court-appointed trustee Peter Brouns and restructuring, insolvency, financing and securities specialist Remco Rosbeek. Alongside Brouns and Rosbeek are Eindhoven’s corporate specialist Jeroen Tulfer and Jeroen Bakkers who is well versed in corporate restructuring matters and based at the firm’s Venlo office.

Buren‘s practice is helmed from The Hague by Martijn Vermeeren and the ‘very experienced’ Stefan van Wijk. The group advises its varied client list on the remit of insolvency-related issues, including imminent insolvencies, directors’ liability and various financing aspects. The team is also equipped to advise on the range of corporate disputes. Ruud Brunninkhuis is a standout practitioner.

The practice at Davids Advocaten has a broad client portfolio. Jan Davids is considered a ‘brilliant lawyer’. Mark-Hendrik de Vries has a focus on finance disputes and ‘thinks outside the box’, as does Joris Boddaert according to clients. The three lead the team alongside corporate lawyer Nils Reerink, and Laurie van Leeuwen who represents directors and companies in financial difficulties with liability issues in particular.

Dentons‘ practice is able to assist its roster of clients in financially distressed situations, in both domestic and cross-jurisdictional contexts. The team provides banking and restructuring advice to clients spanning industry sectors. Duco Postma joined the firm from A&O Shearman in September 2023 to establish and head its restructuring and insolvency group, which collaborates frequently with the firm’s corporate team.

DVDW Advocaten‘s Rotterdam-based team is able to advise its varied client list on significant bankruptcies, restructuring cases and the business integration of distressed companies. The cohort is co-led by experienced practitioner Henri Bentfort van Valkenburg and Christiaan Groenewoud who advises directors and shareholders of companies in financial distress. Erwin Bos is noteworthy for his international capabilities.

The practice at HVG Law LLP is helmed by Robin de Wit who is well regarded by clients for his ‘vast experience’. The team’s workload incorporates advising on turnaround restructuring and refinancing matters, as well as assisting with distressed M&A transactions. Bankruptcies and voluntary liquidations are further areas of expertise of the team, which also has litigious capabilities. Jan Padberg is a ‘very experienced’ key contact.

The team at Jones Day has capabilities handling the gamut of matters including formal insolvencies, corporate restructuring and financial restructuring matters. The team is led by Jasper Berkenbosch who has experience advising distressed companies, funds, banks and creditors on the range of issues. Berkenbosch is considered a ‘creative thinker’ by clients, as is Sid Pepels who handles litigation. ‘Experienced bankruptcy trustee’ Erik Schuurs is also a key contact.

The team at Rutgers & Posch is well-placed to provide business owners and financial investors advice on the remit of insolvency and restructuring matters in cross-jurisdictional and domestic contexts, in addition to its bankruptcy capabilities. Loek Kerstens is regarded as an ‘excellent litigator’ by clients and heads up the offering. Gief de Gruijter departed in May 2024 while Bas Kramer joined from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in October 2024.

The team at Windt Le Grand Leeuwenburgh is based in Rotterdam and is headed up by Richard le Grand who has noteworthy capabilities taking on appointments from the Dutch courts, Enterprise Chambers and shareholders; financial mismanagement and related investigatory work are le Grand’s areas of expertise. Michiel Bindels has significant experience in restructuring and special assets-related matters.