The Legal 500

Allen & Overy LLP is noted for its technical and practical advice to lenders, shareholders and corporates on restructurings. Practice head Rob Abendroth is an expert and recommended along with Andrew Thomas, who has ‘inside knowledge of banking; is practical and hands-on’, and associate Sigrid Jansen, who ‘looks for a consensus but is tough when required’.

Houthoff Buruma leads on Dutch insolvency matters. Both Rutger Schimmelpenninck and Frédéric Verhoeven are ‘superb lawyers – very financially sophisticated and extremely practical. They have done transactions no other trustee has done and also have a fundamental sense of justice and fair play’. The practice recently negotiated settlement agreements for Lehman Brothers and DSB Bank. It also represents trustees of the KPNQwest bankruptcy, and is acting for Goldman Sachs in restructuring a real estate fund.

NautaDutilh’s restructuring and insolvency group is led by Robert van Galen, whose ‘technical ability and strategic foresight are simply remarkable: above all, he has the ability to see the winning argument amongst many competing positions’. The practice advises Yukos and its Dutch subsidiaries on bankruptcy proceedings and in its position as a creditor for the bankruptcy of DSB Bank. On the restructuring side, the team is local counsel on the restructurings of European Directories and Uni-Invest. Teun Struycken and Barbara Rumora-Scheltema are recommended.

Simmons & Simmons LLP’ Gerhard Gispen is advising administrators and note holders in significant bankruptcy proceedings as well as financial investors and banks on major restructurings.

Stibbe advised UK administrators on the Nortel restructuring and Dutch creditors in the Landsbanki bankruptcy. The practice is also acting as court-appointed trustee to Indover Bank regarding the winding down of its operations. Karen Harmsen is recommended for insolvency work.

Wijn & Stael represents shareholders, creditors and individual directors, and is acting in bankruptcies of companies such as Econcern and Livingston Ltd. William Jan van Andel is recommended.

AKD’s team is led by Barend de Roy van Zuidewijn, who is trustee in a number of bankruptcies as well as advising construction company Akar in negotiations with Rabobank, which withdrew a credit facility following its insolvency. The practice is also advising on the liquidation of Topps Tiles’ Dutch operations, and advising a former group of Yukos on restructuring. The team also includes Paul Peters and Ed Wagemakers.

CMS Derks Star Busmann has ‘good knowledge and a proactive attitude’, and advises domestic banks and corporate clients on insolvency. Marcel Groenewegen acts as joint trustee in the bankruptcy of DSB Bank’s parent company. Jan Willem Bouman and David Bos are also recommended.

‘A good-quality practice, with a focus on pragmatism’, Clifford Chance mainly acts for financial institutions. Jelle Hofland is ‘not afraid to use unorthodox methods in order to achieve a solution’. Bas Boris Visser is ‘solutions-driven and very good in documentation’, and associate Mirjam van der Kaay is one to watch.

DLA Piper ‘coordinates advice effectively’ on restructurings and formal insolvencies. It was appointed administrator in the insolvency of insurance company Ineas and is advising creditors of the Agrenco insolvency. Marc Molhuysen leads the team.

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek’s Ruud Hermans leads the practice, following Jan Willem de Boer’s departure to Linklaters. Hermans recently advised on Dutch law aspects of the Almatis restructuring. The practice also advises banks, bankruptcy trustees and liquidators.

Loyens & Loeff advises lenders and borrowers on corporate restructurings. It also acts for bankruptcy trustees and is advising a number of Lehman Brothers bondholders. Hendrik van Druten and senior associate Vincent Vroom are recommended.

Ploum Lodder Princen Advocaten en Notarissen focuses particularly on insolvency, advising financial institutions and corporates such as Atradius Credit Insurance and Gulf Oil Nederland. Jeroen Princen leads the team, and Sjoerd Warringa is ‘very well experienced in insolvency and able to give practical advice’.

Niche firm RESOR NV was set up by former lawyers from De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek. Clients include Goldman Sachs, IMF, Dutch Central Bank and ING. The team includes Jako van Hees, Nicolaes Tollenaar and Lucas Kortmann.

Van Doorne’s practice is led by Paul Schaink, who focuses on insolvency. Stefan van Rossum handles debt restructurings. The team is court-appointed trustee in the Van der Moolen bankruptcy and acting as Dutch counsel to GSO Capital – the lead investor in the Almatis restructuring.