Flöther & Wissing has gained its excellent reputation particularly through its advice on court-ordered insolvency administrations, self-administration, protective shield proceedings and trustees of large international companies – especially in aviation. Nevertheless, its key client base also includes medium-sized German companies from various sectors. Firm founder and eponymous partner Lucas Flöther, who jointly heads practice with name partner Andreas Wissing, is an experienced insolvency administrator and trustee with industry-specific aviation expertise. In addition to court-ordered insolvency administration and trusteeship, the team has recently increasingly assisted with out-of-court reorganisation and restructuring and also took on the role of general representative in the implementation of out-of-court reorganisations on part of the company. In addition, the team is experienced in handling insolvency-related liability claims, distressed M&A matters and employment restructuring.

Dr Beck & Partner GbR Rechtsanwälte focuses on standard insolvency proceedings, self-administration and protective shield proceedings. For this purpose, the firm establishes interdisciplinary teams, which not only offer legal expertise, but also business administration advice through the addition of business economists and controllers. Different personal specialisations also equip the group well for comprehensive assistance with cross-practice matters and across various sectors, such as company sales and partial sales from insolvency. Key members include experienced insolvency administrator Joachim Exner, who is adept at company restructuring with complex group structures; Hubert Ampferl, who as a trustee assists with self-administration and protective shield proceedings, draws up insolvency plans and advises on the mass-increasing continuation of businesses; and the firm founder Siegfried Beck, who regularly acts the interface between insolvency and tax law.

As one of the few large firms in Germany, CMS offers both restructuring advice and insolvency administration. The team led by Alexandra Schluck-Amend thus covers a comprehensive spectrum, ranging from classic insolvency administration and self-administration to crisis-related company acquisitions and sales and the settlement of insolvency disputes. The latter segment includes representing managing directors in claim proceedings pertaining to directors' liability. The group's sector focus lies on financial services, as recently reflected by its advice on the first insolvency of a capital management company in Germany as well as the appointment of Michael Frege as administrator of Maple Bank and, more recently, Greensill Bank. The practice has further industry expertise in the automotive, manufacturing, aviation and real estate sectors. Christian Holzmann, who is experienced in insolvency administration and restructuring, made partner at the beginning of 2021.

Anchor Rechtsanwälte combines legal and business advice with comprehensive expertise in insolvency law and insolvency administration, with particular attention being paid to continuing business operations in the crisis; the team regularly cooperates across offices. In Munich, for example, Alexander Reus, Vincenz von Braun and Christoph Herbst are among the key contacts who, in addition to self-administration and protective shield proceedings, also assist with distressed M&A transactions. In Ulm, Martin Hörmann is an experienced insolvency administrator as is Tobias Wahl in Mannheim, while the Hanover-based Silvio Höfer is an insolvency and restructuring expert with employment law expertise. The Augsburg-based Alexander Zarzitzky (self-administration and protective shield proceedings in addition to insolvency administration and trusteeship) made partner at the beginning of 2021.

Grub Brugger specialises in active insolvency administration, but also advises on pre-insolvency restructuring. The range of services includes assistance with self-administration and protective shield proceedings, restructuring by insolvency plan and transferring restructuring by sale or acquisition of companies and company parts. Through its cooperation with the firm’s criminal law practice, the group is also well equipped to handle commercial criminal law issues or, if necessary, assist with related court proceedings. Furthermore, the team assists insolvency administrators with dispute resolution, including claim enforcement. Key contacts include experienced insolvency administrator (especially in the automotive sector) Michael Mucha; Philipp Grub, who often assumes the function of general representative in self-administration; and Wolfgang Bilgery, who is regularly appointed administrator in company insolvencies.

Based on the combined expertise of insolvency lawyers, auditors and tax consultants, HWW Hermann Wienberg Wilhelm acts as insolvency administrator, trustee, chief restructuring officer and general representative. Practice head Rüdiger Wienberg is experienced in taking over trusteeships, carrying out self-administration and receivership. Ottmar Hermann is well versed in handling major insolvency cases and in the aviation sector, while Rainer Bähr and Christian Otto regularly advise on self-administration and trusteeships. Julia Kappel-Gnirs is another key contract for insolvency administrator matters.

Reimer Rechtsanwälte specialises in insolvency and commercial law and advises on restructuring, reorganisation and insolvency administration. Founding partners Tjark Thies, Peter-Alexander Borchardt and Hendrik Gittermann are regularly appointed as insolvency administrators and trustees in large-scale proceedings and assist with self-administration. Reinhold Schmid-Sperber also acts as a notary and, as a specialist lawyer for tax law, also has tax, corporate and business management expertise. Thomas Rittmeister is a key contact for protective shield procedures as well as the aviation and retail sectors. Matters entailing employment and M&A aspects are coordinated across practices.

Schmidt-Jortzig Petersen Penzlin provides insolvency administration and restructuring advice and counts investors, creditors, shareholders and company management among its clients, which also benefit from the group's expertise at various interfaces such as employment law and M&A. As a Hamburg firm whose lawyers are often appointed as insolvency administrators by North German courts, the team has considerable experience with insolvencies in the maritime sector, while also being well versed in the stationary retail, renewable energy and finance sectors. Dietmar Penzlin heads the practice and regularly acts as a trustee and insolvency administrator across Germany.