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.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'In my view, the German Willkie restructuring team with +15 core restructuring lawyers is the strongest restructuring team in the German and European market. The team around Ulrich Klockenbrink and Jörn Kowalewski, that moved over from Latham last year, is fabulous for complex and controversial restructurings.'
- ‘I always work with Ulrich Klockenbrink. He is a very sharp thinker, like a knife, with great negotiation results, also very well connected.'
- ‘One of the strongest legal teams throughout the restructuring practice with an industry-wide unique sense of business acumen and deep understanding of diverse complex strategic implications.'
- ‘Jörn Kowalewski is an amazingly strong negotiator. Ulrich Klockenbrink is a brilliant strategist, empathetic even in the most complex and confrontational situations, therefore always finding the right tone to enable a restructuring success.’
- ‘From my point of view, the best team for restructuring. With an extreme broad and at the same time in-depth restructuring focus, the team supported me in our restructuring.'
- ‘Proactive and excellent team around Jörn Kowalewski and Hendrik Hauke.’
Key clients
- Commerzbank
- UniCredit
- DEMIRE Deutsche Mittelstand Real Estate AG
- Deutsche Bank
- Leoni AG
- Goldman Sachs
- PUMA
Work highlights
Advising the steering committee of lenders (Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank, LBBW, DZ, UniCredit, RBI, Atradius) on the restructuring of BayWa, with over 400 financiers.
Advising on multi-jurisdictional restructuring of the EMAG group, involving refinancing and the conclusion of restructuring agreement with EMAG's financial partners, a total of 17 credit institutions and almost 40 promissory note creditors.
Representing DEMIRE Deutsche Mittelstand Real Estate AG in restructuring of its listed 2019/2024 German law bond of originally EUR 500m.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Wolfram Prusko
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Ulrich Klockenbrink
Hendrik Hauke
Practice head
Jörn Kowalewski; Ulrich Klockenbrink
Other key lawyers
Wolfram Prusko; Hendrik Hauke; Jan-Philipp Praß; Florian Doster; Nicola Meier; Joachim Glöckler