A&O Shearman‘s restructuring practice draws strength from its finance, corporate, litigation, and employment teams to assist creditors and debtors in both in-court and out-of-court restructurings. Its insolvency litigation and shareholder / directors’ duties practice is particularly noteworthy, alongside its handling of restructuring-related transactions. Thales Mertens is a key name for bankruptcy litigation, co-heading the practice with debt restructuring and refinancing specialist Filip Tanghe, who often acts for creditors. Yves Van Pul is recommended for his handling of bank-side lending work, and Bart De Bock was promoted to counsel in May 2024, regularly working on high-profile restructuring cases.

The ‘exceptional individuals’ making up the DLA Piper insolvency and restructuring team leverage their longstanding experience to act as insolvency practitioners, restructuring experts, and liquidators for both clients and the courts. The team’s client base spans debtors, lenders, government entities, distressed debt buyers and both domestic and international investors. Team head Ilse Van de Mierop is both a ‘reliable and appreciated partner‘ and ‘a tough opponent’, with major experience in the area of directors’ liability and experience acting as a trustee in bankruptcy. Charlotte Sas is a notable team member offering standout knowledge of judicial reorganisation proceedings, and is admitted as an approved trustee in bankruptcy. Virginie Frémat joined the team from CMS in September 2024, bringing expertise in the insurance sector.

The team at NautaDutilh pairs ‘fighting spirit with dealmaking attitude’, leveraging its litigation and arbitration experience to handle the full range of restructuring matters and insolvency proceedings. Sophie Jacmain's longstanding experience of Belgian insolvency proceedings is evidenced by her ‘very practical knowledge’ of both in- and out-of- court restructuring mandates. Jacmain co-heads the team with Stan Brijs, whose practice spans national and cross-border insolvency cases. Karel De Smet is the key contact for business criminal law matters, and Charlotte Van Themsche often advises company shareholders on preventative measures.

Liedekerke‘s restructuring and insolvency offering handles both domestic and international matters including bankruptcy proceedings, out of court restructurings, and judicial reorganisation proceedings. It works closely with colleagues in the firm’s corporate, finance, fraud, and energy teams, and has experience supporting clients in the transport, telecoms, retail, and insurance sectors, as well as public entities. ‘Extremely knowledgeable' team head Roel Fransis is an insolvency specialist with longstanding experience of litigation in the field.

Loyens & Loeff fields an ‘exceptionally bright and adaptable’ team, often advising bondholders, lenders, investors, debtors, shareholders, and creditors on major cross-border restructurings. Its particular expertise regarding financial restructuring, along with the combination of transactional and litigation expertise within the team, are standout elements of the practice. Team head Vanessa Marquette ‘consistently delivers excellent results’ in the pre-insolvency phase and during judicial reorganisation proceedings. Marc Vermylen brings banking and finance expertise,  Kris De Schutter is a key name for matters with employment law elements, and Jens De Winne often handles disputes.

Sitting within the dispute resolution team at boutique firm Quinz, the restructuring and insolvency team stands out for its experience in the enforcement of and defence against creditors’ claims in Belgian courts. The group regularly works with leading banks, as well as alternative lenders and nonbank creditors. At the helm of the team, Benoît Allemeersch often acts as a court-appointed litigator in large-scale bankruptcies, and has experience of arbitration proceedings. Co-head Stijn De Dier acts for both debtors and creditors in restructuring mandates, and insolvency related liability claims.

Racine's insolvency and restructuring practice acts as counsel to creditors and debtors in insolvency proceedings, in addition to acting as insolvency practitioners or distressed mediators for insolvent companies: a ‘competitive advantage’. Stijn Vanschoubroek has longstanding experience of the sector alongside experience in corporate law, mediation, and arbitration, co-heading the team with Joan Dubaere, a restructuring expert, and Anthony Van der Hauwaert. Rubben Lindemans departed to Baker Tilly Law Belgium in March 2024.

Praised for its ability to handle ‘complex, international, and multi-jurisdictional legal challenges’, Stibbe's insolvency and restructuring department leverages the strength of its employment, corporate, tax, and EU competition teams to handle all stages of the insolvency and restructuring processes. Team head Oliver Stevens regularly assists creditors facing financially distressed debtors, and handles cross-border insolvency proceedings. Pieter Wouters often acts as a liquidator for voluntarily dissolved Belgian companies, and has notable expertise in insolvency litigation.

The practice at Strelia applies its ‘outstanding technical and practical skills’ to assist with a broad range of issues, from formal and informal restructuring to reorganisation proceedings and insolvency litigation. Team head Bart De Moor often takes on roles as a court-appointed insolvency practitioner, and carries this experience through his work in insolvency proceedings, assisting clients in litigation, alternative dispute resolution methods, and cross-border matters. Marine Callebaut is also a specialist in this area, and accredited mediator.

Agio Legal's team is made up of ‘experts in the field of insolvency and restructuring’, including a number of bankruptcy trustees. It works closely with Agio Capital and Agio Advisory to assist with the full gamut of issues within the sector. The team is led collaboratively by Philippe Van den Broecke, Tom Toremans, Philippe Termote, and Inge De Haes.

Recommended for its ‘strong focus on pragmatic solutions and efficiency’, ALTIUS‘ offering handles both contentious and non-contentious matters, including advising on and implementing restructuring options, reviewing creditors’ securities, and initiating actions in responsibility against administrators. Practice head Bart Heynickx is ‘brilliant, innovative and very focused on satisfying client needs’. Alexander Hansebout is recommended for his expertise in commercial disputes.

‘Highly regarded for its expertise in debt restructuring, corporate rescue, and distressed transactions’, the Andersen insolvency law team regularly advises clients in the tech, IT, real estate, and healthcare sectors. Team co-head Leo Peeters has broad expertise spanning corporate and financial law, while Leila Mstoian combines her experience of employment law with insolvency, often providing advice on Russian matters. Toon Rummens departed the team in May 2024 to Thales.

The restructuring and insolvency group at Clifford Chance concentrates on multi-jurisdictional proceedings, litigation and dispute resolution, and cross-border recovery. Dorothée Vermeiren heads the team, with a particular emphasis on disputes. Financial markets lawyer Wim Aerts is also a key name in the team, with sector expertise spanning infrastructure, real assets, and industrials.

The ‘responsive and expert’ insolvency and restructuring team at CMS pairs wide ranging expertise with particular experience supporting clients in the retail and real estate sectors. Jean-François Goffin heads the team, with his caseload involving distressed M&A, insolvency litigation, and recovery of assets. Grégory de Sauvage is a go-to for economic criminal procedure and cross-border insolvency cases. Virginie Frémat departed the team to DLA Piper in September 2024.

Deloitte Legal's insolvency and restructuring offering represents both creditors and distressed companies, often working closely with Deloitte’s tax and financial services teams. Jürgen Egger, team head often handles matters arising at the intersection of criminal and insolvency law. Glenn Hansen specialises in restructuring, and regularly advises clients in major insolvency procedures.

The insolvency and restructuring offering at Janson sits within its dispute resolution team, and is jointly headed by Cédric Alter, Dominique Blommaert and Emmanuelle Bouillon. Alter is a specialist in insolvency, also acting as a liquidator and appointed by the courts as a mediator for international corporations, while Blommaert regularly assists major banking clients.

Combining its experience in corporate restructurings, reorganisations, and asset recovery, the restructuring and insolvency practice at Lydian takes a multidisciplinary approach, collaborating with tax, real estate, finance, litigation, and pensions specialist colleagues. Practice head Yves Lenders has standout experience in fraud matters and regularly supports directors, shareholders, and creditors in insolvency matters. Kim van Zummeren is a key name for commercial litigation.

Monard law, joined by Buyle fields a growing team of insolvency specialists, which work within its corporate law practice and advise on judicial reorganisation proceedings, out-of-court and pre-pack reorganisations, liquidations, and cross-border insolvency issues. Team head Louis Verstraeten often acts as an insolvency administrator / bankruptcy receiver: ‘his longstanding experience makes him the go-to partner for practical restructuring questions’. Jente Dengler joined the team from DLA Piper in September 2024.

Osborne Clarke‘s insolvency and restructuring team advises creditors, debtors, accountancy firms, insolvency practitioners, and turnaround professionals on a variety of matters, from early assessment and risk mitigation, to judicial reorganisations and bankruptcies. Stefan Deswert and Hadrien Chef co-head the team; Deswert is a key contact for consumer law retail and commercial contracts, including cross-border litigation, while Chef is experienced in M&A and venture capital matters.