International Insolvency Law

Restructuring and Insolvency Practice

A market-leading Restructuring and Insolvency practice for co-counsel or “conflicts counsel” engagements, the well-rounded Curtis bankruptcy team has also earned the distinction of being a pioneer in the evolution of Chapter 15 ancillary proceedings and international restructurings. Recognized by legal directories such as Legal 500, Chambers and Global Restructuring Review (GRR), the team stands out for its "strong all-round bankruptcy capabilities." With New York as the epicenter of the firm’s Restructuring and Insolvency practice, the U.S.-led team frequently collaborates with attorneys in the firm's offices in Europe, Latin America and the Middle East to represent a global client base.

Key Player in Chapter 15 International Insolvency Proceedings

Curtis attorneys have deep expertise in international restructurings and the interplay between U.S. bankruptcy law and foreign insolvency proceedings. In addition to representing foreign stakeholders in U.S. insolvency proceedings and U.S. stakeholders in foreign proceedings, attorneys at the firm have been extensively involved in proceedings under Chapter 15 of the Bankruptcy Code, as well as proceedings under its predecessor – former section 304 of the Bankruptcy Code. Our attorneys have written extensively and lectured frequently on international insolvency matters. Notable cross-border matters include complex multijurisdictional cases for CRT Capital, China Fishery, Abengoa, Richcourt Funds, Parmalat S.p.A. and Arcapita. Curtis also represents the Privatization Agency of Kosovo (PAK) in relation to the liquidation process for all socially owned enterprises (SOEs) and assets under PAK’s administration.

Complex High-Profile Domestic Chapter 11 Cases

The international practice is well balanced by high-profile domestic Chapter 11 cases. Curtis is frequently called upon to act in significant roles in large and complex Chapter 11 cases and has developed cordial relationships with courts and the Offices of the United States Trustee in the jurisdictions where most large Chapter 11 cases are filed.

The Restructuring and Insolvency group advises debtors, creditors’ committees, secured and unsecured creditors, equity holders, asset purchasers, financial institutions, equity owners, investors, trustees, liquidators and court-appointed fiduciaries and governmental agencies in all facets of Chapter 11, both in and out of court.

Curtis led several insolvency aspects of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and its affiliates, the largest and most complex Chapter 11 case ever filed. Some recent notable matters include Peabody Energy Corporation, American Tire Distributors, and Seadrill Limited.

Leading Bankruptcy Practitioners

Our clients are served by some of the world’s leading bankruptcy practitioners, who are members of the prestigious INSOL International, International Insolvency Institute and R3 Association of Business Recovery Professionals, and deeply rooted in the international and domestic insolvency community.

Highly Ranked Full-Service Restructuring and Insolvency Practice

Curtis represents clients across the world and counsels them in a broad array of sectors, including manufacturing, energy, retail, commodities, private equity, distressed investing, derivatives and structured financings, real estate, shipping, media, airlines, telecommunications and transportation. The range of services provided by the group includes: counsel to companies and creditors' committees in both in-court and out-of-court restructurings, reorganizations and liquidations; co-counsel to debtors and creditors' committees in major Chapter 11 engagements; in bankruptcy litigation matters throughout the United States; in cross-border restructurings and insolvencies (including under Chapter 15 of the Bankruptcy Code); counsel to stalking horse bidders and purchasers in acquisitions and dispositions of distressed securities and business and related assets; and counsel to significant creditors and indenture trustees.