Global markets can experience significant disruption, resulting in dislocation and distress for companies and their stakeholders across the capital structure. The successful navigation of large-scale, cross-border restructuring and insolvency matters requires a breadth of geographical presence, experience in advising stakeholders through large and complex restructurings, and the global coordination of diverse practice areas.
Breadth of geographical presence
Sidley has a premier, global practice in handling international and cross-border aspects of complex, multijurisdictional restructuring matters, with a Restructuring team comprising of over 60 lawyers across Europe and the U.S. Sidley’s growing and renowned European Restructuring team, based in our offices in London and Munich, has comprehensive experience of guiding stakeholders through difficult, complex and cross-border restructurings in today’s market. The 2020 IFLR Europe Awards, which celebrate legally innovative cross-border transactions in the region, shortlisted Sidley’s London team for Restructuring Team of the Year, and both our London and Munich teams have consistently been ranked on the respective national level for their restructuring and insolvency work.
Sidley’s Restructuring team has a strong track-record of implementing restructuring solutions throughout the Asia-Pacific region, with on-the-ground client service capabilities for over 35 years in China, Korea, Mongolia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Japan. With international markets more integrated than ever, our global presence allows us to integrate resources efficiently and consider commercial, legal, regulatory, and practical issues in what are often very time-sensitive circumstances.
In-depth experience across the capital structure
Sidley’s European Restructuring team’s experience and diverse client bases means we are well placed to act for various stakeholders across a capital structure; from international corporations facing financial distress with branches and assets located in multiple jurisdictions, to existing creditors and sponsors seeking to protect their interests and incoming investors looking to take a stake in large distressed entities. Through our London and Munich offices, we are able to advise on both English and German aspects of debt restructurings, distressed M&A transactions, formal insolvency procedures, and incoming investment to distressed businesses. Our English and German teams have advised on restructurings across a range of industries in Europe, including financial services, energy and manufacturing, and work closely with private equity firms, hedge funds, investment banks, and other distressed debt investors. We are recognized for understanding the legal and commercial nuances across European restructuring and insolvency regimes and pride ourselves on providing cohesive and clear advice to clients.
In the U.S., our Restructuring team has broad experience in working on a number of large restructurings across North America, regularly advising on Chapter 11 proceedings, distressed asset dispositions, out-of-court workouts, and bankruptcy litigation. The team has worked on some of the most widely recognized Chapter 11 restructurings in recent history, representing both debtors and creditors’ committees across a broad range of industries including aviation, retail, automotive, and manufacturing.
Global coordination of legal proficiency
In navigating through complex cross-border restructurings, stakeholders will often be faced with a variety of challenges which will need to be resolved quickly and efficiently. By working closely with Sidley’s extensive breadth of legal capabilities, including our Capital Markets, Litigation, M&A, Real Estate, Employment, Regulatory, Securities, and Tax teams, our Restructuring team is able to draw upon the highest quality legal services across the globe to ensure that no problem is too large and that the most challenging of issues can be overcome effectively.
Our experience in managing some of the largest and multifaceted restructuring matters means we are well versed in coordinating a number of internationally recognized lawyers across a range of practice areas, delivering a harmonized service to our clients. With such a diverse and well-esteemed global offering, our Restructuring team, and in turn, our client base, benefits from a wide-ranging pool of legal resources to plan and implement the most innovative and challenging financial restructurings.