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Cross-Border
Bankruptcy & Restructuring

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Insolvency strategy, creditor representation, and cross-border restructuring coordinated across European and offshore jurisdictions.

International insolvency is governed by overlapping frameworks across jurisdictions. Where a debtor has operations in multiple countries, the choice of main proceedings forum and the recognition strategy in secondary jurisdictions can determine which creditors recover what.
VLO advises both creditors and distressed debtors on coordinated insolvency strategy. We focus on the multi-jurisdictional complexity — centre of main interest determination, recognition of foreign proceedings, parallel creditor protection, and post-insolvency asset tracing across structures designed to frustrate recovery.
Typical engagement length: 6–36 months. Matter values typically €5M–€500M+ in claimed exposure.
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WHAT WE DO
Send a brief for this practice
Cross-border insolvency and restructuring
WHEN CLIENTS COME TO US
Three common scenarios

CREDITOR STRATEGY

Your debtor has filed insolvency in a jurisdiction unfavourable to your claim. You need a parallel strategy in other jurisdictions where assets sit.
DIRECTOR LIABILITY
You are advising directors of a distressed entity with operations in multiple jurisdictions. You need to understand exposure across each insolvency regime.
CROSS-BORDER RESTRUCTURING
You need to restructure a group with operating subsidiaries in multiple countries. You need a coordinated framework that synchronises proceedings.
OUR APPROACH
Engagement methodology

SCOPING

Identify all jurisdictions and forums involved

STRATEGY MEMO

Procedural map, merits, fees — 5 business days

EXECUTION

Local counsel coordinated by VLO partner

RESOLUTION

Settlement, award, or judgment — coordinated

WHY VLO
Differentiators for this practice
PARTNER OWNERSHIP
One named partner stays on the matter from first call to final outcome. No reassignment, no transition meetings.
Local counsel managed by VLO — clients receive one consolidated reporting in English, not separate bills from multiple firms.
CROSS-BORDER COORDINATION
TRANSPARENT FEES
Fixed-fee, capped, or hourly with monthly caps — chosen at engagement. No surprises in billing.
No press without explicit consent. Confidential by default. Enhanced communications encryption.
DISCRETION
REPRESENTATIVE WORK
A firm built around cross-border complexity.
VLO Law Firm was founded in 2011 in Lisbon to fill a gap traditional regional firms could not — coherent, senior-led representation across multiple jurisdictions in a single mandate. Today we work across Europe, MENA, and the Americas with a network of vetted local counsel and a core team of senior practitioners.
BANKRUPTCY
Multi-jurisdiction recovery
Acted in coordinated parallel insolvency proceedings supporting institutional creditor recovery.
BANKRUPTCY
COMI determination
Successfully resisted attempt to relocate main proceedings; main forum favourable to client retained.
BANKRUPTCY
Cross-border recognition
Obtained recognition of foreign insolvency procedure in jurisdiction with parallel exposure.
LEAD PARTNERS FOR THIS PRACTICE
ADJACENT PRACTICES
Often combined with
CORPORATE DISPUTES
When director liability arises from insolvency.
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When recovery requires foreign judgment enforcement.
ENFORCEMENT
LITIGATION
When parallel court action runs alongside insolvency.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED
Common questions
Do you act for debtors or creditors?
Both, depending on conflict-of-interest clearance. We are typically engaged by sophisticated creditors (banks, credit funds) and corporate debtors with cross-border exposure.
No. We are dispute and strategy counsel, not insolvency office-holders. We work alongside court-appointed administrators in each jurisdiction.
Can VLO act as insolvency administrator?
What is your typical fee structure?
Hourly with monthly caps for active phases. Fixed-fee for strategic memos and recognition plans. Contingency considered for specific recovery matters.
Same-day for active filings. Within 4 business hours for strategic enquiries. Mark subject 'URGENT' for after-hours response.
How quickly can you respond in distressed situations?
WE ARE TYPICALLY ENGAGED BY
Who comes to VLO
GENERAL COUNSEL & CHIEF LEGAL OFFICERS
Of European, MENA, and CIS-linked industrial groups facing a cross-border dispute that cannot be resolved within their existing panel. We are typically called when the matter spans more than two jurisdictions or where local counsel coordination has stalled.
CFOs & CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICERS
Of cross-border PE sponsors and family-owned holdings. Engagement triggers: post-closing earn-out disputes, FDI screening for non-EU buyers, tax controversy with international dimension.
HEADS OF SPECIAL SITUATIONS
At credit funds, banks, and institutional creditors pursuing recovery against layered debtor structures. We coordinate parallel enforcement campaigns across multiple jurisdictions as a single integrated mandate.
FAMILY OFFICES & PRIVATE PRINCIPALS
With multi-jurisdictional structures and disputes that require discretion alongside technical complexity. Our boutique model, partner-led engagement, and standing confidentiality protocols make this a natural fit.
Have a bankruptcy or restructuring matter?
Send the brief — we respond within one business day.
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