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PRACTICE AREA

Enforcement of
Foreign Judgments

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Recognition and execution of foreign judgments and arbitral awards, asset tracing, and coordinated multi-jurisdiction recovery campaigns.

Winning a judgment or award is the easier part. Enforcement against international debtors who have layered their assets across multiple jurisdictions is where most cases stall. The recognition framework varies by jurisdiction — direct frameworks within the EU, the New York Convention for arbitral awards, bilateral treaties or case-by-case exequatur procedures elsewhere.
VLO coordinates enforcement campaigns as integrated multi-jurisdiction strategies. One partner owns the global plan. Local counsel act under coordinated instructions. Asset tracing investigations run in parallel with recognition proceedings. Clients receive consolidated reporting in English regardless of how many jurisdictions are involved.
Typical engagement length: 6–24 months for coordinated multi-jurisdiction enforcement. Matter values typically €1M–€100M+ in claim value.
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WHAT WE DO
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Cross-border judgment and award enforcement
WHEN CLIENTS COME TO US
Three common scenarios

MULTI-JURISDICTION RECOVERY

You hold an arbitral award against a debtor with assets in multiple countries. You need a coordinated enforcement campaign, not separate engagements.
LAYERED ASSET STRUCTURE
The debtor has moved assets through holdings in multiple jurisdictions. You need a tracing strategy combined with enforcement against each layer.
CHALLENGED RECOGNITION
The debtor is contesting recognition of your judgment in multiple jurisdictions. You need procedural defence combined with strategic asset focus.
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
Selected practice areas in action.
Examples illustrate the type of matter VLO handles in this practice. Specifics are withheld for confidentiality.
ENFORCEMENT
Multi-jurisdiction recovery
Coordinated exequatur in multiple jurisdictions; freezing orders preceded substantive recognition.
ENFORCEMENT
Layered structure
Combined asset tracing with parallel proceedings against multiple holding layers.
ENFORCEMENT
Award recognition
Coordinated worldwide enforcement supporting recognition across multiple jurisdictions.
LEAD PARTNERS FOR THIS PRACTICE
ADJACENT PRACTICES
Often combined with
CORPORATE DISPUTES
When director liability arises from insolvency.
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When debtor becomes insolvent during enforcement.
BANKRUPTCY
LITIGATION
When parallel court action runs alongside insolvency.
EXPLORE →
FREQUENTLY ASKED
Common questions
How fast can enforcement realistically be?
Within the EU under direct recognition frameworks: 3–6 months for recognition, additional 3–12 months for execution. Outside EU: 6–18 months for exequatur, plus execution. Asset tracing typically runs in parallel.
Yes — we coordinate with specialist sovereign immunity counsel where state immunity defences may arise. Enforcement against state-owned commercial entities is more straightforward.
Do you handle enforcement against state entities or sovereign immunity?
Can you trace assets before formal proceedings?
Yes — pre-enforcement asset investigation is often part of the engagement. We use specialist investigators and corporate intelligence partners under our coordination.
Hourly with monthly caps for active proceedings. Contingency components considered for clean recovery matters. Fixed-fee for initial strategy memos and recognition procedures in stable jurisdictions.
What is your fee structure?
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 enforcement matter?
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