Barbara Rumora-Scheltema specialises in corporate and commercial litigation and insolvency law as well as international arbitration, advising and litigating for both national and international clients.

She has been involved in many high profile litigation cases, often leading to ground-breaking decisions by the Dutch and European courts. She is a member of the core team that represented Yukos and its subsidiaries since 2005, and has advised and litigated on aspects of Dutch and Dutch Caribbean law in relation to the insolvencies of Slotervaart Hospital, Intertoys, PaperlinX, DSB Bank, McGregor, Lehman Brothers and others. Barbara was involved in many high profile cases involving arbitral awards and related litigation in the Netherlands, including SCM/Raga, Yukos Capital/Rosneft, Cukurova/Sonera and Nelux/Nakash. Several of these cases resulted in ground-breaking Supreme Court decisions. She further worked on several enforcement cases involving state-investor arbitral awards, including Stati/Kazachstan, and led the teams litigating for, among others, Frener & Reifer, regarding enforcement of international arbitral awards in the Netherlands. Other cases that she has been involved in include the restructurings of Lebara, Airopack, Uni-Invest and Eurocommerce. Barbara led the teams acting for the new owners in the restructurings of both Schoenenreus and Estro, the two largest pre-pack restructurings in the Netherlands to date.

Barbara has frequently acted as an expert on Dutch and Dutch Caribbean law issues for foreign courts, both in common law as well as civil law jurisdictions, one of her opinions having been described by a New York District Court judge Lewis Kaplan as "considerably better put together and overall more persuasive than what's been said on the other side".  

Barbara regularly presents internal and external courses and workshops, is a frequent speaker at international conferences and publishes in leading legal magazines. She is co-author of the Dutch practice guide for insolvency law (Praktijkboek Insolventierecht).

What others say about Barbara

She is recommended as a restructuring and insolvency lawyer by all major league tables. Legal500 awards her a position in its Hall of Fame and quotes clients saying "In my view Barbara Rumora-Scheltema is an exceptionally good lawyer combining understanding of the legal technicalities with tactical appreciation of the position of the other parties and was the architect of a satisfactory complicated technical legal outcome" and "Barbara Rumora is an excellent lawyer with an extra eye for human interaction. She can make the difference."

Chambers notes that Barbara is praised for her "combination of detailed understanding of Dutch insolvency law and very clear communication skills," as well as her "very good negotiating skills." "She is experienced, open and direct; she challenges us when necessary and encourages us to see different scenarios," reports another source.

Other information

Barbara is a member of INSOL Europe, of the Dutch Association of Insolvency Lawyers (Insolad), of the Dutch Arbitration Association, and of the Dutch Corporate Litigation Association (Vereniging Corporate Litigation). Between 2012 and 2017, she was the European Regional Director on the International Board of IWIRC, the International Women's Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation and she is a member of the group attending UNCITRAL’s Working Group V sessions on IWIRC’s behalf.

Barbara is co-founder and chair of Gutman Records, a Dutch CD/LP label that produces high quality classical chamber music recordings, and has its own ensemble: Camerata RCO, a chamber music ensemble consisting of members of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam.

Barbara is a graduate of the law faculty of the University of Amsterdam and joined NautaDutilh in 2001. Barbara is a member of the NautaDutilh Benelux Restructuring & Insolvency and Arbitration teams.

Barbara is was a member of the Council of the Amsterdam Bar Association from 2018 until 2022 and was elected (co) dean (president) of the Amsterdam Bar effective September 2022.