Robert Woudenberg
Expertise
Robert Woudenberg is specialised in contentious restructuring and insolvency matters, with a strong focus on assisting financially distressed companies. In addition, Robert has a broad corporate and insolvency litigation and advice practice resulting from extensive knowledge in corporate structuring, distressed debt and asset investments, both within and outside the insolvency context.
He is highly experienced in facilitating debt-for-equity transactions and providing expert guidance on the Dutch Scheme (WHOA) restructuring proceedings. Furthermore, Robert offers valuable counsel to directors concerning their fiduciary responsibilities during times of financial distress.
Over the course of his career, Robert has worked across multiple offices, including Rotterdam, Luxembourg, Amsterdam, and London. This diverse background has equipped him with a comprehensive understanding of advising financial institutions, private equity investors, and companies involved in cross-border and international transactions.
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Work highlights
Recent experience includes advising:
- An AHG of bondholders on the financial restructurings of Selecta
- Various Dutch and European companies in the retail, tech and hospitality sector on winding-down their activities pursuant to US Chapter 7 or 11 procedures
- McDermott International on financial restructuring, a parallel Dutch WHOA and UK restructuring plan process with Chapter 15 recognition, with over USD 3 billion of debt
- Schoeller Allibert on financial restructuring and Dutch WHOA process
- Lightyear – the producer of a highly complex and revolutionary solar car in developing and executing its restructuring plan, which included the purchase of assets from the bankruptcy trustee
- A group of financial institutions on the Dutch Scheme restructuring process of Royal IHC
- ADO Den Haag, the professional Dutch football club, on its successful Dutch Scheme restructuring process
- A group of bondholders on the accelerated M&A process and exit as secured creditors of a multi-jurisdictional energy company
Robert is a member of the R&I team, and has advised and litigated on aspects of Dutch law in relation to the insolvencies of Slotervaart Hospital, PaperlinX, McGregor, Lehman Brothers, Imtech, FNG, Parex, SecurCash, Macintosh Retail Group, Getronics, Scotch & Soda, VanMoof, Claire’s, Sonder Hotels, Intercement, Monsterboard and others. Other cases he has been involved in include the restructurings of Eurocommerce, Schoenenreus, OSX, Selecta, Curaeos, AS Adventure, DTEK, CareerBuilder, and others.
Robert regularly publishes and teaches on insolvency matters, including on the Dutch Scheme (WHOA).
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What others say
Clients describe him as “very knowledgeable, thorough and skilled negotiator” and “very good communicator, both in writing and orally”
The Legal 500 LegaleaseRobert is ranked as ‘Rising Star Partner’ by IFLR1000.
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Qualifications
Robert joined the firm in 2011, after graduating cum laude from the University of Groningen in the same year. In addition, he studied American Law, International Trade Law & Antitrust at the University of Wisconsin, Madison (USA); and completed the post-graduate INSOLAD/Grotius course on Insolvency law as well as the WHOA specialisation course for Restructuring Expert (herstructureringsdeskundige).
He is a member of INSOL International, INSOL Europe, the Dutch Association of Insolvency Lawyers (Insolad), the Dutch Corporate Litigation Association (Vereniging Corporate Litigation), and the Dutch Association for Restructuring (Nederlandse Vereniging voor Herstructurering).