Dr. Jörn Kowalewski has long-standing experience (i) advising stakeholders within complex corporate restructurings, both out of court and within insolvency proceedings, as well as (ii) handling distressed M&A transactions.
Dr. Kowalewski advises distressed investors, lenders, lender groups, and steering committees, as well as the debtors, shareholders, and management in:
- Out-of-court (financial and operational) restructurings
- Distressed M&A transactions
- Debt-to-equity transactions
Dr. Kowalewski enhances his legal advice with an entrepreneurial and pragmatic approach, drawing on his prior experiences running a midsized international trading company and serving as a research fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law.
Accolades and Rankings
Mr. Kowalewski is recommended consistently for restructuring and insolvency in legal directories, including JUVE, IFLR1000, Chambers Europe Germany, The Legal 500 Germany, and Handelsblatt Best Lawyers. Market participants’ feedback on his work includes:
- Leading individual for Restructuring/Reorganization, “very entrepreneurial”, “great analytical and implementing skills“, "very operatively oriented and strong in implementation JUVE 2017-2021
- Lawyer of the year for Restructuring and Insolvency in Germany Handelsblatt Best Lawyers 2020
- Leading individual for Restructuring, named as an “outstanding expert.” The Legal 500 Deutschland 2021
- Highly regarded for Restructuring & Insolvency, “Brilliant performance. Worth every Euro. Dr. Jörn Kowalewski saved the restructuring negotiations we had to undergo.” (CEO) … “He’s technically excellent with a pragmatic commercial approach to solve complex, multinational restructuring situations.” (auditor) “A great and knowledgeable guy with a good commercial sense and in-depth knowledge. A joy to work with.” IFLR1000 2017-2021
- “A brilliant negotiator and strategist. Assertive, pragmatic and solution-oriented; an optimal negotiator.” “He has a very clear business strategic and tactical understanding.” “Stands out with his ‘entrepreneurial thinking’ and by ‘always being one step ahead and very committed’” … “Clients applaud his ‘creative and solution-oriented way of stakeholder management,’ … ‘It was excellent how he managed the parties.’” Chambers Europe Germany 2018-2021
Mr. Kowalewski's experience includes advising:
2019
- Bank consortium in the restructuring of BORGERS GROUP
- Bank consortium in the restructuring of IFA GROUP
2018
- Riverside on the sale of the KEYMILE Group to NASDAQ listed Dasan Zhone Solutions
- Senior lenders and SteerCo in the financial and operative restructuring of Kathrein Group
- Shareholders (including H.I.G. and BlueBay) on the sale of DSD - Duales System Holding (GRÜNER-PUNKT-GROUP) to Remondis
2017
- Hellmann Worldwide Logistics in its financial and operational restructuring
- Scholz Group on post-closing restructuring matters
2016
- Rockaway Capital SE in the acquisition of UNISTER out of insolvency
- Uniper in its spinoff from E.ON Group
2015
- RENA on its debtor-in-possession proceedings and development of an insolvency plan option and dual-track sale
2013
- Commerzbank as Agent in the protective shield proceedings and subsequent sale of Neumayer Tekfor out-of-insolvency
- H.I.G. Europe and Anchorage in pre-packed protective shield proceedings and insolvency plans for walter services
2010/2011
- Senior lenders in the insolvency proceedings and subsequent sale of HONSEL