There are two partners in the restructuring team: Olivier Debeine and Jean-François Carreras. They are assisted by a team of associates with experience in restructuring and M&A..

The team provides advice at all stages of prevention and handling processes, out-of-court settlements and court proceedings, both through advice and litigation.

Our clientele is essentially made up of French mid-caps, along with court appointed agents and receivers and French and international creditors.

The M&A team works alongside the restructuring team on all aspects of equity and debt reorganisation.

Thanks to its experience and responsiveness, the team is able to provide clients with highly personalised advice that is focused on their industries. We work in French and English.

We have acted on a number of major matters and are regularly called on to advise on complex or international restructuring.


RANKINGS


  • Décideurs 2023 – Excellent – Advisor to Debtors – Small & Mid-Cap
  • Décideurs 2023 – Excellent – Advisor to Receivers and Insolvency Trustees

The firm is recognized for its expertise in transnational cases. The team, which is involved in complex strategic cases, provides close support to companies in order to implement practical and sustainable solutions.

  • Legal500 2021 – Insolvency

CBR & Associés is praised for its ability to accurately assess situations its and agility in leading negotiation. Led by Olivier Debeine, the team delivers ‘excellent work’ that ‘mitigates potential risks. It represents debtors, investors and insolvency trustees.

  • //Legal500 2020 – Insolvency

The team is made up of all excellent professionals, solidly trained and always available. Team members always listen to their clients’ requirements and always find a solution in a very short time. The team shows good judgement on decisions to be made which minimizes potential risks. Olivier Debeine demonstrates rigor and expertise in his analysis and provides accurate recommendations. He has a perfect knowledge of his field and masters the procedures.


Recent Interventions

  • We are representing the Central Works Council of Distribution Casino France in its accelerated safeguard proceedings. Distribution Casino France employs 18,000 people.
  • We act on behalf of a liquidator in arbitration proceedings administered by the ICDR seeking EUR 10 m damages against a US. Group (ongoing).
  • We defended a group employing over 2,000 people in France, with sales of €334m in 2021, against the Public Prosecutor’s Office’s request to open receivership or liquidation proceedings (2022).
  • We advised a group on the refinancing of its continuation plan debt and its LBO. The debtor raised €17 million in equity, senior debt and mezzanine debt. We structured the legal process for exiting its plan, drafted the documentation for the sale of its stake by the former majority shareholder and for the issue, and co-drafted the debt documentation and the new shareholder agreement. Two funds took minority stakes (2022).
  • We acted as expert witnesses for a French company before the Supreme Court of the State of New York. The party on whose behalf we intervened was defending against a contractual liability claim of 8.5 million euros from the New-York State Thruway Authority (“NYSTA”). As an expert in French insolvency law, we submitted a written statement to the Court and were cross-examined by the plaintiff’s counsel on a question of French insolvency law (2022).
  • We represented a major customer group of a logistics company in receivership, exposed to losses of tens of millions of euros in the event of service disruption. We encouraged the presentation of a joint offer to take over certain strategic activities of the debtor. The success of this disposal plan ensured the continuity of our client’s services (2022).
  • We represent a major telecommunications group, protecting its rights as co-contractor and strategic creditor in the insolvency proceedings of a supplier and its subsidiary. The claims declared by our client amount to around 30 million euros (in progress for several years).
  • We represented several debtors in amicably amending their bank loans as part of conciliation procedures (2022).
  • We represented a major group in connection with the termination of its agreements with a partner in difficulty, through amicable and then legal proceedings (2022).

Out of Court Settlement

Amicable discussions and arrangements

Debt restructuring, investment or sale under confidential amicable processes overseen by a Court Appointed Professional



Liquidation

Complex Asset Sales

Disqualification of Directors Litigation, Civil Claim against Directors

Dispute Related to Liabilities of third parties in the default


In-Court Processes

After auditing, and working jointly with specialized accounting professionals, determination and planning of the open options. Advice and support with respect to discussions with Investors, Suppliers and Creditors

Building and advocating the reorganization plan

Specific disputes: opposition to the opening of the bankruptcy proceedings, claim for repossession, lodged claims dispute, disputes regarding the confirmation of the plan by the Court

Acquiring businesses or assets from a distressed or bankrupt entity