Sylvia Fiebig

Partner, Hamburg

Biography

Overview

Sylvia acts as an insolvency administrator for entities from all industry and business sectors in northern Germany.

As a trusted advisor, she helps clients to navigate complex restructuring processes, both in- and out-of-court, and with a particular focus on operational restructuring, change management issues and cross-border activities. She also regularly advises clients on all types of insolvency and restructuring-related legal matters.

In recent years, Sylvia has developed extensive knowledge of the maritime sector, and she draws on this experience to handle the insolvencies of ship-owning entities, maritime funds structures and shipyards. She also regularly advises clients from the maritime sector with regard to distressed situations.

In the last two years, Sylvia has been responsible for handling more than 30 insolvency cases of ship-owning funds structures. She has also advised on the insolvency-related aspects of more than 40 high yield bond projects.

Sylvia's track record has given her an exceptional understanding of the issues related to German debtor-in-possession and protective shield proceedings. A recognized commentator in these areas, she is the author of the relevant sections of the Hamburger Kommentar zur Insolvenzordnung.

Please click here for the German bio.

Please click here for our German Restructuring and Insolvency website.

Bars and Courts
Insolvency Lawyer
Rechtsanwältin
Education
Certificate Complementary Studies in Business Law
University of Hamburg
Second State Exam
Higher Regional Court of Celle
First State Exam
University of Hamburg
Languages
German
English
French
Dutch

Experience

KaDeWe Group GmbH (2024)
Advised The KaDeWe Group GmbH, the operator of three German luxury department stores, on its self-administration proceedings, including insolvency and reorganization law, employment and tenancy law, and on the sale of the business operations to Thai Central Group.

Insolvency proceedings over the assets of the mStore-group, 2014
In the insolvency proceedings of the mStore-group, Germany's largest reseller of Apple products, Sylvia acted as custodian and insolvency administrator - managing more than 25 entities.

TORM A/S, 2012
Sylvia was part of the team that handled the out-of-court restructuring of the Danish shipping company TORM A/S and its subsidiaries, for the coordinating committee of lenders. The implementation of the TORM restructuring saw the company gain access to a new USD 100 million facility, the restructuring and extension of maturities with respect to TORM's existing secured bank debt (approximately USD 1.8 billion), the creation of a new corporate and group structure for subsidiaries of TORM, and the issuance of new equity by TORM to participants in the restructuring.

Insolvency administrator for Schieder Möbel, 2007
In the insolvency of Germany's largest furniture manufacturer, Schieder Möbel, Sylvia was appointed as insolvency administrator with regard to the group's sales forces, which consisted of more than 16 single entities.

Speaking Engagements

"Under the glass ceiling – career opportunities for female lawyers in law firms", 19 May 2014: House of Finance, Frankfurt

"Do we need new working concepts to survive?", 23 September 2014: re:work conference, Bucerius Law School, Hamburg

Publications

Commentary on §§ 270-285 InsO, Hamburger Kommentar zum Insolvenzrecht (Hamburg comment regarding insolvency law). Ed. Andreas Schmidt, 5rd Edition, Münster, 2014, (Kommentierung zur Eigenverwaltung §§ 270-285 InsO)

Commentary on §§ 156-173 InsO, Hamburger Kommentar zur Insolvenzordnung (Hamburg comment regarding insolvency statute). Ed. Jürgen Blersch, Hans-Wilhelm Goetsch and Ulrich Haas. Freiburg, Loose Leaf System, Status: 2014, (Kommentierung zu §§ 156-173 InsO) (co-author, with Sven-Holger Undritz)

Due diligence in acquisitions out of insolvency, MDR, Page 254, 2003, (Due Diligence beim Unternehmenskauf aus der Insolvenz) (co-author with Sven-Holger Undritz)

Awards and Recognition

Leading Individual: Restructuring, WirtschaftsWoche 2024

Leading Individual: Insolvency, WirtschaftsWoche 2022

Best Lawyer Germany in Restructuring and Insolvency Law, Handelsblatt 2019-2024

Leading Individual: Insolvency, WirtschaftsWoche Top-Kanzleien 2021