Overview

Elaine literally wrote the book on CVAs and many forms of restructuring; she is the market leader in her field.” - Chambers UK, 2024

Elaine is a restructuring partner in the London office of Kirkland & Ellis International LLP. Elaine advises strategic investors, sponsors, insolvency practitioners, turnaround managers, directors, debtors and creditors in all forms of national and international financial restructurings and insolvencies.

External Recognition

  • Recognised by Chambers UK (2024), for being a “market leader in her field.”
  • Listed as a leading individual in The Legal 500 UK (2023), where she is described as “technically excellent, has deep knowledge of CVAs and is focused on delivering a high quality output that meets the client’s needs.”
  • Recognised as Highly Regarded in IFLR1000 (2022) and listed in the IFLR1000 Women Leaders 2023 – EMEA.
  • Recognised by Chambers UK (2021), with clients describing her as being “extremely helpful in considering various options and advising on both the technical and commercial aspects of each.“ Elaine was listed as a leading lawyer in The Legal 500 UK (2021) and recognised as having “very strong experience in designing, implementing and adapting complex Company Voluntary Arrangements (CVAs)‘, and has utilised the tool to good effect in a spate of high-profile retail restructurings.”
  • Named as “Corporate Restructuring Lawyer of the Year” at the Turnaround, Restructuring & Insolvency Awards 2020.
  • Named in the “40 Under 40 2016” list which identifies the world’s leading restructuring specialists aged 40 and under, by The Global Restructuring Review and recognised as one of “The Hot 100 2016” which identifies “the best lawyers in business” for the year, by The Lawyer.

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Thought Leadership

Publications

Author for R3 Recovery Magazine, “CVAs - a Flexible & Viable Restructuring Tool,” (Autumn 2022)

Author for ICAEW, “The Future of Company Restructuring Tools,” (August 2022)

Co-Editor with Tom Smith QC of “Company Voluntary Arrangements: Law and Practice,” February 2022

“Q&A: Bankruptcy & Restructuring“ Roundtable, Financier Worldwide, (December 2016)

Bankruptcy Litigation” Roundtable, Financier Worldwide, (July 2016)

"European Bond Restructurings" Financier Worldwide, (January 2015)

"Exercising Change - CVAs," Practice & Law (October 2014)

"10 Things you need to know about CVAs," Recovery Magazine (Autumn 2014)

"Q&A: Pre-insolvency reorganization and restructuring," Financier Worldwide (March 2014)

Contributor to the "European Debt Restructuring Handbook: Leading Case Studies from the Post-Lehman Cycle" (March 2013)

Seminars

“Kirkland Distressed Symposium – State of the Market” seminar hosted by Kirkland & Ellis (September 2022) (Lead Presenter, Moderator)

“The Future of CVAs and Restructuring Plans”, presentation to ICAEW’s Restructuring & Insolvency Conference 2022, Webinar, (June 2022)

“Recovery at Risk : A Global Turnaround Market Update”, panelist at TMA Australia, Webinar (June 2022)

Speaker/panellist at FRP Advisory, Breakfast Club on Retail matters (March 2022)

“Kirkland Distressed Symposium – State of the Market” seminar hosted by Kirkland & Ellis (March 2022) 

“State of the Retail Market and Landlord – Tenant Compromises post-New Look, Virgin Active and Regis” webinar hosted by Kirkland & Ellis (June 2021)

“New Frontier for Landlord/Distressed Tenant Compromises: Legal Implications of New Look, Virgin Active and Regis” webinar hosted by Kirkland & Ellis (May 2021)

“Restructuring Retail Symposium” webinar hosted by Kirkland & Ellis (December 2020)

“Retail Sector Impact and Latest Market-wide Responses and Strategies” webinar hosted by Kirkland & Ellis (May 2020)

“Restructuring Retail Symposium” hosted by Kirkland & Ellis, London (December 2019)

“Current Issues in CVAs”, TRI NextGen London (October 2019)

Panelist at the Debtwire Week conference, “Legal Updates in Restructuring”, London (October 2018)

UK Market Update: Company Voluntary Arrangements”, hosted by Kirkland & Ellis, New York (May 2018) and London (September 2018)

“European Opportunities Industry Focus: Oil & Gas Market Update” hosted by Kirkland & Ellis, London (September 2016)

Distressed Investing in the European Energy Sector,” hosted by Kirkland & Ellis, New York (May 2015) and London (September 2015)

"CVAs - the company's perspective and case study," R3 Property Law for Insolvency Practitioners, London (May 2015)

Mock Trial Scheme of Arrangement Presentation at the Hawkamah Restructuring Turnaround and Insolvency Conference, DIFC Conference Centre, Dubai (March 2015)

Panel discussion at the TMA Deutschland Seminar on International Debt Restructuring - Case Study: ATU Restructuring, Frankfurt (November 2014)   

Presentation at the Alvarez & Marsal Distressed Assets Roundtable meeting, Case Study: ATU Restructuring, Warsaw (October 2014)

Presentation at the European and U.S. Distressed Debt Investor Seminars, European Bond Restructurings, hosted by Kirkland & Ellis, London (September 2014) and New York (October 2014)

Mock Trial Presentation at the Hawkamah Restructuring Turnaround and Insolvency Conference, DIFC Conference Centre, Dubai, (March 2014)

Presentation at the European Distressed Debt Investor Seminar, "Developments in Schemes of Arrangement: Amends and Extends and Schemes of non-English Companies" hosted by Kirkland & Ellis, London, (September 2013)

Presentation at the European Distressed Debt Investor Seminar, CVAs in the Current Era: Fitness First and Travelodge hosted by Kirkland & Ellis, London, (September 2012)

Presentation on Petroplus at the US & European Distressed Debt Investor Seminar, hosted by Kirkland & Ellis, New York, (April 2012)

Panelist at the Alvarez & Marsal Distressed Assets Roundtable Warsaw IX meeting, discussing US and English restructuring issues, (November 2011)

Presentation on the European Directories Restructuring to the Turnaround Management Association, Poland hosted by Alvarez and Marsal, (April 2011)

Memberships & Affiliations

The Law Society (England and Wales)

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • 2004, Admitted to Practice as a Solicitor of England and Wales

Education

  • The University of Law, London BloomsburyLPC2001
  • University College LondonLL.M.2000
  • University of LeedsLL.B.1999