Kate Stephenson

Publications

“Sino-Ocean: English Court Approves Restructuring Plan, Notwithstanding First Challenge on “Gerrymandering” and Discounting Votes”, Kirkland Alert, February 2025

“Valuation Reports for UK Restructuring Plans Must Comply with Formal Requirements for Expert Evidence – Chaptre Finance”, Kirkland Alert, November 2024

“UK Motor Finance Cases: Court of Appeal Decision Impacts UK Credit Brokers and Lenders”, Kirkland Alert, November 2024

“European Court of Justice Rules on Centre of Main Interests: Neither Assets nor Human Resources Required”, Kirkland Alert, October 2024

“Cineworld: Court Approves Restructuring Plans Compromising Dissenting Landlords (Despite Contractual Agreement Not to Seek Further Compromise)”, Kirkland Alert, September 2024

“Water (Special Measures) Bill Published: Increased Regulatory Enforcement Powers and Minor Amendments to Special Administration Regime”, Kirkland Alert, September 2024

“UK Bank Resolution Regime: Impact of Proposed Enhancements”, Kirkland Alert, July 2024

“King’s Speech: Key Implications for the Distressed Market”, Kirkland Alert, July 2024

“New UK Listing Rules: Implications for Financially Distressed Companies”, Kirkland Alert, July 2024

“No More Automatic Stays for Winding-Up Petitions Involving an Arbitration or Exclusive Jurisdiction Clause”, Kirkland Alert, June 2024

“English Court Imposes >£18 Million Personal Liability on Former Directors of BHS for Breach of Directors’ Duties and Wrongful Trading”, Kirkland Alert, June 2024

“If at First You Don’t Succeed: English Court Approves Aggregate’s Restructuring Plan at Second Attempt, Following Initial Refusal”, Kirkland Alert, March 2024

“English Court Approves McDermott’s Restructuring Plan in First Restructuring Plan Post-Adler”, Kirkland Alert, February 2024

“Adler: English Court of Appeal Overturns Restructuring Plan”, Kirkland Alert, January 2024

“New UK Legislation to Facilitate Special Administration of Water Companies”, Kirkland Alert, January 2024

Author, “Cross-Border Recognition of Restructuring Proceedings: State of the Market”, INSOL International, December 2023

“Celsa: Completion of First Spanish Restructuring Plan; Led by Creditors”, Kirkland Alert, December 2023

“English Court Approves First UK Restructuring Plan in Parallel to a European ‘Preventive Restructuring’ Process”, Kirkland Alert, August 2023

“Galapagos: English Court Fully Upholds Validity of 2019 Restructuring, on Proper Construction of ‘Distressed Disposal’ Provisions in Intercreditor Agreement”, Kirkland Alert, August 2023

“English Court Crams Down Dissenting Landlords in Fitness First’s Restructuring Plan”, Kirkland Alert, July 2023

“UK to Implement UNCITRAL Model Law on Enterprise Group Insolvency; Decision on ‘Article X’ of Judgments Model Law to Follow”, Kirkland Alert, July 2023

“English Court Crams Down Tax Authority in Prezzo’s Restructuring Plan; Ability to Zero 'Out of the Money' Classes”, Kirkland Alert, July 2023

“UK Insolvency Service’s ‘Post-Implementation Review’ of Restructuring Plans and Other Measures; Possible Refinements Ahead”, Kirkland Alert, June 2023

“English Court Refuses to Approve Two Restructuring Plans ‘Cramming Down’ Tax Authority”, Kirkland Alert, May 2023

“Avanti: The Evolving ‘Spectrum’ of Control Sufficient for Fixed Charge Security Under English Law!” Kirkland Alert, April 2023

“Adler: English Court Approves Contested Restructuring Plan”, Kirkland Alert, April 2023

“Silicon Valley Bank UK — Impact of Rescue Deal”, Kirkland Alert, March 2023

“English Court Approves First 'Unsecured Credit Bid', in Administration of Sova Capital”, Kirkland Alert, March 2023

“UK Restructuring Measures: What Could Work Even Better?" Kirkland Alert, December 2022

“EU Insolvency Harmonisation Proposals: Directors’ Duties, Pre-Packs and Transaction Avoidance", Kirkland Alert, December 2022 

“Enforcement via self-help remedy of appropriation upheld by English court, notwithstanding valuation dispute; notable guidance on valuation process", Kirkland Alert, November 2022

Sequana: “UK Supreme Court Rules Directors’ 'Creditor Duty' Exists — Arises When a Company is Bordering on Insolvency (But Not Before)”, Kirkland Alert, October 2022

“Latest UK Restructuring Technology for Stressed / Distressed Groups’’, Kirkland Alert, September 2022

“Houst: English Court Approves SME Restructuring Plan’’, Kirkland Alert, July 2022

“Modern Land — Recognition of Foreign Restructuring/Insolvency Proceedings Under U.S. Chapter 15 Does Discharge New York Law Debt’’, Kirkland Alert, July 2022

“End in Sight for the 'Rule in Gibbs'? UK Consults on New UNCITRAL Model Laws’’, Kirkland Alert, July 2022

“Company Voluntary Arrangements: Not Inherently Unfair to Landlords, But What Could Work Even Better?’’ Kirkland Alert, June 2022

“UK Restructuring Measures: What Could Work Even Better?’’ Kirkland Alert, June 2022

“Smile Telecoms: English Court Approves First Restructuring Plan to Disenfranchise Out-of-the-Money Stakeholders and First to Compromise Shareholders in a Foreign Company’’, Kirkland Alert, March 2022

Co-Author, "Company Voluntary Arrangements: Law and Practice”, Oxford University Press, February 2022

“The First Contested UK Moratorium Procedure”, Kirkland Alert, February 2022

“One Year On: Has Brexit Been as ‘Hard’ as Imagined?” Kirkland Alert, December 2021

“English Court Approves Restructuring Plan of Amicus Finance, Notwithstanding Opposition in Secured Creditor Class”, Kirkland Alert, November 2021

“Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill: What Landlords & Tenants Need to Know About the New Arbitration Regime for Covid-related Rent Arrears”, Kirkland Alert, November 2021

“UK Phases Out COVID-19-Related Temporary Insolvency Measures, but New Tapering Measures Protect Commercial Tenants”, Kirkland Alert, September 2021

“English Court Holds Obligation in English Law Facilities Agreement Continues in French Insolvency Proceedings”, Kirkland Alert, September 2021

“Hurricane Energy: For the First Time, the English Court Declines to Approve a Restructuring Plan”, Kirkland Alert, June 2021

“UK Extends Certain Temporary Insolvency-Related Measures in Light of COVID-19; Wrongful Trading Relief to Terminate”, Kirkland Alert, June 2021

“English Court’s Judgment in DTEK’s Schemes of Arrangement Offers Guidance on International Effectiveness Post-Brexit”, Kirkland Alert, June 2021

“English Court Declines to Sanction Amigo’s Scheme of Arrangement, Following Opposition from the Financial Conduct Authority”, Kirkland Alert, May 2021

“English Court Sanctions Virgin Active’s Restructuring Plans, Following Major Challenge from Landlords”, Kirkland Alert, May 2021

“English Court Revokes Regis’ Company Voluntary Arrangement on Unfair Prejudice Grounds”, Kirkland Alert, May 2021

“English Court Upholds New Look’s Company Voluntary Arrangement, Following Major Challenge from Landlords”, Kirkland Alert, May 2021

“UK Extends Temporary Insolvency-Related Measures in Light of COVID-19”, Kirkland Alert, March 2021

“Gategroup: UK Restructuring Plans Are Insolvency Proceedings; Classes Split”, International Corporate Rescue, March 2021

“The English Courts’ First Dive into Cross-Class Cram-Down”, International Corporate Rescue, March 2021

“Gategroup: UK restructuring plans are insolvency proceedings; classes split”, Kirkland Alert, February 2021

“The First UK Cross-Class Cram-Down”, Kirkland Alert, January 2021

“Addressing Post-Brexit Limitations of Cross-Border Recognition of Restructuring and Insolvency Proceedings in Europe”, International Corporate Rescue, January 2021

“UK Temporary Restructuring/Insolvency Measures — Certain Measures Extended or Reinstated”, Kirkland Alert, December 2020

“Return of UK Tax Authority as Preferential Creditor in UK Insolvency Proceedings Takes Effect 1 December 2020”, Kirkland Alert, November 2020

“The First UK Restructuring Plan: Learning Points from Virgin Atlantic”, International Corporate Rescue, November 2020

“When Can a Company’s Shareholders and Creditors Claim Against Third Parties? Reflective Loss Following the Supreme Court’s Decision in Marex”, International Corporate Rescue, October 2020

“UK Reforms to Heighten Scrutiny of Pre-Pack Administration Sales to Connected Parties”, Kirkland Alert, October 2020

“European Credit Derivatives Outlook”, Kirkland Alert, September 2020

“The First UK Restructuring Plan Sanctioned: Learning Points from Virgin Atlantic’s Plan Process”, Kirkland Alert, September 2020

“How Will an Arbitration Agreement Influence the Court’s Approach in Relation to a Winding Up Petition?” Thomson Reuters, August 2020

“The First UK Restructuring Plan: Virgin Atlantic’s Solvent Recapitalisation”, Kirkland Alert, August 2020

“Finance Act 2020: Two Important Reforms for the UK Restructuring / Insolvency Market”, Kirkland Alert, July 2020

“Impact of Restructuring and Insolvency on Arbitration”, Practical Law Arbitration Blog, July 2020

“Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act Now Effective,” Kirkland Alert, June 2020

“Travelodge Obtains Interim Injunction to Restrain Winding Up Petition, Pending Restructuring Proposal and Forthcoming Legislation”, Kirkland Alert, June 2020

"European Restructuring Webinar Series”, Kirkland Seminar, May 2020

“Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill Published”, Kirkland Alert, May 2020

“Court of Appeal Holds Administrators Will Be Taken to 'Adopt' Furloughed Employees’ Contracts if They Take Advantage of UK Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme”, Kirkland Alert, May 2020

“Treatment of Furloughed Employees in Administration Proceedings — the First English High Court Judgment”, Kirkland Alert, April 2020

“COVID-19 — Proposed Changes to UK Insolvency Laws”, Kirkland Alert, March 2020

“Restructuring Update: UK Budget and Increase of ‘Prescribed Part’”, Kirkland Alert, March 2020

“No Recognition of Solvent ‘Foreign Proceedings’ in the UK”, Kirkland Alert, January 2020

“CVAs Survive Landlords’ Challenge in UK Court”, Global Turnaround, October 2019

“Debenhams’ CVA Upheld in Major Test Case”, Corporate Rescue and Insolvency, December 2019

“Bondholder Take Control of Lebara Via Enforcement”, August 2019

“UK Tax Insolvency Reforms”, July 2019

“Latest Retail CVA Technology: Foreign Leases, Business Rates and Turnover Rents in Focus”, March 2019

“Brexit: Deal or No Deal?” March 2019

“Noble’s Restructuring Now Effective; Lessons for Future Schemes”, December 2018

“Agrokor’s Landmark Dual Recognition Proceedings in the U.K. and U.S.; Bankruptcy Court Finds Gibbs Rule Does Not Prevent Recognition and Enforcement Under Chapter 15”, Kirkland Alert, November 2018

“Restructuring Update: UK Autumn Budget”, Kirkland Alert, October 2018

“Major U.K. Insolvency and Corporate Governance Reform Announced: What Private Equity Investors Need to Know", KirklandPEN, October 2018

“Hard choices: Restructuring and insolvency dealmakers face uncertainty ahead of possible ‘Hard Brexit’”, Kirkland Alert, September 2018

"New Horizons: Major UK Insolvency and Corporate Governance Reform Announced”, Kirkland Alert, September 2018

Seminars

Panelist, “German Scheme and alternatives”, Kirkland German Restructuring Market Seminar, November 28, 2023, London, UK

Moderator, “Cross-border restructurings”, IWIRC/Reorg London conference, November 8, 2023, London, UK – with Lord Justice Snowden, Mr. Justice Harris (Hong Kong) and Felicity Toube KC

Moderator, “State of the Market on Cross-Border Recognition”, American Bankruptcy Institute 2023 International Insolvency and Restructuring Symposium, November 2, 2023, Lisbon, Portugal

Speaker, “The restructuring landscape in the UK and Offshore: more to unite than to divide?”, Mourant South Square Litigation Forum, October 5, 2023, London, UK

Speaker, “European Preventive Restructuring Processes in Practice”, Kirkland's Global Distressed Investing Seminar, September 14, 2023, London, UK

Moderator, “The UK restructuring plan: a triumph or room for improvement?”, Global Restructuring Review “Women in Restructuring” Conference, June 29, 2023, London, UK

Speaker, “The English Restructuring Plan, the German StaRUG and the Dutch WHOA – a practical comparison”, R3 & INSOL Europe International Restructuring Conference, June 15, 2023, London, UK

Panelist/Moderator, “Cross-border recognition – Where Are We Now?”, Insolvency Lawyers’ Association Conference, April 21, 2023, London, UK

Speaker, “Chapter 11 vs Restructuring Plans”, INSOL Talks Podcast, January 2023

Speaker, “How would UK implementation of the latest UNCITRAL Model Laws affect the international restructuring landscape?”, INSOL Focus, January 10, 2023, Webinar

Shortlisted, “Restructuring & Insolvency Lawyer of the Year”, Women in Business Law Awards (EMEA), 2023

“Women in Restructuring”, Global Restructuring Review, 2023 & 2017

Winner, IWIRC London Network Excellence Award, 2022

Shortlisted, “IFLR Women Dealmakers Hall of Fame”, IFLR Europe Awards, 2022

Runner-Up, “GRR 40 Under 40”, Global Restructuring Review, 2022

“European Restructuring Practices of Major U.S. Law Firms”, Turnarounds & Workouts, 2020–2022

Member of the G36 Committee and Technical Research Committee, INSOL International

Member of the Governing Council and Technical Committee, Insolvency Lawyers’ Association

International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC)

Editorial Board of the International Corporate Rescue Journal

Conferee to Conference on European Restructuring and Insolvency Law