Insolvency Law · European Union
Save Your Business Through Restructuring Before It’s Too Late
Restructuring is the work of reshaping a distressed company’s debts, operations and ownership so it can survive and trade again — and it is only possible while the business still has value worth saving. We match you, free of charge, with a vetted restructuring lawyer who rescues companies across Europe every day.
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Who this is for
For businesses that still have a future, but not the balance sheet to reach it
Business restructuring is the process of reorganising a company’s debt, operations or ownership to restore viability and avoid formal insolvency. It is relevant to founders whose business is fundamentally sound but weighed down by legacy debt or a cash-flow squeeze, to boards negotiating with lenders for breathing room, and to investors looking to preserve value in a portfolio company. Restructuring can take many forms — renegotiating loan terms, converting debt to equity, selling non-core assets, or a court-approved plan that binds dissenting creditors. What every route shares is a single requirement: it must begin while the business is still trading, because restructuring is a tool for rescue, not for a company that has already stopped. The earlier the process starts, the more of the enterprise can be preserved.
Why businesses get stuck
Restructuring is a race against time.
Every week of delay shrinks the options and the value.
Companies often try to trade their way out of trouble informally, burning through cash and goodwill until formal rescue is no longer possible.
Lenders refusing to negotiate
Banks and creditors are often willing to restructure — but only when approached with a credible, professional plan and the right legal leverage. An unstructured plea for more time is routinely declined.
Dissenting creditors blocking a deal
Even when most creditors agree to a rescue, a single holdout can derail the entire plan. Formal restructuring mechanisms exist precisely to bind minority dissent, but only if invoked correctly and in time.
Delaying until value is gone
The longer a distressed company trades without restructuring, the more its goodwill, customer base and key staff erode. By the time help is sought, there is often too little left to save.
What you get
A restructuring lawyer who fights to keep the business alive
We only match you with lawyers who specialise in company turnaround and debt restructuring in your jurisdiction.
A viability diagnosis
Your lawyer assesses whether the business is genuinely viable and what restructuring would need to achieve, so you do not pour resources into a rescue that cannot succeed.
A negotiated standstill
You gain structured breathing space — lenders agree to pause enforcement while a plan is built — giving the company room to stabilise without creditors circling.
Debt and capital restructured
Your lawyer negotiates new terms, converts or writes down debt, and brings in new capital where needed, reshaping the balance sheet so the business can trade forward.
A binding rescue plan
Where agreement cannot be reached voluntarily, your lawyer uses the formal mechanisms available in your country to bind dissenting creditors and lock in the rescue.
Coverage
Business restructuring lawyers across Europe
Restructuring tools and court procedures are national, and the options differ substantially between countries. The right lawyer practises in the country where your business operates. We match cases across the following and beyond:
Frequently asked
Business restructuring — common questions
What is the difference between restructuring and insolvency?
Restructuring is a proactive, usually voluntary process to rescue a business that is still viable, often before formal insolvency occurs. Insolvency is the state of being unable to pay debts, and its formal processes may follow if restructuring fails or starts too late. The goal of restructuring is to avoid reaching that point.
When should a business start restructuring?
As soon as distress appears — falling cash flow, missed payments or covenant breaches. Restructuring works best while the business is still trading and retains value, staff and customers. Waiting until a formal filing is imminent sharply reduces the options and the value that can be preserved.
Can restructuring bind creditors who disagree?
In many countries, yes. Formal mechanisms such as court-approved plans or schemes can bind a dissenting minority once the required majority of creditors has approved. The availability and rules vary by jurisdiction, so a lawyer will advise on the mechanism that applies to your situation.
Will restructuring require new capital?
Often it does, though not always. A rescue may involve renegotiated debt, asset sales or an injection of new equity or lending. Your lawyer will help structure the capital solution that makes the plan work while protecting the interests of existing stakeholders.
Can a company restructure without entering a formal process?
Yes, and many restructurings are entirely consensual — renegotiated loan terms, payment plans and informal agreements with creditors. Formal processes are usually reserved for situations where unanimous agreement cannot be reached or court protection is needed.
How long does a business restructuring take?
It varies enormously, from a few months for a negotiated debt deal to a year or more for a complex court-supervised plan. The timeline depends on the country, the number of creditors and the complexity of the business, and your lawyer will set realistic expectations early.
Free case review
Your business still has value — let a lawyer help you keep it
Tell us about your company and we’ll connect you with a restructuring lawyer who rescues businesses in your country every day — free of charge, with no obligation to hire.