Frédéric Verhoeven
Advocaat | Partner
Practice Areas
Sectors
Languages
Dutch
English
French
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Frédéric specialises in cross-border insolvency and restructuring and has played a prominent role in the most complex and cross-border cases over the past years. He works in diverse insolvency and restructuring situations either from the perspective of the creditor (bondholder) or from the perspective of the debtor and the company.
Frédéric regularly accepts court appointments as bankruptcy trustee in liquidation proceedings and administrator or observer in restructuring proceedings such as the Dutch Scheme (Wet homologatie onderhands akkoord (WHOA)).
Recent and notable cases include Steinhoff, Vroon Shipping, Farfetch, Lehman Brothers, Swissport, Hudson's Bay, Oi, OSX / OGX, Swissair and DSB Bank.
He is a member of Houthoff's Advisory Board.
Frédéric regularly accepts court appointments as bankruptcy trustee in liquidation proceedings and administrator or observer in restructuring proceedings such as the Dutch Scheme (Wet homologatie onderhands akkoord (WHOA)).
Recent and notable cases include Steinhoff, Vroon Shipping, Farfetch, Lehman Brothers, Swissport, Hudson's Bay, Oi, OSX / OGX, Swissair and DSB Bank.
He is a member of Houthoff's Advisory Board.
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Ranked in Tier 1Chambers Europe, Restructuring/Insolvency (2024 Edition) -
“A client says that 'he is commercially looking at what needs to be done to get a proper result. He is one of the excellent people in the filed of restructuring in the Netherlands'.”Chambers Europe, Restructuring/Insolvency (2024 Edition)
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Ranked in the Hall of Fame
Legal 500, Restructuring and Insolvency (2024 Edition) -
"A client stated that: ‘Frédéric Verhoeven and Christiaan Zijderveld are intelligent, resourceful and a pleasure to work with’."Legal 500, Restructuring and Insolvency (2024 Edition)
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Ranked in Tier 1Chambers Europe, Restructuring/Insolvency (2023 Edition)
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"One client says: 'Our interactions with Frédéric were superb. He is highly knowledgeable of the bankruptcy court process'."Chambers Europe, Restructuring/Insolvency (2023 Edition)
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"A client mentions: 'He is very pragmatic, it is a pleasure to work with him'."Chambers Europe, Restructuring/Insolvency (2023 Edition)
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"A client highlights: 'He is a great insolvency practitioner'."Chambers Europe, Restructuring/Insolvency (2023 Edition)
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Ranked in the Hall of Fame
Legal 500, Restructuring and Insolvency (2023 Edition) -
"One clients says: ‘Frédéric Verhoeven is noted for his vast experience as bankruptcy trustee and administrator. He has almost unparalleled experience in the practical workings of large insolvency proceedings, giving him an undeniable edge to advise on R&I situations'."Legal 500, Restructuring and Insolvency (2023 Edition)
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"One client mentioned: 'Frédéric Verhoeven and Christiaan Zijderveld are both exceptional restructuring specialists. They have an excellent grasp of commercial issues and an exceptional ability to craft innovative solutions to complex problems'."Legal 500, Restructuring and Insolvency (2023 Edition)
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Frédéric Verhoeven is ranked in Tier 1.Chambers Europe, Restructuring/Insolvency: Administration (2022 Edition)
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“A client enthuses that he ‘provides excellent support, is very knowledgeable about the process and has great insights into how to navigate very difficult negotiations’.”Chambers Europe, Restructuring/Insolvency (2022 Edition)
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Leading IndividualLegal 500, Restructuring and Insolvency (2022 Edition)
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“Frédéric Verhoeven is knowledgeable, professional and well connected.”Legal 500, Restructuring and Insolvency (2022 Edition)
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Frédéric Verhoeven is ranked in Tier 1.Chambers Europe, Restructuring/Insolvency: Administration (2021 Edition)
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“Verhoeven is a strategic thinker. If he says something or approaches a problem, it’s with really in-depth knowledge and a really good view on how to achieve results.”Chambers Europe, Restructuring/Insolvency (2021 Edition)
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“Frédéric Verhoeven is very knowledgeable, creative and a pleasure to work with.”Legal 500, Restructuring and Insolvency (2021 Edition)
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Leading IndividualLegal 500, Restructuring and Insolvency (2021 Edition)
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Frédéric Verhoeven is ranked in Tier 1.Chambers Europe, Restructuring/Insolvency (2020 Edition)
Frédéric teaches at Leiden University and publishes on insolvency law. He is a regular speaker at institutional conferences. Frédéric was a board member of the Dutch Association of Insolvency Practitioners (INSOLAD) for many years as well as a founding board member of the Dutch Restructuring Association. He is a member of the specialists association INSOL Europe, INSOL International and International Insolvency Institute.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
- Dutch Law (Utrecht University)
- INSOLAD specialisation course
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Acted as one of two court-appointed observers in the Dutch restructuring scheme ("WHOA") of Steinhoff International Holdings N.V.
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Acting as the administrators appointed by the Amsterdam Court in the suspension of payment proceedings of Steinhoff International Holdings N.V. (a company listed on the Johannesburg and Frankfurt Stock Exchange), Houthoff oversaw the process leading up to the confirmation of the composition plan. This enabled Steinhoff to settle alleged claims for damages from 66,000 creditors totalling EUR 14 billion following from the group's disclosure of accounting irregularities in 2017.
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Advised OSX Brasil S.A. and its Dutch subsidiaries. on the restructuring of their consolidated debt of over US$ 2.5 billion, including representing the OSX companies in various litigation matters in the Netherlands as well as coordinating litigation abroad. The team worked also on the debt restructuring of OSX 3, the USD 450 million bond structure and the syndicated debt of USD 850 million.
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Advised the Municipality of Amsterdam in relation to the financial restructuring of its 100% subsidiary AEB (Amsterdamse Afval Energie Bedrijf).
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Acting as court appointed bankruptcy trustee of DSB Bank, Houthoff continued through 2014 to unwind the legacy of the failed bank following the settlement agreement made with claimants regarding overcharged premiums and interest obligations. To date, 40 employees of the bank are employed.
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V&D was a landmark brand of high street located department stores (63 stores) in the Netherlands and was founded in 1887. Houthoff advised the company in a wide array of matters, including the restructuring of its debt, and representing the company in several high profile litigation matters related to real estate and labour law.
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Advised the Independent Derivatives Committee - appointed by the Minister of Finance - in preparing and drafting a uniform repair framework for compensation by the Dutch banking sector of SME clients that bought interest rate derivatives.
