Standard insolvency
If a company is illiquid or overindebted, its management is required by law to file for insolvency. An insolvency application does not necessarily mean the end of the company, however. In crisis situations of this kind, German insolvency law, in particular the Insolvency Code (Insolvenzordnung, InsO), offers companies a variety of options for overcoming the challenges they face and achieving a sustainable fresh start for their business.
Larger companies may wish to use protective shield proceedings or self-administration. However, standard insolvency, i.e. traditional insolvency proceedings, also offers a full range of reorganisation options, particularly if the insolvency application is filed early and professionally prepared. Our investigation into the long-term sustainability of company reorganisations has shown that both standard insolvencies and self-administration and protective shield proceedings lead to successful and sustainable reorganisations.
In a standard insolvency, the insolvency court with territorial competence in the location of the company’s seat appoints a preliminary insolvency administrator in what are known as “preliminary insolvency proceedings”. An insolvency administrator is appointed when the (permanent) insolvency proceedings are formally commenced.
The insolvency administrator has a crucial role in a reorganisation in standard insolvency proceedings. It is his or her job to secure the assets of the insolvent company for the creditors, identify potential options and – whenever it is financially possible and advisable to do so – reorganise the company.
Contact persons
Rüdiger Bauch
Rechtsanwalt (Attorney at Law in Germany)
Fachanwalt für Insolvenz- und Sanierungsrecht (Certified Specialist in Insolvency and Reorganisation Law)
+49 (0)341 26972-0
Elke Bäuerle
Rechtsanwältin (Attorney at law in Germany)
Fachanwältin für Insolvenz- und Sanierungsrecht (Certified Specialist in Insolvency and Reorganisation Law)
+49 (0)741 17464-30
Holger Blümle
Rechtsanwalt (Attorney at Law in Germany)
Fachanwalt für Insolvenz- und Sanierungsrecht (Certified Specialist in Insolvency and Reorganisation Law)
Dipl.-Betriebswirt (BA) (certified business accountant)
Wirtschaftsmediator (IHK) (Business mediator, Chamber of Commerce)
+49 (0)721 91957-0
Volker Böhm
Rechtsanwalt (Attorney at Law in Germany)
Fachanwalt für Insolvenz- und Sanierungsrecht (Certified Specialist in Insolvency and Reorganisation Law)
+49 (0)911 60079-0
![[Translate to Englisch:] Stefano Buck](/fileadmin/_processed_/7/6/csm_sb-hs-buck-stefano-2023-10-02-2658a_aae08da043.jpg "[Translate to Englisch:] Stefano Buck")
Stefano Buck
Rechtsanwalt (Attorney at Law in Germany)
Fachanwalt für Insolvenzrecht (Certified Specialist in Insolvency Law)
+49 (0)7841 708-321
Ralph Bünning
Rechtsanwalt (Attorney at Law in Germany)
Fachanwalt für Insolvenz- und Sanierungsrecht (Certified Specialist in Insolvency and Reorganisation Law)
+49 (0)421 3686-589
Manja Busch
Steuerberaterin (Tax consultant Germany)
Dipl.-Betriebswirtin (BA) (certified business accountant)
+49 (0)341 26972-0
Harald Bußhardt
Rechtsanwalt (Attorney at Law in Germany)
Fachanwalt für Insolvenzrecht (Certified Specialist in Insolvency Law)
+49 (0)351 88527-0
Dr. Thomas Dithmar
Rechtsanwalt (Attorney at Law in Germany)
Fachanwalt für Insolvenz- und Sanierungsrecht (Certified Specialist in Insolvency and Reorganisation Law)
Fachanwalt für Steuerrecht (Certified Specialist in Tax Law)
+49 (0)361 5513-0
Alrun Ehmann
Rechtsanwältin (Attorney at law in Germany)
Fachanwältin für Insolvenz- und Sanierungsrecht (Certified Specialist in Insolvency and Reorganisation Law)
+49 (0)911 60079-120
Stefanie Engelhard
Rechtsanwältin (Attorney at law in Germany)
Fachanwältin für Insolvenz- und Sanierungsrecht (Certified Specialist in Insolvency and Reorganisation Law)
+49 (0)421 3686-270
![[Translate to Englisch:] Dr. Jürgen Erbe, MBA](/fileadmin/_processed_/e/a/csm_sb-hs-dr-erbe-juergen-2023-07-02-23125a_08e11fcc38.jpg "[Translate to Englisch:] Dr. Jürgen Erbe, MBA")
Dr. Jürgen Erbe, MBA
Rechtsanwalt (Attorney at Law in Germany)
Fachanwalt für Insolvenz- und Sanierungsrecht (Certified Specialist in Insolvency and Reorganisation Law)
+49 (0)621 480264-0
Katharina Franke
Rechtsanwältin (Attorney at law in Germany)
Fachanwältin für Insolvenz- und Sanierungsrecht (Certified Specialist in Insolvency and Reorganisation Law)
+49 (0)911 60079-121
![[Translate to Englisch:] Edgar Grönda](/fileadmin/_processed_/b/e/csm_sb-hs-groenda-edgar-2023-08-03-1902a_745dcf12ff.jpg "[Translate to Englisch:] Edgar Grönda")
Edgar Grönda
Rechtsanwalt (Attorney at Law in Germany)
Fachanwalt für Insolvenz- und Sanierungsrecht (Certified Specialist in Insolvency and Reorganisation Law)
+49 (0)421 3686-589
![[Translate to Englisch:] Dr. Dietmar Haffa](/fileadmin/_processed_/b/d/csm_sb-hs-dr-haffa-dietmar-2023-10-02-3457a_edcd8d87c4.jpg "[Translate to Englisch:] Dr. Dietmar Haffa")
Dr. Dietmar Haffa
Rechtsanwalt (Attorney at Law in Germany)
Dipl.-Betriebswirt (BA) (certified business accountant)
Fachanwalt für Insolvenz- und Sanierungsrecht (Certified Specialist in Insolvency and Reorganisation Law)
+49 (0)711 23889-0
Dr. Dirk Herzig
Rechtsanwalt (Attorney at Law in Germany)
Fachanwalt für Insolvenz- und Sanierungsrecht (Certified Specialist in Insolvency and Reorganisation Law)
+49 (0)371 38237-0
Tobias Hirte
Rechtsanwalt (Attorney at Law in Germany)
Fachanwalt für Insolvenz- und Sanierungsrecht (Certified Specialist in Insolvency and Reorganisation Law)
+49(0)721919570
Christina Keane
Rechtsanwältin (Attorney at law in Germany)
Fachanwältin für Insolvenz- und Sanierungsrecht (Certified Specialist in Insolvency and Reorganisation Law)
+49 (0)421 3686-475
![[Translate to Englisch:] Susi Barbara Kropp-Kuhn](/fileadmin/_processed_/6/9/csm_sb-hs-kropp-kuhn-susi-barbara-2023-07-02-23789a_e3f11cd92c.jpg "[Translate to Englisch:] Susi Barbara Kropp-Kuhn")
![[Translate to Englisch:] Harald Kroth](/fileadmin/_processed_/0/6/csm_sb-hs-kroth-harald-2023-08-02-25687a_32f55a232f.jpg "[Translate to Englisch:] Harald Kroth")
Harald Kroth
Rechtsanwalt (Attorney at Law in Germany)
Fachanwalt für Insolvenzrecht (Certified Specialist in Insolvency Law)
+49 (0)7841 708-321
Stefan Ludwig
Rechtsanwalt (Attorney at Law in Germany)
Fachanwalt für Insolvenz- und Sanierungsrecht (Certified Specialist in Insolvency and Reorganisation Law)
+49 (0)30 3083038-200
![[Translate to Englisch:] Dr. Dirk Pehl](/fileadmin/_processed_/f/a/csm_sb-hs-dr-pehl-dirk-2023-08-02-25541a-01_98b5276ad3.jpg "[Translate to Englisch:] Dr. Dirk Pehl")
Dr. Dirk Pehl
Rechtsanwalt (Attorney at Law in Germany)
Fachanwalt für Insolvenz- und Sanierungsrecht (Certified Specialist in Insolvency and Reorganisation Law)
+49 (0)7841 708-311
Simon D. Reichle
Steuerberater (Tax consultant Germany)
Dipl.-Wirtschaftsjurist (FH) (diploma in business law)
+49 (0)711 23889-415
Christoph Rothämel, LL.M. oec.
Rechtsanwalt (Attorney at Law in Germany)
Fachanwalt für Insolvenz- und Sanierungsrecht (Certified Specialist in Insolvency and Reorganisation Law)
+49 (0)361 5513-0
Frank Schmitt
Rechtsanwalt (Attorney at Law in Germany)
Fachanwalt für Insolvenz- und Sanierungsrecht (Certified Specialist in Insolvency and Reorganisation Law)
+49 (0)69 50986-155
