Banking, debt & insolvency

Insolvency and restructuring for companies

For companies in financial distress and the creditors owed money by them: restructuring where it can work, an orderly process where it cannot.

In short

The UAE financial restructuring and bankruptcy law gives companies in difficulty a choice of court-supervised routes, including preventive composition and restructuring to keep the business going, and bankruptcy and liquidation where it cannot continue.

We advise companies and directors on which route fits and on their duties along the way, and we act for creditors, preparing and pursuing their claims in the process.

What we handle

How we can help

Restructuring and preventive composition

A company that can still survive may be able to agree a plan with its creditors under court supervision. We assess viability and help prepare the plan and supporting information.

Liquidation and creditor claims

When a company cannot continue, assets are realised and creditors are paid in the order the law sets. We prepare and follow creditor claims so they are admitted at the right value.

III

Director duties and liability

Directors and managers can face personal liability if they keep trading irresponsibly or fail to act in time. We advise on what to do, and when, to protect the business and the people running it.

Creditors in insolvency proceedings

For suppliers, lenders and landlords owed money by an insolvent company, we file claims, track the trustee or administrator and push for the best available recovery.

How it works

From first call to resolution

Early assessment
We look at cash flow, liabilities and the likely value of assets to see which options are realistically open.
Choose the route
Informal negotiation, preventive composition, restructuring or liquidation: we explain the effect of each on the company, directors and creditors.
Prepare the filing or claim
We prepare the application, plan or creditor claim with the financial information the court and trustee expect.
Follow the process
We track meetings, deadlines and distributions, and coordinate with licensed counsel and accountants where the process requires it.

The legal framework

Corporate insolvency in the UAE is governed by the federal law on financial restructuring and bankruptcy, which was replaced with an updated law that took effect in 2024. It provides for preventive composition and restructuring procedures, for bankruptcy and liquidation, and for the treatment of creditors, guarantors and directors. Companies in the DIFC and ADGM financial free zones follow their own insolvency rules.

Why timing matters

The options narrow quickly once a company has stopped paying its debts. Acting early keeps restructuring on the table, protects directors from avoidable exposure and usually preserves more value for everyone. If you are a director worried about the company's position, or a creditor who has heard that a customer is in difficulty, speak to us before the situation forces a decision.

For individuals rather than companies, see our personal bankruptcy page.

FAQ

Insolvency: your questions

A court-supervised procedure for a company that is in difficulty but not yet unable to continue, allowing it to agree a plan with its creditors while it keeps trading.

In some circumstances, yes, for example where they caused losses by serious mismanagement or kept trading when they should have acted. Early advice is the best protection.

By filing a claim with the trustee or administrator in the proceedings, with evidence of the debt, within the deadline set. We prepare and follow the claim for you.

Fees are quoted after the first consultation, once we understand the size and stage of the matter, and agreed in writing before work starts.

Your team