Restructuring
Teacher Stern’s multi-disciplinary restructuring team comprises of lawyers from our Banking & Finance, Corporate, Dispute Resolution and Insolvency practices. The team acts for directors, companies, debtors, creditors, financial institutions and insolvency practitioners on a variety of matters ranging from carrying out solvent reorganisations to dealing with insolvent and financially distressed companies.
Our restructuring lawyers have extensive experience in advising on a wide variety of corporate restructurings and reorganisations, as well as on debt restructuring.
We have acted for a number of UK companies, multinational corporate groups and financial institutions in connection with the reorganisation of their group structures. Many of these reorganisations were carried out to streamline corporate structures following an acquisition or disposal and necessitated the transfer of debt and extension of security intra-group. Others were carried out in response to specific commercial, legal, insolvency or tax requirements.
Where the restructuring is insolvency driven, we involve our specialist Insolvency lawyers at an early stage to assist with rescues, reconstructions, receiverships, administration, liquidations, insolvencies, CVA’s, appointment of receivers, bankruptcy and IVA’s. Of course, if the borrower remains financially viable, our Banking & Finance lawyers will advise on the rescues and reconstruction options available outside of formal insolvency proceedings. These options usually include work outs and debt restructurings as well as carrying out a review of the existing security for the purpose of enhancing that security package or affirming its enforceability.
When the need arises, our Dispute Resolution lawyers will be on hand to assist with the enforcement of a lender’s security.
Representative Restructurings Work
Examples of our team’s restructuring work include:
- Advised a secured lender on its enforcement rights against bankrupt borrowers and on its ability to recover shortfalls from the borrowers’ bankrupt estates.
- Advised the liquidator of a national hotel chain in relation to the obligations of the defaulting group in connection with secured lending facilities advanced to it.
- Advised a lender in connection with the enforcement and realisation of its fixed and floating charge over the book debts of a defaulting borrower.
- Advised numerous receivers, liquidators, administrators and trustees in bankruptcy in connection with the obtainment of orders for possession and sale of real estate and other assets.
- Advised numerous clients in connection with the restructuring of debt and corresponding security arrangements.
Key contacts:
Biography
Claire is head of the Legal 500 ranked Real Estate Finance team and has a wealth of experience in general lending and security matters including complex intercreditor arrangements. She acts for a wide range of UK and international financial institutions, as well as a variety of borrowers, in relation to domestic and cross-border finance transactions on a bilateral, club or syndicated basis. Claire’s particular expertise is property finance and corporate lending. Claire has a wealth of experience in drafting and reviewing the full suite of lender standard form loan and security documentation.
Claire also regularly deals with senior funding lines for her lender clients borrowing from institutional lenders as well as participators and investors funding underlying facilities with end borrowers. This involves Claire advising on various structures (such as senior loan agreements and participation agreements); security arrangements (either with security trustees; sub-charges; charges over bank accounts; and/or assignments of the underlying borrower security package) and identifying the inherent potential risks with such structures. She always seeks to improve her client’s position whilst respecting the commercially agreed terms and aligned interests of the parties.
Claire’s clients value her commercial advice combined with her technical knowledge and guidance. She ensures she has an in depth understanding and knowledge of our client’s business objectives to ensure she achieves this. She is driven, committed, personable, and always aims to exceed client expectations when it comes to service delivery and deadlines. Claire works proactively with all parties to a transaction to achieve a smooth closing. Her clients appreciate her responsiveness and attention to detail. Claire is a trusted advisor to many leading property and finance professionals in the market. This reputation is demonstrated in the client testimonials she has consistently received since being listed as a recommended lawyer in the Legal 500 in 2016.
Testimonials
Legal 500 2025 500 directory:
‘Claire Gibson has a wealth of commercial and technical knowledge, using her skill set to go above and beyond for her clients.’
Legal 500 2024 500 directory:
‘Teacher Stern’s team, led by Claire Gibson, has advised us on real estate finance for the last couple of years on various deals. The team is of the highest calibre for this sector in the London market. They are very professional and always responsive. All matters were dealt with, with attention and great flexibility. The team has proven to consist of highly skilled professionals, all of whom have very extensive knowledge of legal issues and an actual understanding of our needs, making it possible for them to provide advice and solutions, which are always individually tailored for the issues and goals in hand.’
‘Claire Gibson is our well-trusted advisor. Claire helps us resolve challenges that we, and our business, face. Claire is highly praised for providing the highest quality advice.’
‘Phil Berry and Claire Gibson both offer a wealth of knowledge in their field. Clients are central to the team’s work ethos, and they are undoubtedly people you want to have in your corner.
2023 Legal 500 directory: Claire Gibson “understands what her clients need; she combines her wealth of knowledge with a commercial outlook to deliver a stellar service time and again.’
2022 Legal 500 directory: recommended laywer.
2021 Legal 500 directory: Claire Gibson “has a wealth of knowledge in her field; her commercialism and dedication to her clients sets her apart from others”
2020 Legal 500 directory: Claire Gibson is ‘pragmatic, commercial and a pleasure to deal with.’
2018/2019 Legal 500 directory: Claire Gibson is praised for her ‘unparalleled professionalism and diligence’.
2017 Legal 500 directory: The ‘super-efficient’ Claire Gibson is ‘always on top of things’.
2016 Legal 500 directory: recommended figure of the ‘top-notch’ Claire Gibson.
Year qualified
Solicitor, 2003
Career History
Claire qualified in 2003 and joined the firm as a partner in 2014.
