Insolvency specialists
Schoenaerts & Partners are experienced receivers and trustees in bankruptcy. We have a broad advisory practice in the field of restructuring and reorganizing companies in financial distress. With our team, we assist companies, directors, creditors, financiers, and other stakeholders in financially challenging times. As we are actively involved in the settlement of bankruptcies on a daily basis, we are fully aware of the issues that may arise in a (pre)bankruptcy situation.
Bruno Schoenaerts
“No matter, Try again, Fail again, Fail better (S. Becket)”
Education and academic background
Bruno Schoenaerts obtained his Master’s degree in Law from the University of Antwerp in 1977. His diploma mentions a specialization in commercial, economic and financial law.
In 1980, he started his own law firm and built a strong reputation as a lawyer-receiver, both nationally and internationally.
In 2001, he obtained a Master’s degree in Business Law with great distinction as primus inter pares at the University of Antwerp. He attended courses organized by the Commercial Court on accounticy and balance sheet analysis over a period of two years. He is one of the few lawyers who fully masters all aspects of accounting.
In addition, he followed a special training in company law and all its aspects, over a period of one year. Upon the introduction of the new company code, he followed this training again at the Tax High School in 2020.
Practical experience and specialisation in insolvency law
Bruno Schoenaerts is regularly appointed by the commercial court as administrator of companies in difficulty, as legal representative in judicial reorganization procedures. He has already handled five hundred bankruptcies as a receiver.
He undergoes annual training in the field of insolvency law.
He is a regularly requested speaker and author in the field of insolvency law.
The law firm of Schoenaerts & Partners has the unique and special expertise in insolvency law, specifically the problems of companies in difficulty, judicial reorganization and bankruptcies. He acts both as a receiver and as a lawyer assisting his clients in all matters of insolvency law.
The interest and willingness to continuously learn and stay up-to-date is one of Bruno Schoenaerts’ many strengths. This allows him to assist his clients in a clear and correct manner, despite the constant evolution of the law.
With his specific knowledge of bankruptcy procedures, he has proven to be not only an efficient advisor, but also a skilled strategist.
In 1995, Bruno Schoenaerts published his book “The Belgian justice system: a Kafkaesque nightmare“. He provided a razor-sharp and unvarnished analysis of the judicial situation in Belgium, even before the Dutroux affair. Meanwhile, the book is decades old, but the predictions that Mr. Schoenaerts presented in it are still seen today as building blocks of the transformation of the Belgian justice system into a well-functioning and democratic institution.
Contact Mr. Bruno Schoenaerts – Expert in insolvency law
Alain Van den Cloot
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. (W. Churchill)”
Alain Van den Cloot is an experienced solicitor and trustee, highly skilled in corporate and commercial law with company and employment law aspects. He is an expert in guiding businesses from their formation, negotiating and drafting contracts, resolving disputes between partners, conducting legal proceedings, assisting companies in distress (Corporate Recovery Procedures, formerly WCO), through to the liquidation and dissolution of companies. A legally strong professional with a postgraduate degree focused on International Business Law, obtained at Queen Mary & Westfield College, University of London.
Profile
With over 25 years of legal experience, Alain Van den Cloot is a critical and decisive solicitor and trustee (since 1996), specialising in commercial and economic law with corporate and employment law aspects, and extensive expertise in bankruptcies and liquidations.
In this context, Alain Van den Cloot offers companies a full-service approach. He is client-focused, strong in negotiations, and dedicated to achieving results. He places great importance on discretion and efficiency.
Having acted as trustee in over 400 bankruptcies and as liquidator of numerous companies, he has gained extensive ‘in-house’ experience in the continuation and transfer of business activities. He is fully trilingual (Dutch, French, English), which is a significant asset in an increasingly international economy.
Studies and Education
Annual Relevant Training and Seminars
Bar Association
- Financial Business Economics & Accountancy (Sep 2001 – Jun 2002)
Antwerp Management School - Postgraduate Training for Trustee-Liquidator (Sep 1997 – Jun 1998)
University of Antwerp - LLM in Business Law (Aug 1993 – Aug 1994)
Queen Mary & Westfield College, University of London, UK - Law Degree (Sep 1990 – Jun 1993)
University of Antwerp - Preliminary Law Studies (Sep 1988 – Jun 1990)
FUNDP Namur
Profile
- Secretary of the Non-Profit Organisation Pro Mandato (Association of Trustees)
- Member of the Non-Profit Organisation ARGO (Collaboration between actors in the maritime sector)
Contact Mr. Alain Van den Cloot for an appointment.
Peter Dekeersmaeker
Peter Dekeersmaeker has been a solicitor at the Antwerp Bar since 7 January 1980.
He is active in all forms of cooperation law, with a focus on employment and social security law on the one hand, and specific commercial cooperation structures such as companies, agency, distributorships, etc., on the other.
He also collaborates with specialised colleagues to assist clients in areas such as environmental law, administrative law, tax law, and more.
In his practice, he emphasises conflict prevention and general legal support for businesses.
From 1990 to 1998, Peter Dekeersmaeker was a lecturer in social security law at the Centre for SME Training, and from 1995 to 2005, he taught social legislation at Vlekho in Brussels. He was also active for many years in legal training programmes for the social security sector.
He joined the firm on 15 November 2024 and has since been available to assist all clients of the firm in the legal domains in which he is active.
Peter Dekeersmaeker is fluent in Dutch, English, and French, and has a working knowledge of German and Italian.
FAQ: Expertise and Guidance in Insolvency Law and Bankruptcy Proceedings
Insolvency law governs the procedures surrounding bankruptcies and judicial reorganisations, aiming to protect both businesses and creditors in times of financial difficulty.
With hundreds of bankruptcies and reorganisations handled, and specialised expertise in insolvency law, we are a trusted partner in financially challenging situations.
Judicial reorganisation can be used to restructure a company in financial difficulty and avoid bankruptcy, with legal and financial support.
Our solicitor-trustees provide personal, expert guidance throughout the entire process of bankruptcy or judicial reorganisation, always with your best interests in mind.
You can easily get in touch via our website or call us to schedule a personal consultation.
