Expertise
Hanneke is a highly experienced restructuring and insolvency specialist, advising companies in financial difficulties and their stakeholders. Her practice covers both advisory and contentious matters in international insolvency law, financing, securities, and director’s liability, with particular focus on complex and cross-border restructurings.
She is regularly appointed by the Amsterdam Court as an administrator and trustee in large-scale suspensions of payments and bankruptcy proceedings and conducts inquiry investigations for the Enterprise Chamber. Hanneke represents a broad range of clients, including shareholders and investors, corporates, directors and supervisory board members, as well as (groups of) creditors.
- Experience
- Advising on financial restructuring and contingency planning, including analysis of options, negotiations with creditors and preparation of formal procedures for, amongst others (i) one of the largest omni-channel home furnishings retailers in the Benelux, (ii) various private equity investors and (iii) international companies in sectors including retail, aviation technology and industry
- Accepting court appointments under the Dutch restructuring framework (WHOA), including appointments as restructuring expert in the WHOA proceedings of professional football club Vitesse and observer in the WHOA proceedings of a large office supplies wholesale company
- Advising on solvent liquidations and carve-outs, including for a major supplier of school textbooks operating in the Netherlands and Belgium
- Acting as court-appointed trustee in the bankruptcy of inter alia (i) Thomas Cook Netherlands B.V. the Dutch subsidiary of Thomas Cook Group plc, one of the prominent European brands in the leisure and travel industry, (ii) the bankruptcy of the Doniger group of companies, a large international retail chain with the brands McGregor, Gaastra and Adam Menswear, (iii)the bankruptcy of the department store chain V&D and restaurant chain La Place, (iv) the bankruptcy of Big Bazar B.V., a chain of more than 100 discount retail stores and (v) the bankruptcy of the Van der Moolen group of companies, an Amsterdam and NYSE listed international securities trading and brokerage firm
- Testimonials
- "She has deep expertise in corporate restructurings combined with longstanding experience as an insolvency receiver, which is a valuable combination" – Chambers, 2026
- "Her advice is to the point and actionable, and she navigates complex matters well" – Chambers, 2026
- "Hanneke De Coninck-Smolders is highly regarded for her impressive activity as a court-appointed bankruptcy trustee or liquidator. She also acts as an investigator in bankruptcy proceedings" – Chambers, 2026
- "She is easily accessible and adept at translating her knowledge into practical decisions that need to be made" – Chambers, 2026
- "Hanneke de Coninck is a highly intelligent strategist who goes beyond the legal aspects and genuinely acts in the best interests of her clients" – Legal 500, 2025
- "Hanneke de Coninck-Smolders is a hard worker with a lot of knowledge and experience who uses her skills in an approachable and enjoyable way" – Chambers, 2025
- "Hanneke de Coninck-Smolders is a pragmatic and experienced bankruptcy trustee who always strikes a good balance" – Chambers, 2025
- "Extremely skilled, straight to the point and pleasant to work with" – Legal 500, 2024
- "Hanneke de Coninck-Smolders is a strong and approachable lawyer; she delivers on what she promises and gets results. I really enjoyed working with her" – Chambers, 2024
- "Very knowledgeable and able to grasp the complete picture in a short period of time, providing support in those areas where attention is needed. They understand the challenges that management faces and are available at any point in time to provide support" – Legal 500, 2023
- "She is on top of things and I like her relaxed manner of working" – Chambers, 2023
- Qualification
- Advocaat admitted to the Dutch Bar
- Listed in the Register of Legal Practice Areas of the Dutch Bar Association for Insolventierecht (Insolvency law)
- Recognition
- Chambers Netherlands - Restructuring/Insolvency: Administration: Band 1
- Legal 500 Netherlands - Restructuring & Insolvency: Leading Partner
- Professional memberships
- On the board of the Dutch Association for Comparative and International Insolvency Law (NVRII)
- INSOLAD
- Dutch Restructuring Association (NVvH)
- Dutch Turnaround Association
- INSOL International
- INSOL Europe
- Rimari Foundation
- Training delivered
- Postgraduate Course in Insolvency Law (VU Amsterdam), 2005
- INSOLAD/Grotius Specialisation Course in Insolvency Law (Grotius Academy) (2006)Financial Economics for Insolvency Lawyers (ICFG at Erasmus School of Law, in collaboration with INSOLAD), 2009
- Executive Programme Corporate Restructuring (VU Amsterdam, in collaboration with the Dutch Restructuring Association), 2025
- Languages
- Dutch
- English
- Spanish
- Education
- 2001, Maastricht University, LL.M.
- 2002, admitted to the Dutch Bar (Advocaat)
