Brussels 24 May 2023: Under the title “The New Insolvency Directive: Hit or miss?”, members of the German Association of Insolvency Administrators and Trustees (VID) and the Conseil National des Administrateurs Judiciaires et des Mandataires Judiciares met in Brussels at the end of May.
BRRS partner Jutta Rüdlin moderated international panel
Jutta Rüdlin, board member of the VID, moderated one of four round tables on the topic of “Other regulatory areas of the harmonisation of insolvency law: insolvency avoidance, asset determination, directors’ duties, creditors’ committees” and interviewed the participants Prof. Dr. Michel Menjucq from the Université Paris I, Panthéon-Sorbonne from France, Alice van der Schee from Van Benthem & Keulen from the Netherlands, Prof. Dr Christoph Thole from the University of Cologne, Institute for International and European Insolvency Law from Germany, Jean Baron, Administrateur Judiciaire from CBF Associées from France and Prof. Dr Jean-Luc Vallens, honorary magistrate, former associate professor at the University of Strasbourg, expert of the European Commission, France.
Also present: the young BRRS students
But Rüdlin was not alone in Brussels. She had taken our BRRS employee Lara Körber, who is studying law in Marburg, with her to this international and unusual event. It was an extraordinary experience for her:
Question: Lara, a practical question first: What language was spoken at the conference?
Lara Körber: Some of the speakers spoke English, most of them spoke their native language, which was then simultaneously translated. I had the German simultaneous translation set to my headphones and was fascinated by how good the translation was, even from a technical point of view. I was very impressed.
Question: How did you prepare for this appointment?
Lara Körber: I haven’t had anything to do with insolvency law in my studies so far, that won’t come until the next semester, so I prepared myself thoroughly. I worked through the entire 70-page insolvency directive so that I can really understand what it’s all about. I also researched content and issues for Jutta Rüdlin, which was new for me and a very interesting exchange.
Question: What impressions did you take away from the conference?
Lara Körber: One thing became very clear to me. There are huge differences between the countries, starting with the obligation to file for insolvency. A lot still needs to be harmonised. I’m curious to see if and how this will succeed.
Question: How did you feel about being invited to take part?
Lara Körber: I was very pleased to be offered the opportunity, because I was one of very few students at the conference in Brussels, so I was able to speak directly with high-calibre experts – and internationally, too. I also really enjoyed travelling with my boss, Jutta Rüdlin, because you can exchange ideas in a different way than in the day-to-day work of a student employee. I am very grateful that I was able to be there.