Omar Salah

Partner Norton Rose Fulbright LLP

London +44 20 7283 6000

Omar Salah

Prof. dr. Omar Salah is a finance, restructuring and insolvency lawyer based in Amsterdam, where he is head of restructuring.

Omar has extensive experience advising a global client base, including banks, private equity firms, (distressed debt) funds, corporates, government bodies, sponsors, investors and other stakeholders in restructuring and insolvency mandates.

Omar often advises on bank and bond debt restructurings, insolvency matters, distressed M&A transactions and trading in non-performing loans. He has been involved in some of the most complex cross-border insolvencies globally. In addition, he has advised various financial institutions on recovery and resolution proceedings.

Omar's practice also covers banking and finance matters and he has advised on numerous leveraged and acquisition financings, asset-based financings and investment grade corporate loans. He has noted experience in Islamic finance and holds a PhD in sukuk (Islamic securities). Omar has advised sponsors, banks and direct lenders on Term Loan B transactions, unitranche financing and other leveraged finance transactions.

Professional experience

Representative experience

Advising:

Group of approximately 20 lenders - on one of the largest shipping restructurings in the Netherlands.
International conglomerate - on one of the largest restructurings globally involving more than 23 jurisdictions.
EUPP lenders – on a financial restructuring of a large corporate in the offshore and marine sector, involving EUPP lenders and RCF lenders.
A US distressed debt investor – on the first-ever WHOA proceedings in the Netherlands as part of the global restructuring of the Steinhoff group with parallel scheme of arrangements in the UK and s155 scheme of arrangement in South Africa.
A leading European retailer listed in the Netherlands – on its debt restructuring, rescue financing and distressed M&A transaction.
A central bank – on the emergency regulations of one of the largest insurance groups in the Caribbean with recognition thereof in Chapter 15 proceedings in the US.
Oi Telecom's key finance vehicle – on a US$6bn bond debt restructuring in the Netherlands as part of a US$20bn global restructuring in the US, UK, Brazil and Portugal, including Chapter 15 proceedings in the US and recuperação judicial proceedings in Brazil.
Beter Bed Holding N.V., a European retailer listed in the Netherlands – on an acquisition financing from ABN AMRO and Rabobank.
Ares – on a unitranche acquisition financing for a Dutch corporate in the dental business.
Silverfleet Capital – on a leveraged finance transaction. The financing was structured through a Term Loan B from direct lender Muzinich & Co. Corporate Credit and a Super Senior RCF from Rabobank.
Rabobank - on an Islamic finance deal to a listed corporate in Saudi Arabia.
A distressed investor – on the acquisition and financing of a European distressed NPL-portfolio.

Rankings and recognitions

40 under 40 2022, Global Restructuring Review

Restructuring & Insolvency, The Legal 500 EMEA, 2022
"Omar Salah is a technically strong lawyer and very good at building relationships."
"The addition of Omar Salah makes this the restructuring firm to watch in this space."
"I worked with Omar Salah numerous times and he stands out from the rest."

Banking & Finance, The Legal 500 EMEA, 2022
"I have worked with Omar Salah. He is the best in the Dutch market on Islamic finance deals. He is doing a lot in leveraged finance too. Omar is technically very strong, understands banking and finance inside out, and did a great job advising us as a large financial institution on innovative banking transactions."
"Omar is a top-notch banking lawyer and a great addition to the team to win mandates on leveraged finance and Islamic finance."

Education

INSOLAD/Grotius Specialisatieopleiding Insolventierecht (cum laude)
PhD, Sukuk Structures: Legal Engineering Under Dutch Law
LLM, Dutch law (cum laude)
LLB, International and European law (with distinction)
LLB, Dutch law (with distinction)

Admissions

Advocaat, qualified in the Netherlands
Rechtsgebiedenregister van de Nederlandse orde van advocaten: Ondernemingsrecht
Listed in the register of legal practice areas of the Dutch Bar Association: Ondernemingsrecht
Op grond van deze registratie zijn zij verplicht elk kalenderjaar volgens de normen van de Nederlandse orde van advocaten tien opleidingspunten te behalen op ieder geregistreerd hoofdrechtsgebied
Based on this registration, they are required to obtain ten training credits per calendar year in each registered principal legal practice area in accordance with the standards set by the Netherlands Bar

Publications

The pre-pack in the Netherlands may very shortly revive
The Netherlands: UNCITRAL Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency
Professor Omar Salah on the WHOA: 'We are increasingly moving towards a business rescue culture'
The Dutch scheme (WHOA) in practice: First two large restructuring plans confirmed by the Dutch Courts
Steinhoff restructuring: The Dutch suspension of payments as an excellent tool for the restructuring of mass litigation claims
Recent activity points to the welcome revival of pre-packs in the Netherlands

Memberships and activities

Expert to the P.R.I.M.E. Finance Panel of Experts
Conferee of the Conference on European Restructuring and Insolvency Law (CERIL)
Member of International Insolvency Institute NextGen
Member of INSOL International
Member of INSOL Europe
Member of INSOLAD
Member of Dutch Restructuring Association
International Correspondent for the Journal of International Banking Law & Regulation
Professor of Law at Tilburg University where he holds a Chair in Global Finance and Restructuring Law
Visiting Professor of Islamic finance law at IE Business School in Madrid, Spain
Visiting researcher and lecturer at various universities (including Tilburg University, Leiden University, the University of Oxford and the University of Melbourne)