What Brinkmann & Partner does

Brinkmann & Partner is a Hamburg-based German law firm founded in 1980 that has grown into one of the country's largest restructuring and insolvency administration practices, operating through 30 branch offices across all major German economic centers including Munich, Berlin, Frankfurt, Cologne, Stuttgart, Dusseldorf, and Dresden. The firm delivers a comprehensive suite of legal, tax, restructuring advisory, and insolvency administration services, with a partner roster of more than 20 licensed insolvency administrators (Verwalter) and certified restructuring specialists. Core service lines include court-appointed insolvency administration (Insolvenzverwaltung), self-administration (Eigenverwaltung), protective shield proceedings (Schutzschirmverfahren), trusteeship (Sachwaltung), insolvency plan development, preventive restructuring under EU law, and commercial litigation and legal advisory through affiliated Rechtsanwälte and Steuerberater.

The firm generates revenue on a professional services, project-based fee model: insolvency administration fees are regulated by the German Insolvenzordnung and scale with the size of the insolvency estate, while restructuring advisory and legal consulting engagements are negotiated on a case-by-case basis. Mandate acquisition relies primarily on court appointments, referrals from banks, creditors, and corporate counsel, and direct advisory engagements with company management in crisis. Documented mandates span automotive suppliers (Bohai Trimet, Erich Jaeger, CEKA, Schlote Gruppe), paper and packaging (FOLBB), media (Stadtrevue Verlag, DPN), insurance (COGITANDA Gruppe), healthcare, hospitality, and sports, demonstrating a diversified portfolio with no single-customer dependency. Operations are supported by a wholly-owned subsidiary, B&P Management GmbH & Co. KG, which provides management services for turnaround engagements. The firm is owned and controlled by its partner group, with no external investment or private equity ownership, and is consistently recognized across all major German legal rankings including Handelsblatt Best Lawyers, Wirtschaftswoche, JUVE Handbuch, Legal 500, Focus, BrandEins, INDat Report, and Who's Who Legal.

Name

Brinkmann & Partner

Legal name

Brinkmann & Partner Rechtsanwälte | Steuerberater | Insolvenzverwalter Partnerschaftsgesellschaft

Website

https://brinkmann-partner.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Brinkmann & Partner is a Hamburg-based German law firm founded in 1980 and one of the country's largest restructuring and insolvency administration practices, operating 30 offices nationwide with 20+ licensed insolvency administrators serving companies in financial distress and their creditors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Insolvency Administration and Corporate Restructuring Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (541110), Legal Services (5411)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Restructuring & Turnaround Advisory (BPAHAOAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bankruptcy, Restructuring & Insolvency Law (BPAHAAAH), Insolvency, Restructuring & Bankruptcy Administration (BPAHABAL), Distressed M&A & Special Situations Advisory (BPAHAOAH), Insolvency & Turnaround Advisory (SME/Mid-Market Debtor-Side) (FSAEAFAK), Corporate Trust Services (Trustee, Agent & Escrow Roles) (FSAEAKAB)

Keywords

• Insolvency administration
• Corporate restructuring
• Turnaround advisory
• Legal advisory services
• Creditor representation

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices29 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Insolvenzverwaltung (Insolvency Administration): Fees earned from acting as court-appointed insolvency administrator in bankruptcy proceedings. Revenue is generated through statutory fees regulated by German insolvency law (Insolvenzordnung), typically calculated based on the size and complexity of the insolvency estate.
2. Sanierungsberatung (Restructuring Advisory): Fees from advising companies in financial distress on restructuring measures, preventive restructuring under EU law, and self-administration proceedings.
3. Rechtsberatung (Legal Advisory): Legal advisory services covering corporate law, commercial law, litigation, and other business law matters. Provided through affiliated Rechtsanwälte (lawyers) and Steuerberater (tax advisors).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Brinkmann & Partner is a German law firm providing insolvency administration, corporate restructuring advisory, and legal/tax advisory services to companies in financial distress. The firm acts as court-appointed insolvency administrator, advises on protective shield proceedings, self-administration, trusteeship, and insolvency plan development, operating through 30 offices across Germany with over 20 specialized insolvency administrators.

Product overview

Brinkmann & Partner is a German law firm offering a comprehensive suite of legal, tax, and insolvency administration services. The core offering centers on insolvency administration and corporate restructuring, with specialized services including protective shield proceedings, self-administration, trusteeship, and insolvency plan development. The firm operates across 30 branch offices throughout Germany, serving as court-appointed administrators and advisors in turnaround situations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Legal Consulting (Rechtsberatung) Legal representation and advisory services covering corporate law, commercial law, and civil litigation matters for companies and corporate clients.
• Restructuring Advisory (Sanierungsberatung) Advisory services for corporate restructuring and turnaround management, helping companies in financial distress to reorganize operations and restore viability.
• Insolvency Consulting (Insolvenzberatung) Comprehensive insolvency consulting services guiding companies through formal insolvency proceedings, including preparation and strategic advice.
• Protective Shield Proceedings (Schutzschirmverfahren) German insolvency law proceeding allowing companies in financial distress to restructure under court protection while maintaining management control.
• Self-Administration (Eigenverwaltung) Self-administration insolvency procedure where the company's existing management remains in place under court supervision and Brinkmann & Partner acts as administrator.
• Insolvency Administration (Insolvenzverwaltung) Court-appointed administration of insolvent companies' assets and proceedings, with Brinkmann & Partner acting as insolvency administrator.
• Trusteeship (Sachwaltung) Supervisory role in self-administration proceedings, monitoring the debtor's management of assets.
• Insolvency Plans (Insolvenzpläne) Development and implementation of reorganization plans to settle creditor claims and restore company viability.
• Preventive Restructuring EU (Präventive Sanierung EU) EU-aligned preventive restructuring framework enabling early intervention before formal insolvency.
• Litigation (Prozessführung) Litigation services for enforcing or defending legal claims within insolvency and commercial contexts.
• Trust Services (Treuhand) Trust services managing assets and funds under fiduciary arrangements.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successful preservation of jobs through investor solutions in multiple proceedings
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, co-administration and minor.

• ASCON-Datenschutz GmbH & Co. KGsupportingTechnology or IntegrationExternal data protection officer (Datenschutzbeauftragter) for Brinkmann & Partner. Operates the whistleblower portal and manages compliance with GDPR requirements. Contact: Stefan Auer, Lina-Amon-Straße 19, 90471 Nürnberg.
• CleverReach GmbH & Co. KGsupportingTechnology or IntegrationNewsletter distribution service provider. Stores email addresses on certified servers exclusively in European space. Used for sending newsletters after recipient consent (Double-Opt-In procedure).
• ECKERT Rechtsanwälteco-administrationStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in self-administration proceedings. ECKERT Rechtsanwälte, based in Hannover with 190 employees at 19 locations, provides supervising courts (Sachwalter) in self-administration cases handled by Brinkmann & Partner. Led by Dr. Alexander Höpfner.
• Turnaround Management PartnerssupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBusiness economics consulting partner providing advisory support in restructuring cases. Nick Piepenburg serves as consultant in cases such as Stadtrevue self-administration.
• Digital CFO AGsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRestructuring consulting firm specializing in supporting medium-sized companies in crisis situations. Provides analysis, consulting, and on-site support. Team led by Nikolaus Rupp and Dirk Franzen.
• act legalco-administrationStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegal partnership for restructuring cases. Act legal (formerly AC Tischendorf) provides supervising courts and legal advisors. With offices in 18 continental European economic centers, specializes in cross-border restructuring matters. Led by Dr. Alexander Höpfner.
• SV SparkassenVersicherung Gebäudeversicherung AGminorOthersInsurance risk carrier acquired by COGITANDA for new business and renewal of existing contracts under the cyber insurance program.
• Württembergische Versicherung AGminorOthersInsurance risk carrier acquired by COGITANDA for new business and renewal of existing contracts under the cyber insurance program.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Gleiss Lutz: Leading German full-service law firm with a strong restructuring and insolvency practice. Comparable on large German restructuring mandates while serving a broader corporate advisory mandate beyond dedicated insolvency administration.
• Hengeler Mueller: Premier German full-service law firm with a top-tier restructuring practice. Overlaps with Brinkmann & Partner on major German restructurings and distressed M&A, but as a broad corporate advisory rather than a dedicated administrator.
• Linklaters: Global law firm with a German restructuring practice. Competes for large German and cross-border distressed mandates, especially creditor-side and special situations work, but is not a specialist insolvency administrator.
• Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer: Global law firm with a significant German restructuring and insolvency practice. Overlaps with Brinkmann & Partner on large German and cross-border restructurings but operates as a full-service global firm rather than a specialist administrator.
• Kirkland & Ellis: Global law firm with a market-leading restructuring practice and growing German presence. Competes for large distressed and special situations mandates touching German enterprise clients, though primarily sponsor/creditor-side rather than debtor administrator work.

Direct peers

• Anchor Rechtsanwälte: German restructuring and insolvency boutique with offices in several German cities. Comparable as a specialist competitor for insolvency administration and self-administration mandates in the German mid-market.
• BBL Bernsau Brockdorff & Partner: Berlin-based German restructuring and insolvency law firm with multiple offices. Comparable as a direct competitor for court appointments, self-administration proceedings, and complex mid-market German restructuring mandates.
• SGP Schneider Geiwitz: German restructuring and insolvency administration firm with offices across Germany. Directly comparable in insolvency administration, restructuring advisory, and protective shield / self-administration proceedings.
• Schultze & Braun GmbH: Major German restructuring and insolvency administrator firm with a broad national presence. Directly comparable in core insolvency administration, restructuring advisory, and trustee services for German mid-market and enterprise clients.
• Pluta Rechtsanwälte GmbH: One of Germany's largest dedicated insolvency administration and restructuring law firms with a national office network. Directly comparable to Brinkmann & Partner in core service offering, court appointment activity, and mid-market German enterprise focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/brinkmann_part
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/brinkmann-partner

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Brinkmann & Partner