Kelly Visser-van der Vooren is a partner at Stek and heads the firm’s Restructuring & Insolvency practice. With over 20 years of experience in the legal profession, she specializes in (financial) restructurings and financings. She advises financial institutions, large corporations, and private equity firms on complex, often cross-border matters.
In addition to her experience as a lawyer, Kelly spent six years working within the restructuring and recovery department of an international financial institution. This combination of legal expertise and commercial experience gives her a unique understanding of the interests and challenges of the various parties involved. Kelly has been involved in numerous high-profile domestic and international restructurings and possesses extensive experience in utilizing various restructuring tools, including the Dutch Act on the Confirmation of Private Plans (WHOA).
Furthermore, Kelly serves as an editorial board member for Tijdschrift voor Financiering, Zekerheden en Insolventierechtpraktijk (FIP) and is a lecturer at Grotius Academy, where she teaches as part of the Financing & Securities program.
Recognitions
Legal 500
- “The team is very proactive and thinks with you on transaction structuring. They are on top of stakeholder management to make sure that even under pressure, everything is efficient. (2026)
- “I mostly worked with Kelly and Dawid, and I really enjoyed working with them. Kelly is very helpful, proactive, and has a lot of knowledge. She knows how to align stakeholders effectively, which makes the process super efficient. Dawid is very helpful and able to really think on behalf of the client to make sure that all important points are properly addressed. In doing this, he also thinks proactively with the client about possible ways in which they can be handled.” (2026)
- “Hands-on team. Solution-focused. Enjoyable to work with. Good value for money.” (2026)
- “Kelly has a genuine interest in business, is solution-driven, and hands-on.” (2026)
Career
- Partner at Stek (2024 – today)
- Lawyer at A&O Shearman (2007 – 2015 and 2021 – 2024)
- Senior legal counsel Restructuring and Recovery team at global institution (2015 – 2021)
- Member of the editorial board of the legal journal Tijdschrift voor Financiering, Zekerheden en Insolventierechtpraktijk (Financing, Security and Insolvency law practice)
- Teacher for Grotius Law Academy (Financing & Security)
Highlighted matters
- Advising a Dutch syndicate of banks on the restructuring, bridge financing and equity investment in relation to a global company in the agriculture sector
- Advising a private debt fund on a distressed portfolio company in the health sector including a dispute resolution matter, emergency funding and issuance of shares
- Advising and litigating on behalf of a national retail company in relation to a dispute on the drawdown under a borrowing base facility
- Advising a syndicate of banks including Dutch, German and Belgian banks on the restructuring and refinancing of a global shipping company
- Advising a syndicate of banks on the restructuring of a European company in the leisure industry, including a M&A transaction, restructuring of the financing and bankruptcy of certain group companies
- Advising national company on wind-down options including a liquidation scheme
