Lewis Cymbal is a Senior Associate in the Restructuring and Insolvency Group, within the London Finance practice. Lewis has a range of experience in advising stakeholders in relation to complex and cross-border restructurings and insolvency related matters across a variety of sectors and industries. He is a member of the Insolvency Lawyers’ Association (ILA), serving on the committee of the ILA Associates' Network.
Lewis is the co-author of the chapters entitled ‘Set-Off’ in Tolley’s Insolvency Law and ‘Judicial Approach to Valuations’ in INSOL International's Valuation for Insolvency Practitioners, as well as several articles, including in Butterworth's Journal of International Banking and Financial Law and Pratt's Journal of Bankruptcy Law.
Lewis spent 11 months on secondment to a leading global investment firm in London between 2023 and 2024.
Lewis was named a key lawyer for the Restructuring and Insolvency team in Legal 500 UK, Corporate restructuring and insolvency.
Relevant experience includes advising:
- the Super Senior RCF lenders to the Lowell GFKL Group in respect of its financial restructuring.
- Navantia in respect of the strategic acquisition of Harland & Wolff, via a pre-packaged administration asset sale.
- a material creditor in respect of the TalkTalk restructuring.
- a consortium of lenders to Eskom regarding its restructuring.
- Chrysoar/Harbour Energy in relation to its reverse takeover and associated restructuring of Premier Oil PLC, utilising a part 26A restructuring plan.
- advising a prominent European hedge fund in relation to the $1bn court-based UAE restructuring of JBF RAK, a multinational plastics manufacturer.
- private credit lenders to the EnerMech Group (multinational oil and gas services) in relation to the restructuring of its financial debt.
- Fosun, Thomas Cook Group plc's largest shareholder, on its options in the lead-up to TCG's insolvency, including its attempted purchase of TCG's tour operator business.
- the senior lenders to The Learning Network on its restructuring including its sale via Dutch pledge enforcement.
- the secured senior lenders on the emergency financing to and subsequent sale of the Azzurri Restaurant Group (ASK/Zizzi) by way of pre-pack administration to TowerBrook.
- the lenders to De La Rue PLC on its financing arrangements.
- certain senior lenders to Vroon, a Dutch shipping group, in relation to the group’s restructuring via a Dutch WHOA and English scheme.
- the lenders to the Innovation Group on its restructuring by way of debt-for-equity swap and subsequent sale.
- the senior lenders to Edcon, Southern Africa's largest non-food retailer, in relation to its financial restructuring
- a syndicate of lenders in respect of their exposure to the Steinhoff Group.
- cell C, the South African mobile network, on its financial restructuring.
- advising Prosafe SE, the Oslo-listed owner and operator of semi-submersible accommodation vessels, on a comprehensive recapitalisation of its $343 million term loans. The transaction involved a debt for equity swap, new money funding, and an amendment and restatement of its remaining outstanding facilities into a single facilities agreement.
News and client work
Contact details
- Clifford Chance, London
- +442070065496
- Email me
- Practice area Restructuring & insolvency, Global Financial Markets
- Sector Real estate
Career & qualifications
- Secondment to Davidson Kempner 2023-2024
- Admitted as a solicitor in England & Wales 2016
- Joined Clifford Chance 2014
- University of Law, Moorgate (Legal Practice Course) 2014
- College of Law, York (Graduate Diploma in Law) 2013
- University of York (BA (Hons)) 2012