2023 III Outstanding Contribution and Founders Award Recipients

International Insolvency Institute Press Release

June 5, 2023, Stanardsville, VA, USA-The International Insolvency Institute (III) will convene its 23rd Annual Conference in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, June 10-11, 2023. The Annual Conference is the premier international insolvency conference for practitioners, academics, and members of the judiciary.

The III will recognize its 2023 award recipients during the conference's scheduled Legendary Dinner. The III Outstanding Contributions Award honors a person who reflects prominent, distinguished, and exceptional service to the field of insolvency and to the insolvency community; the Founder's Award is bestowed to a member who, through their efforts over the years, has made a substantial contribution to further the goals, mission, and work of the International Insolvency Institute. Join us as we celebrate our 2023 recipients.

Prof. Dr. Bob Wessels (retired), Leiden University, The Netherlands will be honored with the III Outstanding Contributions Award. He as over 45 years of business law experience, as a practitioner, consultant, deputy-justice, arbitrator, and professor. Bob is a prolific writer and speaker on the topic of cross-border insolvency and has been and is currently actively involved in many global and European insolvency organizations. In 2023, Bob was awarded by Royal Order on behalf of H.M. the King of the Netherlands and he was appointed Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau for his longstanding contribution to the advancement of private law and in particular insolvency law in the Netherlands, Europe, and beyond.

Debra Grassgreen, Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones, San Francisco, USA will be presented with the III 2023 Founders Award. Debra is the immediate past president of III and served as the first woman President of the Institute. Debra is a senior partner in Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones’ San Francisco office and chairs the firm’s international insolvency practice. She has significant experience representing debtors, trustees, and creditors’ committees in large and complex Chapter 11 cases nationwide and internationally in the technology, media, telecommunications, and life sciences industries both in and out of court. She is a frequent speaker and in addition to III, is involved in the leadership of several notable insolvency associations including the American College of Bankruptcy and the International Women's Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation.

III President, John Martin, NortonRoseFulbright, Sydney, Australia, shared "One of the highlights of our annual conference is to recognise the achievements and exceptional service of two professionals in our field internationally. This year we again have two distinguished recipients of these awards and I very much look forward to the presentation of the awards to Bob and to Debra in the presence of their international colleagues, friends, and family.”

About the International Insolvency Institute ("III"):

The III is a global membership of leading professionals, scholars, and judges with expertise in international insolvency law and practice to improve law and practice related to domestic and international insolvencies and restructurings in order to promote economic wellbeing, investment, and the efficient administration of justice. For more information, please visit www.iiiglobal.org or contact III Administrative Director, Shari Bedker, [email protected].

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