FOUNDER
Kathlene Burke
Kathlene Burke is an Irish, English, U.S. and BVI qualified restructuring and insolvency lawyer advising on complex cross-border restructurings, insolvency processes, and related disputes.
Her practice focuses on jurisdiction strategy, recognition, and enforcement—particularly where Irish proceedings are used as part of a broader international plan.
She is regularly engaged in policy and thought-leadership roles, including as Chair of the CERIL Delegation to UNCITRAL Working Group V and as a member of the International Insolvency Institute and IWIRC.
If you are assessing jurisdictions as part of a broader international strategy, get in touch.
Founder and Principal — Burke Legal
Selected Representative Experience
- Independent advisor to government of Argentina on bankruptcy law reform and restructuring regime design.
- In re Digital River (In Liquidation), Creditors’ counsel to various trade creditors (Ireland / USA).
- In re Endo, Debtors’ counsel in US Chapter 11, Irish Scheme and foreign recognition proceedings (S.D.N.Y. / Ireland / UK / Australia / Europe).
- In re Markel CATCo, Debtors’ counsel in a Bermuda Scheme of Arrangement (Bermuda / U.S.).
- In re Swissport Fuelling Ltd., SUN ad hoc group counsel (England / Switzerland).
- In re PG&E Corporation and Pacific Gas & Electric Company, PPA creditor’s counsel (N.D. Cal.).
- In re American Airlines, et al., Debtors’ counsel (S.D.N.Y.).
- In re Lehman Brothers Inc., et al., Law Clerk (S.D.N.Y.).
Leadership
- Chair of Delegation, CERIL to UNCITRAL Working Group V (Insolvency).
- Board member and European Steering Committee Co-Chair, IWIRC.
- Member (by invitation), International Insolvency Institute and CERIL.
Selected Speaking Engagments and Publications
- United Nations UNCITRAL Colloquium, Panellist, UNCITRAL Colloquium on possible updates to the Guide to Enactment and Interpretation of the UNCITRAL Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency (Vienna, December 2025)
- Should the US Adopt the Scheme of Arrangement?, Panellist, American Bankruptcy Institute North American Conference (New York, November 2025)
- Parallel Procedures: The Restructuring Double Act, Panellist, INSOL Europe Annual Congress (Vienna, October 2025)
- ‘Pre-Packaged Procedures in England and Wales’, Co-Author, CARLES & VACCARI, PRE-PACK SALES AND CORPORATE RESCUE: A GLOBAL GUIDE (forthcoming 2025)
- Corporate Restructuring and Insolvency – The Case for US / Ireland Co-Operation, Official Ireland for Law Mission to New York (New York, September 2025)
- Comparative Analysis of International Restructuring Frameworks, Panellist, International Insolvency Institute NextGen Panel (Sao Paulo, June 2025) (translated into Portuguese)
- The Future of the EU Insolvency Directive – Implementation and Harmonisation Challenges, Panellist, CERIL Annual Conference (Leiden, May 2025)
- The Evolution of Cross-Border Insolvency and Restructuring in Ireland, Panellist, CIBA (Dublin, April 2025)
- Liability Management Exercises in Europe, Panellist, III / IWIRC / WIR (France, October 2024) (translated into French)
- Cross Border Insolvency and Recognition Proceedings, IWIRC@INSOL25 International Conference (Hong Kong, March 2025)
- Choosing a Restructuring Forum in Light of Purdue: Should US Companies Restructure Abroad?, Panellist, International Insolvency Institute North American Regional Conference (Chicago, January 2025)
- The Crisis Code: Leveraged Opportunities and Missed Prospects, 31st Annual Alba Conference on Corporate Restructuring (Alba, November 2024) (translated into Italian)
- ‘Pioneering Pathways for Restructuring US Law Governed Debt in Ireland’, Global Restructuring Review (October 2024)
- Ireland as an International Restructuring Hub, Debtwired! Podcast (April 2024)
- The English Rule in Gibbs, Moderator, UK Insolvency Service Conference (UK, November 2023)
- Where is the Next European Restructuring Hub?, ABI International Insolvency & Restructuring Symposium (Portugal, November 2023)
- Regulatory Ramifications in the Twilight of Crypto Bankruptcies, IWIRC (May 2023)
- Harmonisation and the Role of Actors: Debtors, Creditors and Practitioners, CERIL Conference on Harmonisation of EU Insolvency Law (Leiden, April 2023)
- United Nations UNCITRAL Address on Assisting Economic Recovery – Targeting MSMEs, Panellist, Commission on International Trade Law in partnership with the World Bank (July 2020)