Insolvenzverwalters

Insolvenzverwalters is the plural form of the German term for the insolvency administrator, the official appointed to oversee an insolvency proceeding. In Germany, the Insolvenzverwalter (plural: Insolvenzverwalter) is named by the competent insolvency court (Insolvenzgericht) under the Insolvency Code (Insolvenzordnung, InsO). The function is similar in other German-speaking jurisdictions, though procedural details can vary.

The Insolvenzverwalter takes control of the debtor’s estate, with the aim of preserving value and organizing its realization for the benefit of creditors. Core duties include securing and managing assets, collecting and safeguarding proceeds, and, where appropriate, continuing or orderly winding up of business operations. The administrator inventories assets and liabilities, communicates with creditors, and prepares distribution plans. A key power is to challenge or avoid certain transactions made before insolvency (Anfechtung) to recover assets for the estate. The administrator also represents the estate in litigation and other legal proceedings and must report to the court on progress and solvency.

Appointment and oversight are governed by law and court practice. The court appoints the administrator after a petition or during the course of proceedings. In large cases, a creditors’ committee may oversee the process, and in some forms of insolvency a monitor or supervisor (Sachwalter) may accompany the administration. Insolvency administrators are typically licensed professionals, such as lawyers, auditors, or tax advisers with specific insolvency qualifications, and they must act impartially in the interests of all creditors.