Lilian Welling-Steffens

Lilian Welling-Steffens

Senior Knowledge Lawyer

Email

lilian.welling-steffens@aoshearman.com

Phone

+31 20 674 1173

Offices

Amsterdam

V-CARD
Lilian advises on a broad range of (structured) finance and restructuring transactions and on property and insolvency law and private international law issues.
She has over 30 years of experience in both legal practice and academia in the Netherlands and further afield. Lilian will play a pivotal role in our European Finance and Restructuring network.

Lilian is also an Associate Professor of Private Law at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU – Free University Amsterdam) with the same focus and frequently provides post academic courses in Finance & Security rights, Private International Law and Insolvency Law for Grotius and the VU Law Academy. She publishes frequently on the same.

Prior to joining A&O Shearman, Lilian worked as a lawyer and senior legal counsel for bureau Brandeis, Loyens & Loeff and Greenberg Traurig in Amsterdam, was Associate Professor of Private Law at the University of Amsterdam and lived and worked in Malawi for 9 years where, in addition to her appointment as Associate Professor at the Catholic University of Malawi and the University of Malawi, she also advised companies in the field of financing, insolvency and corporate law and was involved in the review of the new insolvency and personal security rights legislation in Malawi, both initiated by the World Bank. Lilian joined the firm in 2025.

Published Work

  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (2025), “No recourse does not always mean no recourse, or does it? – Recourse rights of a guarantor under the Dutch Scheme (WHOA)”, International Corporate Rescue 2025, Volume 22, Issue 6, p. 299-307.
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (2025), “Harmonisatie van enkele aspecten van het insolventierecht in de Europese Unie” (Harmonisation of certain aspects of insolvency law in the European Union) HERO 2025 / W-003
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. and Zilinsky M., “Van Centros naar Edil Work 2: IPR-vennootschapsrecht en de vrijheid van vestiging – de stand van zaken in de Europese Unie”, NIPR 2025-2, p. 239-256 (From Centros to Edil Work 2: International company law and the freedom of establishment – the current situation in the EU).
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (2025), Editorial: “Harmonisatie of toch niet? Dat is de vraag” O&F 2025 (33) 2, p. 3-6 (Harmonisation or not quite? That is the question).
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (2025), Book review: “The definition of Insolvency: een boekbespreking”, HERO 2025 / P-019.
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (2024), “Een goederenrechtelijke verwijzingsregel voor crypto-assets? Waarom moeilijk doen als het ook makkelijk kan?”, O&F 2024 (32) 3, p. 47-71 (international property law aspects of crypto assets).
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (2023), Editorial “De waarborg van het nuttig effect van EU-recht is alleen veilig in de handen van EU-rechters”, O&F 2023 (31) 4, p. 3-8 (The assurance of the effectiveness of EU law is only guaranteed if placed in the hands of the courts of the Member-States).
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (2023), Chapter 4 Choice of Law Rules in Moss, Fletcher and Isaac on the EU Regulation on Insolvency Proceedings (recast), Fourth Edition, eds. T. Smith, S. Isaacs and Chr. Paulus, Oxford University Press (2023).
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (2023), “De pandhouder en de WHOA. De invloed van de klassenindeling en de (niet zo) absoluut priority rule op de positie van de pandhouder en andere zekerheidsgerechtigde.”, in NTBR 2023/11 (The pledgor and the Dutch Scheme. The influence of classes and the (not so) absolute priority rule on the position of the pledgee and other secured parties).
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (2022), “Hoofdlijnen voor een wettelijke regeling van het commune internationaal insolventierecht. Bevoegdheid inzake, toepasselijk recht op, en erkenning van ‘derde-lands’ insolventieprocedures en aanverwante vorderingen”, in NIPR 2022-335 (article proposing Dutch legislative rules on the applicable law to and the recognition and enforcement of third-country insolvency proceedings in the Netherlands).
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (2022), Case note: HvJ EU 10 maart 2022, zaak C-498/20, ECLI:EU:C:2022:173 over de vraag naar de bevoegde rechter en het toepasselijk recht in het kader van de instelling van een Peeters/Gatzen-vordering door de curator en een collectieve actie op grond van artikel 3:305a BW, in Ondernemingsrecht 2022/75 (case note on ECJ case concerning jurisdiction and applicable law to a tort claim instigated by bankruptcy trustee and in collective redress).
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (2022), Editorial “Hoe een IPR-regel passende zorgvuldigheid in het bedrijfsleven op het gebied van duurzaamheid tot openbaar belang kan verheffen. De wettelijke aansprakelijkheidsbepaling onder het EU-voorstel voor een Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence-richtlijn kwalificeert als een voorrangsregel” O&F 2022/2.1 (Editorial on the private international law rule included in the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive).
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (2021), Case note Rb Amsterdam 23 september 2021 ECLI:NL:RBAMS:2021:5452, HERO December 2021 (note on the confirmation order of the Steinhoff restructuring plan under the Dutch suspension of payments proceedings).
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (2021), “Internationaal privaatrecht en het merkwaardige verhaal van de WHOA” in: INSOLAD Jaarboek 2021, Wet Homologatie Onderhands Akkoord, red. L.J.J. Kerstens, B. Rikkert, M.A. Broeders en R.F. Feenstra, Wolters Kluwer 2021, p. 319-353 (article on the private international law aspects of the new restructuring legislation in the Netherlands).
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (2021), “De lange arm van artikel 54 Fw” in O&F 2021/2.4 (article on article 54 of the Dutch Bankruptcy Act relating to set-off and settlement in insolvency).
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (2020), Case note HvJ EU 9 oktober 2019 C-548/18 ECLI:EU:C:2019:848 (TeamBank/BNP), JOR 2020 [] (case note under referenced case of the European Court of Justice re the law applicable to the (third party effects of an) assignment of claims).
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (2020), Report (pre-advies) “Transfer of Claims: Harmonized EU rules on the law applicable to the assignment of claims and the quest for legal certainty” for NACIL’s annual conference “Distressed debt trading: brave new EU legal rules in relation to bold new strategies” held on 12 December 2019 published on www.naciil.org and in hard copy by Eleven International Publishing 2020, p. 1-46.
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (2019), Case note HvJ EU 2 februari 2019 C-535/17 ECLI:EU:C:2019:96 (N.K. qq/BNP Paribas Fortis N.V.), in JOR 2019/116 (note under referenced case of the European Court of Justice re the jurisdiction of the Dutch bankruptcy court under the Insolvency Regulation in a tort claim instituted by the bankruptcy trustee).
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. ( 2019), “Prospectusaansprakelijkheid. Plaats waar de schade is ingetreden.”, annotatie bij HvJ EU 12 September 2018 C-304/17 ECLI:EU:C:2018:701 (H. Löber/Barclays Bank), Ondernemingsrecht 2019/[] (liability for misleading information in an Offering Memorandum. Place where the damage occurred, note under the referenced ECJ case).
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (2018), “Met een kluitje het riet in gestuurd? Onduidelijke taal in de voorgestelde verordening over het toepasselijke recht op de derdenwerking van de cessie.”, in TvI 2018/41 (article on the EU Commission proposal for a regulation on the law applicable to the third party effect of assignment of claims).
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (2018), Case note Rechtbank Oost-Brabant 28 February 2018 ECLI:NL:RBOBR:2018:880 (Dekker q.q./Commplus CVOA) in JOR 2018/164 (note under referenced case of the District court of Oost-Brabant re the jurisdiction of the Dutch bankruptcy court under the Insolvency Regulation in a fraudulent conveyance claim and a tort claim instituted by the bankruptcy trustee).
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (2018), Case note HR 8 september 2017 ECLI:NL:HR:2017:2269 (Rosbeek q.q./BNP Parisbas Fortis) in Ondernemingsrecht 2018/26 (note under referenced case of the Dutch Surpreme Court re the jurisdiction of the Dutch bankruptcy court under the Insolvency Regulation in a tort claim instituted by the bankruptcy trustee).
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (2017), Case note Rechtbank Amsterdam 28 September 2016 ECLI:NL:RBAMS:2016:6539 (VEB/BP) in JOR 2017/37 (note under referenced case of the District court of Amsterdam re the jurisdiction of the Dutch courts in a collective claims case in relation to financial damage suffered by investors in BP).
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (2016), “Bindt een forumkeuzebeding in een prospectus opvolgende obligatiehouders?”, annotatie bij HvJ EU 20 april 2016 C-366/13 ECLI:EU:C:2016:282, in Ondernemingsrecht 2016/120 (choice of forumclause in a prospectus, note under the referenced ECJ case).
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (2006), “Assignment of rights and formalities in private international law. The new rule on the assignment of rights in Rome I”, in European Review of Private Law (2006).
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (2006), “Security over book debts in the Netherlands” in IBA Banking News Letter June 2006.
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (2006), “‘Nieuwe’ implementatiewet Richtlijn Financiëlezekerheidsovereenkomsten (FZO) aangenomen en in werking getreden.” In Tijdschrift voor Handelsrecht 2006-3, p. 95-97 (on the adoption of the new implementation act for the Collateral Directive).
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (2005), “De Europese Richtlijn Financiëlezekerheidsovereenkomsten en de implementatie in de Nederlandse wetgeving”, in Tijdschrift voor Handelsrecht 2005-2, p. 56-66 (on the implementation of the Collateral Directive).
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (2004), “Grensoverschrijdende fusie van vennootschappen: welk recht?”, in Ondernemingsrecht, 2004-15, p. 566-572 (cross border merger).
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (2004), “Strijd tussen de incorporatie leer en de leer van de werkelijke zetel”, in Tijdschrift voor Ondernemingsbestuur (2004) no. 1, p. 46 ff.; (incorporation doctrine against real seat doctrine).
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (2003), “De Europese Genadeslag voor de Wet Formeel Buitenlandse Vennootschappen” - HvJ EG 30 september 2003 (Inspire Art), in Onderneming & Financiering no. 59, p. 67-73; (freedom of establishment and the incorporation doctrine).
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (1999), “Artikel 17 EEX, vormvereisten; gebondenheid rechtsopvolgers en temporeel toepassingsgebied” in NTER, no. 12, 1999, p. 330-334; (choice of forum clause).
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (1999), “De artikelen 5 sub 1, 5 sub 3 en 6 sub 1 EEX revisited”, in NTER, no. 1/2, 1999, p. 25-28.
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (1998), “Rechtbank Zwolle, zaakno./rolno. 30747/HA ZA97-515, 29 april 1998 inzake Klaus Siemon qq/Cikam B.V. (niet gepubliceerd)”, in TvI, no. 3, 1998; (applicable law to the Pauliana).
  • Haersolte-van Hof, J.J. and Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (1998) “30 jaar EEX – tijd voor herziening?”, in NTER, no. 6, 1998, p. 122-128; (on the review of the Brussels Convention).
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (1998), “De kwaliteitsrekening in het Nederlands internationaal privaatrecht”, in “Inzake Kwaliteit”, eds. E. Dirix en R.D. Vriesendorp, Kluwer – Deventer – 1998; (on the applicable law to an escrow account)
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (1998), “The Netherlands”, with M.V. Polak, in “European Case Law on the Judgments Convention”, ed. Peter Kay, John Wiley & Sons – 1998.
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (1998), “Commentaar artikelen 1, 2, 8, 9, 10, 12 en 13 EVO”, Losbladig Verbintenissenrecht – Kluwer – 1998; (Commentary on the Rome Convention).
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (1997), “Goederenrechtelijke aspecten van de cessie in het IPR – HR 16 mei 1997, RvdW 1997/126”, in NTBR, no. 7, 1997, p. 208-217; (proprietary aspects of assignment).
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (1997), “Internationale schuld- en contractsoverneming”- in: Contracteren in de internationale praktijk / deel III; Serie recht en praktijk no. 102; red. B. Wessels en T.H.M. van Wechem; Deventer, 1997, p. 111-128; (assignment of contract).
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (1997), Kluwer Losbladig Verbintenissenrecht deel 5 III “Internationaal Privaatrecht” – artikelsgewijs commentaar op het EVO (1997); (commentary on Rome Convention).
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (1997), “Overgang van vorderingen en schulden in het Nederlands internationaal privaatrecht” – Kluwer, Deventer 1997 (PhD thesis); (the assignment of rights and claims in private international law).
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (1995), “Naar een commune Nederlandse goederenrechtelijke verwijzingsregel voor de overdracht c.q. bezwaring van een vordering”, in NTBR, no. 3, 1995, p. 61-66; (a conflict of laws rule for the proprietary aspects of assignment).
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (1994), “IPR een basisvak of mandarijnenwetenschap?” – in NJB 1994 p. 1531-1532; (private international law, a science?).
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (1994), “Artikel 84 IPR-Schets: Waardepapieren”, in WPNR, no. 6144, 1994, p. 500-502, plus naschrift; (Negotiable Documents).
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (1993), “Artikelen 103-105 IPR-Schets: Overgang van vorderingen”, in WPNR, no. 6114, 1993, p. 866-868; (assignment of rights).
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (1993), “Artikelen 89-90 IPR-Schets: Verbintenissen uit overeenkomst”, in WPNR, no. 6112, 1993, p. 796-799; (contractual obligations).
  • Welling-Steffens, L.F.A. (1993), “Artikelen 77-88 IPR-Schets: Zakenrecht en trustrecht”, in WPNR, no. 6111, 1993, p. 773-775. (property law and the law of trusts).

Speaking Engagements

  • Upcoming: Guest Speaker, Ars Aequi Libri Symposium - Knelpunten in het Internationaal Privaatrecht, 22/01/2026
  • Upcoming: Chair for the joint meeting of TvI and NVRII on the Directive Harmonising certain aspects of insolvency law, 12/03/2026
  • Guest Speaker, NACIIL (NVRII) Annual Fall Meeting - International jurisdiction and applicable law re directors' liability, 18/10/2024
  • Guest Speaker, VBR Property Law Lab - ""De pandhouder en de WHOA"", 24/06/2022
  • Panel Member, GT European Restructuring Seminar in London, 22/09/2022
  • Guest Speaker and Rapporteur, NACIIL (NVRII) Annual Conference - Distressed Debt Trading: brave new EU Legal rules in relation to bold new strategies, 12/12/2019

Leadership Positions And Professional Affiliations

  • Fellow, INSOLAD
  • Member of the board, Netherlands Association of Comparative and International Insolvency Law
  • Member of the Know How Committee, Dutch Restructuring Association
  • Member, Vereniging Burgerlijk Recht
  • Member, Koninklijke Vereniging voor Internationaal Recht
  • Member of the editorial board Onderneming & Financiering
  • Member of the editorial board SDU Commentaar Insolventierecht

Qualifications

Academic

Masters of Law – Dutch Law – University of Amsterdam, 1992

Masters of Law – International Public Law – University of Amsterdam, 1992

Doctor of Law (PhD) – Private International Law – University of Leiden, 1997

INSOLAD/Grotius Certificate Course – Insolvency Law - 2017

Languages

Dutch, English
Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.