Leading litigator Juliet Schalker awarded with IWIRC Excellence Award 2025

Debenhams Ottaway is proud to announce that partner and Head of our Dispute Resolution team,  Juliet Schalker  is the recipient of the 2025  IWIRC (International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation) London Network  Award for Excellence. 

This award honours the exceptional leadership or extraordinary contributions to the insolvency and restructuring industry over the past two years. Juliet was praised for providing creative solutions to insolvency cases and her innovative applications of insolvency and restructuring tools.

Commenting on her award acceptance, Juliet said:

“Receiving this award is truly meaningful. Having been part of the IWIRC London Network since it began, it’s deeply touching to be acknowledged by peers I admire and consider dear friends. I’m incredibly thankful for the support from IWIRC London and for my brilliant team at Debenhams Ottaway who continually uplift and inspire me.”

 

About Juliet Schalker

Juliet leads the insolvency and dispute resolution team at Debenhams Ottaway, making history as the first woman to head this team in the firm’s 250-year existence.

Under her leadership, the team is now 70% women and half female partners. Juliet was lead partner in the landmark Supreme Court case of Invest Bank v El Husseini, achieving a decision that clarified the law and broadened remedies for insolvency practitioners nationwide. Alongside her professional triumphs, Juliet is recognised for her exceptional contribution to social impact initiatives within the legal and insolvency community. Juliet’s esteemed client base includes multi-nationals, private banks and celebrities.

What her clients say…

“She is an outstanding lawyer and a complete pleasure to work with in every way.”– Chambers UK

“Juliet is very impressive and very well known on the insolvency litigation circuit. She is confident and perfectly willing to step up to the fray and do the main commercial negotiation herself”. – Chambers UK

“Juliet Schalker is an indefatigable solicitor who is very well known. She brings back expertise and top knowledge from the City.” – Chambers UK

“The Debenhams Ottaway commercial litigation team is pragmatic and sensible with strength and depth at all levels. Specialising in professional negligence, shareholder disputes and general commercial litigation, they are a force to be reckoned with. Notable practitioners are Robyn Adams and the excellent Juliet Schalker, who is deservedly seen as an expert in her field.”– The Legal500

A huge congratulations to Juliet for her recognition with this fantastic award! She sits on various committees and regularly speaks at industry events. Juliet is ranked as a leading partner in commercial litigation by The Legal 500.