IWIRC–OBRE Study Group on Out-of-Court Restructuring (Brazil)

The IWIRC–OBRE Project is a pioneering joint initiative developed by IWIRC Brazil in partnership with OBRE – the Brazilian Observatory of Out-of-Court Restructuring, aimed at advancing empirical research and high-level technical discussion on out-of-court restructuring proceedings in Brazil.

OBRE is currently the only research institute in Brazil that systematically collects, organizes, and analyzes data specifically related to out-of-court restructurings. Until this initiative, such data had been used exclusively for internal research purposes. The IWIRC–OBRE Project therefore marks the first time that OBRE has opened its proprietary data and research methodology to third parties, creating an unprecedented opportunity for collaborative, data-driven legal research in the Brazilian restructuring landscape.

The project was officially launched during the 7th IWIRC Brazil Congress, in August 2025, and immediately generated significant interest within the professional and academic community. The call for participation attracted a highly qualified and diverse group of applicants, including restructuring lawyers, appellate judges, insolvency administrators, professors, arbitrators, and other senior professionals actively engaged in insolvency, restructuring, and dispute resolution.

The initiative takes the form of a structured Study Group, running over several months, with monthly online meetings dedicated to key topics in out-of-court restructuring. The methodology combines:
• empirical analysis based on OBRE’s unique database,
• jurimetrics,
• theoretical legal analysis, and
• comparative law, including U.S. restructuring experience.

To date, the Group has already held three meetings of exceptionally high technical and academic level, featuring in-depth discussions, data analysis, and participant-led presentations. Each session is supported by exclusive thematic materials prepared from OBRE’s data, reinforcing the project’s applied and research-oriented character. Please find photos here: