Iwona Grandjean, Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP

“All researchers of the IMFS were gladly open for a scientific discussion”

Dr. Iwona Grandjean joined the Chair of Public Law, Economic and Currency Law, Financial Markets Regulation and Legal Theory of Prof. Dr. Roland Broemel at the IMFS in May 2020 and graduated with a Ph.D. from Goethe University in August 2020. In December 2020, she started to work as a lawyer at the international law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP in the Restructuring Department of the Frankfurt office where she advises companies, managers and investors in multinational restructurings as well as insolvency proceedings. After she completed her law studies with the first state examination in Frankfurt am Main she worked as a research assistant at the Goethe University at the former chair of Prof. Dr. Brigitte Haar where she was pursuing her Ph.D. studies on banking supervision law. In 2019 she completed her second state examination in Frankfurt am Main and worked as a research assistant in an international law firm. She was admitted to the bar in 2020.

How would you describe your job to other people?

My job as a lawyer at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP in the Restructuring Department focuses on multinational restructurings as well as insolvency proceedings. This area is particularly exciting due to its complexity. On the one hand, the field is not limited to one area of law, but requires an interdisciplinary view of the client’s needs. Beside general civil and insolvency law, complex finance matters also play a role. On the other hand, a basic understanding of economics is needed as well. It‘s a versatile job in an international environment. I really enjoy my work, especially because of the structure of the firm. Despite being a large law firm, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP has a boutique-like structure with great communication between the departments.

What was the main focus of your research at the IMFS?

During my time at the IMFS, I finalized my doctoral thesis. My study analyzes to which extent requirements to separate commercial banking from investment banking contribute to the avoidance of systemic risks within the framework of macroprudential regulation, and to what extent these requirements are compatible with models of holding company organization. My focus lay on the legal assessment of developments in the banking sector with regard to the separation of commercial banking and investment banking. By including holding organizations in my study, I also had the opportunity to examine economic principles at the corporate level and synergy effects.

How is your job related to your work at the IMFS?

A major similarity that characterizes both my job and the IMFS is the possibility of working interdisciplinarily.

What did you enjoy most regarding your time at the IMFS?

I had the opportunity to work in an academic, ambitious and interdisciplinary environment. In the process of finalizing my doctoral thesis, I was not only able to continue pursuing my own research agenda, but also to benefit from the support of Prof. Dr. Roland Broemel and Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Helmut Siekmann and their scientific perspectives. Furthermore, all researchers of the IMFS were also gladly open for a scientific discussion. IMFS is a great platform that facilitates the networking between academic researchers, policymakers and financial agents. The conferences and events organized by the IMFS are a great opportunity to get in touch with different topics from a legal, economic and finance view.