Willkie Farr & Gallagher has hired restructuring attorney Allyson B. Smith as a partner in the firm’s New York office, continuing a recent buildout of its global restructuring bench.
Smith joins Willkie from Kirkland & Ellis, where she was a partner, and brings a practice spanning Chapter 11 cases, out-of-court restructurings, and cross-border insolvency matters, advising debtors, sponsors, official committees, and other stakeholders. Her industry experience includes retail, energy, oil and gas, finance, logistics, cryptocurrency, and healthcare, according to the firm.
Willkie positioned the hire as an addition to a restructuring platform spanning the U.S. and Europe that advises clients in distressed situations across major jurisdictions, including the U.S., U.K., France, and Germany. The firm said Smith’s addition follows the November 2025 arrival of Ryan Blaine Bennett as chair of the restructuring group.
In her matters list, Smith has worked on large and complex restructurings, including Yellow Corporation, Voyager Digital, Cirque du Soleil, J.C. Penney, and other prominent Chapter 11 and cross-border proceedings, reflecting the breadth of mandates Willkie said it is targeting as restructuring activity increases.
Willkie said it operates with about 1,300 attorneys across 16 offices worldwide and provides legal services across roughly 45 practice areas.
KEY QUOTES:
“Allyson is a top-notch bankruptcy practitioner whose experience working on some of the most significant restructurings in the market will make her an invaluable resource to our clients in the United States and around the world. We are excited to welcome her to Willkie as we continue to invest in and further expand our global restructuring platform, and I am thrilled to be reunited with her professionally.”
Ryan Blaine Bennett, Chair of the Restructuring Group
“Willkie’s industry-leading global restructuring platform and client-focused approach align well with my practice. I look forward to working alongside my new colleagues throughout the firm to further expand the team’s capabilities amid increasing activity across the restructuring landscape.”
Allyson B. Smith, Partner
