Category Archives: Europe

UK Update: Foreign solvent proceedings not recognised in England under the UNCITRAL model law (as enacted)

By Matthew Thorn (UK) and Joseph McHale (UK) on February 21, 2020 Posted in Europe, UK

Introduction

In Carter v Bailey and Hutchinson (as foreign representatives of Sturgeon Central Asia Balanced Fund Ltd) [2020] EWHC 123 (Ch), the English High Court found that a foreign solvent liquidation could not be recognised under the Cross-Border Insolvency Regulations 2006 (CBIR) (which enacted the UNCITRAL Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency in Great Britain). Accordingly, the court terminated the recognition order granted previously.

Key points to note

It was held to be contrary to the purpose and object of the UNCITRAL Model Law to interpret “foreign proceedings” as including solvent debtors and proceedings directed to producing returns for members instead

Claims against IPs: the rising tide

By Helen Fairhead (UK) on November 5, 2018 Posted in Europe

The role of an IP has always been challenging – taking control of a company in crisis, making swift decisions based on limited information and balancing the competing interests of stakeholders; all of this requires sound judgment, often under extreme pressure. It is no surprise that, when things go wrong (or perhaps more accurately when parties feel they have lost out), the IP can become the focus of blame, and their insurance policy an attractive target for ‘last resort’ litigation.

The traditional situation in which an IP finds themself the target of litigation is one where lenders have enforced personal … Continue Reading

Cambridge Gas resuscitated — Farewell Rubin and Singularis?

By John Verrill (UK) on October 2, 2018 Posted in Europe

Cambridge Gas Resuscitated – Farewell Rubin and Singularis?
On September 19, 2018 UNCITRAL published the final text of its new Model Law on Recognition and Enforcement of Insolvency-Related Judgments.
The working group considered the arrested development of the concept of modified universalism following the UK Supreme Court (“UKSC”) judgments in Rubin v Eurofinance SA [2013] 1 AC 236 which overturned a previous decision of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (“JCPC”) in Cambridge Gas v Navigator Holdings on appeal from the Isle of Man.… Continue Reading

“No Deal Brexit” and cross-border insolvency cases in the EU

By John Verrill (UK) on September 17, 2018 Posted in Europe

On 13 September 2018 the UK Government published a briefing on the likely response post exit of the UK to cases which currently fall within the Recast EU Insolvency Regulation (2105/848) (“Regulation”)

The full text of its proposal for insolvency cases is as follows:

Cross-border insolvency cooperation

The majority of the Insolvency Regulation, which covers the jurisdictional rules, applicable law and recognition of cross-border insolvency proceedings, would be repealed in all parts of the UK. We would retain the EU rules that provide for the UK courts to have jurisdiction where a company or individual is based in the UK, … Continue Reading