Co-Chairs’ Corner

Season’s Greetings from the ABI International Committee leadership. It is hard to believe how quickly pumpkin spice and caramel apples have turned into peppermint mocha and eggnog. The weather is turning colder, and the holidays are quickly approaching. We hope that the end of 2023 brings you time with family and friends, and maybe even a little bit of international travel. We wish you and your family health, happiness and prosperity in 2024.

International Committee Webinar Update

On October 17, the International Committee hosted the initial webinar in its planned series of “Directors’ Duties Across Borders in the Insolvency Zone.” The first episode focused on Europe, with speakers from France (Alexandre Koenig of Stephenson Harwood), Germany (Bernd Meyer-Loewy of Kirkland & Ellis), Ireland (Gemma Freeman of Dentons) and the Netherlands (Krijn Hoogenboezem of Resor).

Ultimate Beneficial Bondholder Has Standing to Wind Up Issuer

The British Virgin Islands Court has reached a different conclusion to the courts of Bermuda, Cayman Islands and Hong Kong in holding that, in certain circumstances, ultimate beneficial bondholders have standing as contingent creditors to make applications for the appointment of liquidators to bond issuers, without the need to show a direct pre-existing contractual relationship with the issuer.

Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards in the Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands implemented the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (otherwise known as the “New York Convention”) via the Foreign Arbitral Awards Enforcement Act (1997 Revision) (the “Enforcement Act”). As such, arbitral awards made in any state that is a party to the New York Convention (“Convention Awards” can be recognised and enforced in the Cayman Islands under the Enforcement Act.

The Global Reach of U.S. Bankruptcy Courts: The Real Impact of Ba...

The application of U.S. laws to transactions and conduct outside of the U.S. has always been a topic of interest for U.S. and foreign persons and businesses alike. Section 541 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code shows clear intent for the Code to be applied abroad, as it explicitly states that the bankruptcy estate includes all legal and equitable rights and interests of the debtor in property as of the commencement of the case, wherever located and by whomever held.