This edition of Global Insight comes to you shortly after the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union.
Brexit is now a reality; what lies ahead for restructuring and insolvency law? These views are limited to English law and do not apply to credit institutions and insurance undertakings, which are subject to their own regimes in the UK and across the EU.
What, when, how? No change in the short term
The United Kingdom has voted to leave the EU. Before the referendum, we considered in detail the potential impact of Brexit in the context of restructuring and insolvency. In particular we highlighted that Brexit could have an impact on cross-border restructuring/insolvency given the UK is currently viewed as a popular jurisdiction for implementing complex cross-border restructurings and insolvencies in light the regimes being widely regarded as well established, flexible and creditor friendly.
England has been the jurisdiction of choice for European restructurings. While other jurisdictions have sought to revamp their insolvency law in recent years in an effort to chip away at the English dominance in the restructuring arena, the lure of the tried and tested English legislation and judiciary means that the English system has remained dominant. In the wake of Brexit, will England lose its place as jurisdiction of choice?
1 │ © 2016 Morrison & Foerster (UK) LLP | mofo.com ATTORNEY ADVERTISING 7 July 2016 BREXIT: IMPACT ON RESTRUCTURING AND INSOLVENCY FOR COMPANIES By Sonya Van de Graaff, Peter Declercq, and Howard Morris The process of Brexit will take many years, and the implications for our clients’ businesses will unfold over time. Our MoFo Brexit Task Force is coordinating Brexit-related legal analysis across all of our offices, and working with clients on key concerns and issues, now and in the coming weeks and months. We will also continue to provide MoFo Brexit Briefings on a range of key issues.
The process of Brexit will take many years, and the implications for our clients’ businesses will unfold over time. Our MoFo Brexit Task Force is coordinating Brexit-related legal analysis across all of our offices, and working with clients on key concerns and issues, now and in the coming weeks and months. We will also continue to provide MoFo Brexit Briefings on a range of key issues. We are here to support you in any and every way that we can.
Following the referendum…and after Brexit
On 23 June 2016 a 52% majority of the British people voted in favour of leaving the European Union. It seems likely that the immediate effect of the Brexit vote will be a degree of turmoil in the financial markets, involving, for instance a devaluation of Sterling against the Euro and of the Euro against the USD.
The true effects of the events of the last few days have yet to be seen. With the mainstream political parties acting like participants in a ‘Compose a Greek Tragedy’ competition, a government unlikely to exercise any meaningful executive functions until autumn (at least), the currency and financial markets in turmoil and the future uncertain on a range of factors, it is tempting to succumb to a condition of inaction whilst waiting to see how the cards fall.
The only certainty following the referendum is that exiting the EU will substantially alter the legal landscape from a recovery and insolvency viewpoint.
Over the past few years the various EU members have been working hard to eradicate or minimise inconsistencies between the individual regulations which have led to not only confusion but also “forum shopping” by those facing insolvency. The idea is to provide a level playing field so that businesses in particular knew where they stood should a company in another country get into trouble.
Following the referendum outcome Andrew Tate, president of R3 (the Association of Business Recovery Professionals), has stated that “there is clearly going to be a period of huge economic uncertainty” and has requested that all members (Insolvency Practitioners, lawyers and advisors) “step up to help businesses and individuals”.