Our specialists explain what director disqualification is, the consequences of it and the Insolvency Service’s investigations into a director’s conduct of an insolvent company.

Company directors have legal duties and responsibilities when dealing with the affairs of a company.

The High Court has handed down its judgment in a preliminary issues trial in Yodel Delivery Network Ltd v Corlett & Ors on 19 December 2025, dismissing counterclaims by Shift Global Holdings Ltd (Shift) and Corja Holdings Ltd (Corja) for specific performance of purported share warrant rights, which they had said entitled them to more than 54% of Yodel’s issued share capital in the battle for control of the home delivery company.

Introduction

Last year saw several important decisions relating to restructuring plans, including Petrofac (see our Law-Now: Saipem judgment: fair benefit sharing for all creditors) and Waldorf (see our Law-Now: Waldorf Plan Rejected: Court stresses fairness and good faith).

For what comes next tlt.com Disputes Outlook 2026 Insolvency TLT TLT Disputes Outlook 2026 Disputes Outlook 2026 Contents 2 Contents Live issues Expanded claims against directors of insolvent companies 3 Creditor challenges outside of formal insolvency 3 Increased regulation in the private rented sector 4 Emerging trends Insolvency proceedings as a method of debt recovery 5 Contested winding up and bankruptcy petitions 5 Mid-market restructuring plans 6 Spot the risks. Plan ahead. Resolve with confidence. Disputes aren’t always avoidable, but being prepared can make all the difference.

The Supreme Court of New South Wales has clarified the circumstances in which a liquidator may recover deposit funds paid to a third party and the extent to which a counterparty may rely on the good-faith defence under section 588FG of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).

Despite meeting statutory jurisdictional requirements under Part 26A of the Companies Act 2006, the High Court declined to exercise its discretion in favour of sanctioning Waldorf Production UK Plc’s restructuring plan in August 2025due to concerns about fair allocation of value and lack of meaningful engagement with unsecured creditors.

In Re Petrofac Ltd [2025] EWHC 2887 (Ch), the English High Court made an administration order in relation to a Jersey-incorporated company even though its registered office was not in England which is the starting point for determining COMI and therefore the Court’s jurisdiction to make such an order.

Background

In early November 2025 one of the biggest UK’s largest private building control firms Assent Building Control Compliance Limited, along with its subsidiaries Oculus Building Consultancy Limited and LB Building Control Limited, (together “Assent”) ceased trading and subsequently entered liquidation. The collapse of such a major player in the building control sector will likely have wide ramifications throughout the whole construction industry, and particularly for HRB developments and the BSR’s Gateway 2 Application process.

Waypark Commercial Mortgage 1 Ltd v Vanguard Number 1 Ltd (in liquidation) [2025] EWHC 1786 (Ch)

In brief