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Judges of Barcelona unify principles on certain points of insolvency law

International case law

European jurisprudence on universal and territorial procedures

Judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union of April 18, 2024 (AIR BERLIN case)

Plusieurs décisions judiciaires notables et mises à jour législatives importantes pour les prêteurs commerciaux, les entreprises et les professionnels de l’insolvabilité ont marqué l’année 2023. Le présent bulletin résume les principaux développements survenus en 2023 et met en lumière les points saillants à connaître en 2024.

1. Régime de priorité

En 2023, plusieurs affaires et mises à jour législatives ont soulevé des questions importantes concernant le régime de priorité dans le cadre des procédures d’insolvabilité.

Several significant judicial decisions and legislative updates occurred in 2023 that are relevant to commercial lenders, businesses and restructuring professionals. This bulletin summarizes the key developments of 2023 and highlights areas of significance to be aware of in 2024.

1. Priority Scheme

In 2023, several cases and legislative updates raised important questions regarding the priority scheme in insolvency proceedings.

Environmental Priorities

In a recent case, the Victorian Supreme Court said that an accountant ‘would know well that a statutory demand involves strict time frames for response and potentially very significant consequences for a company’. The accountant failed to take appropriate steps to inform the company of the statutory demand.

The statutory demand process

If a company does not comply with a statutory demand within 21 days of service, it is deemed to be insolvent and the creditor may proceed to wind up the company.

A recent court decision considers the legal principles and sufficiency of evidence when a court-appointed receiver seeks approval of their remuneration.

A court-appointed receiver needs court approval for the payment of their remuneration. The receiver has the onus of establishing the reasonableness of the work performed and of the remuneration sought.

La nueva regulación concursal permite a los acreedores de una compañía insolvente convertirse en nuevos dueños con un plan de reestructuración homologado por un juez. El caso Celsa, el primero en el que unos fondos han presentado un plan hostil para hacerse con la empresa, anima a que las empresas familiares tomen medidas de manera anticipada.

Le 27 avril 2023, le projet de loi C-228, Loi sur la protection des pensions (« LPP ») a reçu la sanction royale et est entré en vigueur au Canada. Comme la LPP vient modifier considérablement le traitement des exigences au titre des régimes de retraite dans le cadre des procédures d’insolvabilité, il y a lieu pour les prêteurs de veiller à bien comprendre la nature et les répercussions de cette loi.

The commercial judges of Madrid publish a guidefor the appointment of an expert on insolvency pre-pack

Public disclosure not required of appointment of expert in restructuring in the context of a pre-insolvency notice

Decision by Pontevedra Commercial Court No 3 on November 16, 2022

In the context of a pre-insolvency notice made on a confidential basis in which the debtor requests appointment of the expert in restructuring, Pontevedra Commercial Court took the view that the appointment does not have to be sent to the Public Insolvency Register to publicly disclose their identity.