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Good things take time: Parliamentary Joint Committee delivers report on Australia’s corporate insolvency framework

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services (the Committee) has delivered its report following an inquiry into the “effectiveness of Australia’s corporate insolvency laws in protecting and maximising value for the benefit of all interested parties and the economy”.

Australia, Insolvency & Restructuring, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, Insolvency, Corporations Act 2001 (Australia)
In re Purdue Pharma L.P.: Second Circuit Reverses S.D.N.Y and Holds Bankruptcy Court Has Subject Matter Jurisdiction and Statutory Authority to Approve Sackler Family Releases

On May 30, 2023, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (the “Second Circuit” or the “Court”) rendered a much anticipated opinion (the “Opinion”),1 reversing the order of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (the “District Court”) that the Bankruptcy Code does not permit non-consensual third-party releases of direct claims and affirming the order of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (the

USA, Company & Commercial, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Vinson & Elkins LLP, Supreme Court of the United States, Second Circuit, United States bankruptcy court, US District Court for the Southern District of New York
In re Boy Scouts of America and Delaware BSA, LLC: Delaware District Court Affirms Bankruptcy Court’s Approval of Third-Party Releases, in Conflict with Southern District of New York District Court in Purdue

On March 28, 2023, the United States District Court for the District of Delaware (the “District Court”) rendered an opinion (the “Opinion”)1 affirming the confirmation order of Laurie S.

USA, Delaware, Company & Commercial, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Vinson & Elkins LLP, United States bankruptcy court, US District Court for District of Delaware
Past its peak: the High Court of Australia confirms the abolition of the peak indebtedness rule for unfair preferences

In the much-anticipated decision of Bryant v Badenoch Integrated Logging Pty Ltd [2023] HCA 2 (Badenoch (HCA)), the High Court of Australia (the HCA) has now confirmed that the peak indebtedness rule may not be used when assessing the quantum of an unfair preference claim arising from a continuing business relationship.

Australia, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Trade & Customs, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, Corporations Act 2001 (Australia)
First decision on Australia’s ipso facto stay in voluntary administration

The Federal Court of Australia (Court) has handed down the first reported decision on the ipso facto stay provisions contained in the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (Act).

Australia, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, Corporations Act 2001 (Australia)
CFIUS Takes Notice of Crypto Company Bankruptcy Sale, Signaling Heightened CFIUS Attention to Bankruptcy-Related Transactions

In a provocative demonstration that it scrutinizes all types of transactions, no matter their origin, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”) has reportedly been vetting the proposed $1 billion sale of bankrupt crypto lender Voyager Digital’s assets to Binance.US. Voyager Digital filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July 2022, and, after an initial agreement to sell its assets to FTX crumbled, Binance.US provided Voyager Digital with the winning offer for its assets in December 2022. But, after the sale’s announcement on December 30, 2022, the U.S.

USA, Banking, Corporate Finance/M&A, Insolvency & Restructuring, IT & Data Protection, Vinson & Elkins LLP, Bankruptcy, Cryptocurrency, Anti-money laundering, US Department of Justice, Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, FTX
Atlas shrugged: the limits of an administrator’s lien over secured property

Chief Justice Hammerschlag, sitting in the New South Wales Supreme Court (the Court), has delivered a judgement of importance to secured creditor and insolvency practitioners alike in Volkswagen Financial Services Australia Pty Ltd v Atlas CTL Pty Ltd (Recs and Mngrs Apptd) (In liq) [2022] NSWSC 573 (Atlas).

Australia, New South Wales, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, Insolvency, Corporations Act 2001 (Australia), New South Wales Supreme Court
Parliamentary inquiry into corporate insolvency in Australia

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services (the Committee) has commenced an inquiry into the “effectiveness of Australia’s corporate insolvency laws in protecting and maximising value for the benefit of all interested parties and the economy”.[1]

Australia, Corporate Finance/M&A, Insolvency & Restructuring, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, Coronavirus, Insolvency, Australian Taxation Office, Australian Securities and Investments Commission, Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Australia), Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001
Hong Kong Court of Appeal considers the effect of exclusive jurisdiction clause on bankruptcy proceedings

A recent Hong Kong Court of Appeal decision examined a creditor’s right to commence bankruptcy/insolvency proceedings where the petition debt arises from an agreement containing an exclusive jurisdiction clause in favour of a foreign court: Guy Kwok-Hung Lam v Tor Asia Credit Master Fund LP [2022] HKCA 1297.

Hong Kong, Arbitration & ADR, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP
Another Delaware Bankruptcy Court Approves Third-Party Releases and Opt-Out Mechanisms Amidst Disagreements with Other Circuits

On July 29, 2022, Laurie S.

USA, Delaware, Company & Commercial, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Vinson & Elkins LLP, Bankruptcy, United States bankruptcy court, Third Circuit, US District Court for the Southern District of New York