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Corporate minds do not all think alike: The Supreme Court affirms a purposive approach to the corporate attribution doctrine

Two recent Supreme Court of Canada decisions demonstrate that the corporate attribution doctrine is not a one-size-fits-all approach.

Canada, Company & Commercial, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Supreme Court of Canada
High Court highlights four distinct categories of control in "ownership and control" test under UK sanctions regulations

The High Court has directed the trustees in a UK bankruptcy case to treat certain Russian bank creditors as not being subject to UK sanctions, unless new evidence suggests otherwise.

United Kingdom, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (UK)
High Court finds borrower's security confers floating charge, despite intention of parties to create fixed charge and lender's contractual power to exercise control

The High Court has found that a borrower's debenture granted to a lender in respect of certain internet protocol (IP) addresses was a floating charge.

United Kingdom, Banking, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP
There’s Something About (Hail) Mary: Appeals of Sale Processes and Pre-Receivership Sale Agreements

Court approval of a sale process in receivership or Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (“BIA”) proposal proceedings is generally a procedural order and objectors do not have an appeal as of right; they must seek leave and meet a high test in order obtain it. However, in Peakhill Capital Inc. v.

Canada, Ontario, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Court of Appeal confirms that the Quincecare duty does not extend to protect creditors

The Court of Appeal has struck out Quincecare duty and dishonest assistance claims brought by the liquidators of a company running a Ponzi scheme against a correspondent bank that operated various accounts for the company.

United Kingdom, Banking, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP
Super-priority claims for professional services related to restructuring plans and debt restructuring agreements?

With two decisions (No. 1895/2018 and No. 1896/2018), both filed on 25 January 2018, the Court of Cassation reached opposite conclusions in the two different situations

The case

Italy, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Nctm Studio Legale, Bankruptcy, Debt restructuring, Italian Supreme Court of Cassation
De facto partnerships can be declared bankrupt even if partners are corporations

The Constitutional Court (6 December 2017) confirmed that Art. 147, para. 5, of the Italian Bankruptcy Law does not violate the Constitution as long as it is interpreted in a broad sense

The case

Italy, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Nctm Studio Legale, Bankruptcy, Italian Supreme Court of Cassation
Contracts remain in force in amministrazione straordinaria even after they are expired ?

With the decision No. 1195 of 18 January 2018, the Court of Cassation ruled on the powers of the extraordinary commissioner to require performance of pending contracts and on the treatment of the relevant claims of the suppliers

The case

Italy, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Nctm Studio Legale, Italian Supreme Court of Cassation
High Court clarifies calculation of Close-out Amount under 2002 ISDA Master Agreement

Lehman Brothers Special Financing Inc. v National Power Corporation & Anor [2018] EWHC 487 (Comm) is a significant case on the calculation of Close-out Amount under the 2002 ISDA Master Agreement.  

Two important points of principle arise from this judgment, which will have general application to transactions governed by the 2002 ISDA Master Agreement:  

United Kingdom, USA, Derivatives, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP
The bankruptcy receiver can continue utilities contracts, but is not bound to pay in full previous claims based on such contracts

The Court of Cassation with a decision of 25 September 2017, No. 22274 confirms that Art. 74 of the Italian Bankruptcy Law provides a special rule, which does not apply to cases to which it is not explicitly extended

The case

Italy, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Nctm Studio Legale, Bankruptcy, Unsecured debt, Italian Supreme Court of Cassation