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Delivery Not Included - what the High Court of Australia’s decision in the ‘Willis’ case means

The High Court of Australia’s decision in Wells Fargo Trust Company, National Association (as Owner Trustee) & Anor v VB Leaseco Pty Ltd (Administrators Appointed) & Ors (the “Willis” case).

On Wednesday, 16 March 2022, the High Court of Australia handed down its decision in the Willis case.

Australia, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, King & Wood Mallesons, Due diligence, High Court of Australia
Sell-Side Directors May Be Liable for Breach of Fiduciary Duty Claims for Failing to Investigate Company's Post-Closing Solvency

In In re Nine West LBO Securities Litigation (Case No. 20-2941) (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 4, 2020), a federal district court denied in part a motion to dismiss claims brought by the Nine West liquidating trustee against former directors (the "Defendants") of The Jones Group, Inc. (the "Company"), Nine West's predecessor, for, among other things, (i) breaches of their fiduciary duties of care and loyalty, and (ii) aiding and abetting breaches of fiduciary duties. The litigation arises from the 2014 LBO of the Company by a private equity sponsor ("Buyer").

USA, Company & Commercial, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Winston & Strawn LLP, Private equity, Due diligence
Virgin Australia Group administrators’ Lien: The key to super priority

Background

Australia, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, King & Wood Mallesons, Coronavirus, Virgin Group
Virgin v Wells Fargo: the Full Federal Court adopts a different interpretation of an insolvency administrator’s obligation to “give possession” under the Cape Town Convention

Following our previous alert here on Justice Middleton’s decision in Wells Fargo Trust Company, National Association (trustee) v VB Leaseco Pty Ltd (Administrators Appointed),[1] the administra

Australia, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, King & Wood Mallesons, Virgin Group, Federal Court of Australia
Wells Fargo v Virgin: the first clarification on an insolvency administrator’s obligation to “give possession” under the Cape Town Convention

On 14 May 2015, Australia acceded to the Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment (“Cape Town Convention”) and the Protocol to the Cape Town Convention (“Cape Town Protocol”). In particular, for insolvency related proceedings, Australia adopted what is known as “Alternative A” in aviation industry speak. The Cape Town Convention became effective as Australian law on 1 September 2015 and applies to the relevant aviation leasing and financing transitions entered into after that date.

Australia, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, King & Wood Mallesons, Virgin Group
Aviation Working Group's review of the Cape Town Convention Closing Opinion

In January 2018, the Aviation Working Group (“AWG”)1 as part of its review of closing opinion practice, released a revised Form of Cape Town Convention Closing Opinion. The aim of the review was to provide further guidance and consistency in the approach legal practitioners adopt in respect of Cape Town and the State of Registry Jurisdiction.

The AWG was founded in 1994, with stated aims of contributing to the development and acceptance of policies and laws that:

  • facilitate advanced international aviation financing and leasing, and

Australia, Asset Finance, Aviation, Insolvency & Restructuring, King & Wood Mallesons
Supreme Court Provides Guidance on the Use of Structured Dismissals in Bankruptcy

The United States Supreme Court (the “Court”) recently issued a long-awaited decision in Czyzewski v. Jevic Holding Corp. (“Jevic”), which limits the use of “structured dismissals” in Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases, requiring structured dismissals pursuant to which final distributions are made to comply with the Bankruptcy Code’s priority scheme, or the consent of all affected parties to be obtained.1

What is a Structured Dismissal?

USA, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Winston & Strawn LLP, Supreme Court of the United States, United States bankruptcy court