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Singapore unveils major debt restructuring law reforms

Singapore’s Ministry of Law has unveiled significant proposed changes aimed at revising Singapore’s restructuring and insolvency laws and developing Singapore into a regional debt restructuring hub.1

IN BRIEF

Draft legislation unveiled

Singapore, Insolvency & Restructuring, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, Debt restructuring
Recognition of foreign insolvencies at common law: Singapore sets COMI precedent

In Brief

For the first time, a court has adopted the ‘centre of main interest’ (COMI) as grounds at common law to recognise foreign insolvency proceedings.

The decision earlier this year by the High Court of Singapore (the Court) recognised a Japanese bankruptcy trustee appointed to companies incorporated in the British Virgin Islands (BVI):

Singapore, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Private Client & Offshore Services, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, Liquidation, Common law, UNCITRAL, Singapore High Court
Australia's Insolvency and Bankruptcy Law Reform: ipso facto clauses

Major insolvency reform: Getting the (ipso) factos straight

In brief

Australia, USA, Insolvency & Restructuring, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, Bankruptcy
Australia's Insolvency and Bankruptcy Law Reform: Safe harbour

In brief

Australia, Insolvency & Restructuring, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, Bankruptcy
Australian Government forges ahead with major insolvency law reform

On 29 April 2016, the Australian Federal Government (Government) announced three major insolvency law reform proposals in its Improving Bankruptcy and Insolvency Laws Proposal Paper1 (Proposal). The Government has invited submissions from stakeholders and given this is a rare opportunity to undertake substantial reform, we strongly encourage involvement. 

Australia, Insolvency & Restructuring, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, Stakeholder (corporate)
Court of Appeal holds that anti-deprivation principle does not apply to provisions relating to the termination of an IP licence on insolvency

The anti-deprivation principle provides that “there cannot be a valid contract that a man’s property shall remain his until his bankruptcy, and, on the happening of that event, go over to someone else, and be taken away from his creditors”.

United Kingdom, Insolvency & Restructuring, Intellectual Property, Litigation, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, Share (finance), Bankruptcy, Breach of contract, Interest, Joint venture, Court of Appeal of England & Wales
Court of Appeal reverses earlier decision and holds that anti-deprivation principle does not apply to provisions relating to the termination of an IP licence on insolvency

In September 2009 we reported on the first instance decision in Butters and ors v BBC Worldwide Ltd and ors, accessible here in which the Court held that contractual provisions in a joint venture agreement taken together with termination provisions in a licence of IP rights were void since the effect of those provisions on insolvency was to deprive creditors' access to assets and therefore contrary

United Kingdom, Insolvency & Restructuring, Intellectual Property, Litigation, Media & Entertainment, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, Share (finance), Joint venture, Subsidiary, Court of Appeal of England & Wales
IP licences and insolvency - deprivation principle held to apply to provisions relating to the termination of an IP licence on insolvency

In Butters and ors v BBC Worldwide Ltd and ors, decided on 20 August 2009, the Court held that contractual provisions in a joint venture agreement taken together with termination provisions in a licence of IP rights were void since the effect of those provisions on insolvency was to deprive creditors access to assets and therefore contrary to public policy in the light of insolvency laws.

BUSINESS IMPACT

United Kingdom, Insolvency & Restructuring, Intellectual Property, Litigation, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, Share (finance), Bankruptcy, Joint venture, Public limited company, Prejudice, Subsidiary