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Timely amendments to UAE Bankruptcy Law introduced to cover emergency situations

Background

On 24 October 2020, the UAE Cabinet announced its decision to amend Federal Law No. 9 of 2016 (the "Bankruptcy Law") by adding certain provisions to allow for business continuity during emergency situations, including pandemics and natural disasters. This is a timely amendment to the Bankruptcy Law and has been introduced in response to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

United Arab Emirates, Insolvency & Restructuring, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, Coronavirus
Three requirements for winding up foreign company restated by Hong Kong Court of Appeal

The long-running saga between Shandong Chenming Paper Holdings (“Shandong Chenming“) and Arjowiggins HKK2 Ltd (“Arjowiggins“) has continued with the Court of Appeal handing down its judgment on an appeal against a lower court judgment which had dismissed Shandong Chenming’s application to injunct Arjowiggins from presenting a winding-up petition against Shandong Chenming (Shandong Chenming Paper Holdings Limited v. Arjowiggins HKK2 Limited [2020] HKCA 670).

Hong Kong, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP
Hong Kong: court makes winding up order where debtor unable to prove bona fide dispute on substantial grounds

The Hong Kong Court of First Instance has declined to prioritise an arbitration agreement where a debtor intended to dispute the existence of a debt without proving there was a bona fide dispute on substantial grounds.

Dayang (HK) Marine Shipping Co., Ltd v. Asia Master Logistics Ltd [2020] HKCFI 311; HCCW 14/2019

Background

Hong Kong, Arbitration & ADR, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP
No If, No But - Will an arbitration agreement always trump a winding-up petition?

In But Ka Chon v Interactive Brokers LLC [2019] HKCA 873, the Hong Kong Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal to set aside a statutory demand arising out of online forex futures trading debts.

China, Hong Kong, Arbitration & ADR, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, UNCITRAL
Amendments to the insolvency regime in the Qatar Financial Centre

Important revisions to the insolvency legislation in the Qatar Financial Centre ("QFC") came into effect on 22 December 2013.

Qatar, Insolvency & Restructuring, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP
Dubai government releases details of a tailor-made restructuring process

At the same time as announcing that the Nakheel sukuk due for repayment on 14 December would be repaid in full, the Dubai government stated that it would pass a reorganisation law for the Dubai World group in case that group is unable to achieve an acceptable restructuring of its remaining obligations. The details of that new law have now been released in the form of Dubai Decree No. 57 for 2009 (the Decree).

The Decree is significant in two respects:

United Arab Emirates, Insolvency & Restructuring, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, Injunction, Debt, Common law, Best practice, Dubai International Financial Centre, Civil Procedure Rules (UK), High Court judge (England and Wales)
Dubai World - government releases details of a tailor-made restructuring process

At the same time as announcing that the Nakheel sukuk due for repayment on 14 December would be repaid in full, the Dubai government stated that it would pass a reorganisation law for the Dubai World group in case that group is unable to achieve an acceptable restructuring of its remaining obligations. The details of that new law have now been released in the form of Dubai Decree No. 57 for 2009 (the Decree).

The Decree is significant in two respects:

United Arab Emirates, Insolvency & Restructuring, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, Debt, Common law, Best practice, Promulgation, Dubai International Financial Centre, High Court judge (England and Wales)