• The Corporate Governance and Insolvency Act (CGIA) came into force on 26 June 2020, with the intention of providing businesses in financial difficulty with flexibility and breathing space and additional assistance (such as the protection of supplies) in order to maximise their chances of survival.
• It contains a number of provisions which will impact on construction contracts and professional appointments, in particular on the rights of a supplier under a contract for the supply of goods and services (e.g.

On 21 July 2020, the Irish High Court approved a scheme of arrangement for the world’s largest regional aircraft lessor Nordic Aviation Capital DAC (NAC).

The scheme, which included a 12-month standstill and deferral of c. US$5bn of secured and unsecured debt, is a market-first for the aircraft leasing industry in Ireland whose customer base has been seriously impacted by COVID-19. We look at the NAC scheme of arrangement and consider whether it is a viable restructuring option for the aviation sector more generally.

The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation has published the general scheme of proposed legislation amending the Companies Act 2014.

Termination for insolvency: a clause for concern?

Perhaps influenced by the fall of some significant UK brands in recent years, the actions of suppliers of insolvent firms have long been on the radar of the Government, initially through the introduction of The Insolvency (Protection of Essential Supplies) Order 2015 and most recently through the consultation and consideration relating to the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020, which came into force on 26 June 2020.

Questions and answers on the effect of the part A1 moratorium to be introduced by the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 from a Lender's perspective.

The Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (CIGA) was enacted on 26 June 2020 and includes measures both as a response to COVID-19, which apply temporarily, and measures which apply permanently, part of a long-planned package of insolvency reform measures.

The Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (Act) received Royal Assent on 25 June 2020. The majority of its provisions commenced on 26 June 2020, with the exception of the temporary measures which have retrospective effect from 1 March 2020.

1. TEMPORARY PROVISIONS

WHAT HAS CHANGED?

The Act outlines certain insolvency law reforms in response to the COVID-19 crisis, including a temporary suspension of wrongful trading provisions for company directors. The suspension applies retrospectively from 1 March 2020 until 30 September 2020, and aims to encourage directors to continue to trade during the pandemic.

This change will not affect the directors’ duties regime. Directors must continue to comply with their duties, in particular those owed to the company's creditors where the company is, or is likely to be, insolvent.

1. Summary

The Supreme Court decision in Bresco Electrical Services Ltd (In Liquidation) v- Michael J Lonsdale Electrical Ltd handed down on 17 June 2020 is both timely and significant given the "new normal" that we are all now operating within. In the current economic climate of "lockdown" and the present economic downturn that is now occurring, the worlds of construction and insolvency are now likely to interact and collide on a more frequent basis.

The Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill (CIGB) was introduced to Parliament on 20 May 2020 and includes measures both as a response to COVID-19, which apply temporarily, and measures which apply permanently, part of a long-planned package of insolvency reform measures.

What new measures have been introduced by the UK government to provide further support to commercial tenants struggling to pay rent?