In the recent case of Greece v Stroumpoulis on 25 February 2016, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) decided that EU protections under the Insolvency Directive apply to EU residents working in the EU, regardless of whether their employer is an EU company. The ECJ reached this decision based on the social objective of the Insolvency Directive, irrespective of the maritime waters on which the vessel sailed.

The Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench has released its highly anticipated decision in Redwater Energy Corporation (Re), 2016 ABQB 278 (“Redwater”).

Summary

On 28 April 2016, the Third Parties (Rights against Insurers) Act 2010 (Commencement) Order 2016 was made. It provides for the Third Parties (Rights against Insurers) Act 2010 (the New Act) to come into force on 1 August 2016.

In a decision released April 27, 2016 in LBP Holdings Ltd. v. Allied Nevada Gold Corp., Justice Belobaba dismissed a motion by a representative plaintiff to add certain underwriters as defendants to a securities class proceeding. The defendant gold mining company, Allied Nevada, effected a secondary public offering financed as a "bought deal" by two underwriters.

Financial institutions need to be mindful of the effect of the engagement of financial advisors with respect to their special loan clients.

A party to arbitration or court proceedings in Australia can obtain a freezing order in advance of obtaining a domestic court judgment or arbitration award, in prescribed circumstances. In PT Bayan Resources TBK v BCBC Singapore Pte Ltd [2015]¹ the High Court of Australia has confirmed that Australian courts have the same power to grant freezing orders prior to a judgment or award being obtained in respect of proceedings commenced outside of Australia, provided that judgment or award would be enforceable in Australia.

The Supreme Court of Canada today released its highly anticipated decision in Iona Contractors Ltd. v Guarantee Company of North America, 2015 ABCA 240 dismissing the application for leave to appeal by the Trustee in Bankruptcy (the "Trustee") of the bankrupt, Iona Contractors Inc. ("Iona").

High profile insolvencies in the construction industry highlight the risks faced by contractors, and also the way in which debtor companies can seek to obtain advantage through ‘forum shopping’ once insolvency occurs, by seeking to invoke the jurisdiction of debtor-friendly countries like the United States.

Last year’s list of the top ten judicial decisions of import to the Canadian Oil and Gas Industry (found here) illustrated that 2014 was a high-water mark for important judicial decisions affecting the oil and gas industry.  In 2015, we have seen several of the key 2014 cases applied, confirmed or addressed, in particular in relation to Aboriginal title, contract interpr