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The UK Supreme Court handed down its decision in BTI v Sequana on 5 October 2022, unanimously dismissing the appeal from the 2019 Court of Appeal decision and confirming how directors duties ought to be applied when a company is in the zone of insolvency. Although decisions of the UK Supreme Court are not binding upon the jurisdictions in which Ogier practises law, it will nevertheless be highly persuasive and influence the approach taken in the offshore jurisdictions that Ogier advises upon.

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The approach of the Cayman Grand Court to the terms and timing of the discharge of provisional liquidators taken inIn the Matter of Star International Drilling Ltd may provide a window into what is expected to be a similarly flexible approach to the appointment of restructuring officers.(1)

After a postponement of almost two years from the originally scheduled date (August 15, 2020) for its entry into force - mainly caused by the crisis caused by the pandemic emergency - on July 15, 2022, the Code of Corporate Crisis and Insolvency (or "CCII") set forth in Legislative Decree 14/2019, as most recently amended by Legislative Decree No. 83 of June 17, 2022, containing a final set of changes and important innovations, finally entered into force.

Dopo uno slittamento di quasi due anni dalla data originariamente prevista (15 agosto 2020) per la sua entrata in vigore - principalmente causato dalla crisi provocata dall’emergenza pandemica - il 15 luglio 2022 è definitivamente entrato in vigore il Codice della Crisi di Impresa e dell’Insolvenza (o “CCII”) di cui al DLgs. 14/2019, così come da ultimo modificato dal DLgs. 17 giugno 2022 n. 83 contenente una ultima serie di modifiche ed importanti novità.

Reports last week of the significant increase in corporate insolvencies and voluntary liquidations in England and Wales for Q2 demonstrate the combined impact of government COVID-19 support being withdrawn, soaring energy and fuel costs, and weakening demand – and are being reflected in the nature of the instructions coming into our global jurisdictions from distressed companies across the globe.

The Grand Court of the Cayman Islands (Court) has confirmed that the Court has the jurisdiction to grant declaratory relief within winding-up proceedings (In the Matter of Polarcus Limited (In Official Liquidation) (Unreported, Justice Kawaley, 23 June 2022 Cause No: FSD 31 of 2021 (IKJ)).

This is welcome clarity for insolvency practitioners and other stakeholders in winding-up proceedings where such declaratory relief may be required and the relief cannot for some reason be included in a standard sanction application.

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