This round-up collates the information, analysis and guidance relating to insolvency issues shared by our Construction and Restructuring, Insolvency and Bankruptcy teams during the COVID-19 pandemic. For further information on any of the issues below, please get in touch with one of the Key Contacts.
The stringent regulations introduced to avoid the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic caused widespread disruption across UK sites. The consequent commercial challenges were too great for some businesses − despite government measures to help those facing financial difficulty. Inevitably, insolvencies followed.
In In re Smith, (B.A.P. 10th Cir., Aug. 18, 2020), the U.S. Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit recently joined the majority of circuit courts of appeals in finding that a creditor seeking a judgment of nondischargeability must demonstrate that the injury caused by the prepetition debtor was both willful and malicious under Section 523(a)(6) of the Bankruptcy Code.
Factual Background
Alerts and Updates
The Third Circuit’s ruling in In re Tribune provides important insight on what it means for a plan to unfairly discriminate.
As we head towards the last part of 2020 in the midst of a recession and some of the most challenging business conditions many have ever faced, it is worthwhile considering the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis. Then, in the real estate funds space, there was a shift away from pooled investments through funds and an uptick in real estate joint ventures, as investors sought to take greater control over their investments.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mexican courts were closed for the past few months and only received urgent cases.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on the Mexican economy. As a result, Mexican courts have seen a rise in insolvency cases, which are not as common in Mexico compared to other jurisdictions, such as the United States. The rise of insolvency cases imposes new challenges to Mexican courts and Mexico’s laws.
In a recent decision, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York held that claim disallowance issues under Section 502(d) of the Bankruptcy Code "travel with" the claim, and not with the claimant. Declining to follow a published district court decision from the same federal district, the bankruptcy court found that section 502(d) applies to disallow a transferred claim regardless of whether the transferee acquired its claim through an assignment or an outright sale. See In re Firestar Diamond, 615 B.R. 161 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2020).
Nearly two years after it was first passed in Parliament on 1 October 2018, the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act (“IRDA”) has now come into operation on 30 July 2020. The IRDA not only unifies Singapore’s legislation in relation to personal and corporate insolvency and debt restructuring, but also introduces significant changes to the present regime.
In this update, we will highlight nine key changes of the new provisions of the IRDA.
1. Restriction of Ipso Facto Clauses in Insolvency/Restructuring Proceedings
On 26 June 2020, The Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (Act) became law, providing the UK (but with separate provisions for Northern Ireland) with temporary and permanent changes to insolvency law aimed at helping businesses manage the economic implications of COVID-19.
Of particular interest to the construction industry will be one of the new Act’s permanent measures relating to continuing supply.
Judgment has now been handed down by Marcus Smith J in another important case regarding the Lehman estate. This gives much needed clarity on how subordinated debts rank as between themselves.
The judgment concerned: