Introduction
Why are bankruptcy laws needed?
Over the past couple of years, there have been a wave of new insolvency and bankruptcy laws introduced in the GCC. With the exception of Qatar and Kuwait, all other GCC countries have now introduced new bankruptcy laws. As for Oman, its new bankruptcy law is due to come into effect on 1 July 2020.
The Federal Circuit considered choice-of-law, bankruptcy, and contract law in vacating the district court’s grant of a motion to dismiss in Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V. v. Sirius XM Radio Inc., No. 2018-2400 (Fed. Cir. Oct. 17, 2019).
Abstract
The Supreme Court recently held that if a bankrupt trademark licensor rejects a trademark licensing agreement during bankruptcy proceedings the licensee does not lose its right to continue using the licensed trademark post-rejection.
Background
Can a trademark licensee continue using a licensed trademark (legally, that is) even after the licensor has declared bankruptcy and—as allowed by the Bankruptcy Code—rejected the licensing agreement? As the Supreme Court has now said, the answer is yes.
The Court of Appeal judgment in JSC BTA Bank v Mukhtar Ablyazov, Madiyar Ablyazov [2018] EWCA Civ 1176 confirms the correct approach when assessing the ‘prohibited purpose’ element of section 423 claims.
Summary
For anyone thinking of donating antiques or other valuable gifts to be part of a museum collection there is a moral to follow: beware how you give and to who you give it to! This was never better demonstrated than in the example of the Wedgwood collection and the case of the disappearing museum.
Tiuta International Ltd (In Liquidation) v De Villiers Surveyors Ltd [2017] UKSC 77
Overview
Carillion was perhaps best known for its public sector work. However, the insolvency of the UK’s second-largest construction company will inevitably have significant implications for the private sector.
Question
My client is buying a property from a receiver appointed under an equitable charge granted by a company which has become insolvent. The charge gives a receiver a power of sale and contains a power of attorney. Will the receiver be able to sign all the necessary documents to allow the transaction to proceed to completion?
Answer