On 15 January 2015, it was announced that the bankruptcy creditor petition limit will be increased from £750 to £5,000 following a consultation into insolvency proceedings.

Business Minister, Jo Swinson said:

In Graves v Capital Home Loans Ltd [2014] EWCA Civ 1297, it was held that the appointment of Law of Property Act Receivers by a mortgagee because the borrower lacked the mental capacity to manage his financial affairs was valid even if the borrower was mentally fit by the time of the appointment. It was further held that the treatment of the borrower by the lender in such circumstances did not give rise to an unfair relationship under ss 140A and 140B of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 (CCA 1974).

Background

In Spencer Day v Tiuta International Ltd and other [2014] EWCA Civ 1246, the Court held that a creditor who relies on subrogation is still a secured creditor, and therefore cannot be subject to a set off claim for unliquidated damages as per Natwest v Skelton (1993).

Background

Applicants who seek ex parte relief under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) have an obligation to make full and fair disclosure of all material facts to the court.

On August 19, 2014, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice [Commercial List] (Ontario Court) released an important decision regarding the ability of unsecured bondholders to assert a claim for “post-filing” interest in proceedings under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada) (CCAA). The CCAA is Canada’s principal statute for the restructuring of large insolvent corporations and is similar in effect to Chapter 11 of theUnited States Bankruptcy Code (Bankruptcy Code).

In Credit and Mercantile Plc v (1) Kaymuu Ltd (2) Kevin Michael Wishart and (3) Ian Mark Defty (as Trustee in Bankruptcy for Mr Sami Muduroglu) [2014] EWHC 1746, the court held that whilst a beneficial interest was created in favour of Mr Wishart, it did not take priority to the claimant’s charge.

Background

This is an update to our September 2013 Blakes Bulletin: Increases to Alberta Licensee Liability Rating Program.

HR Consultancy

DURC: new system officially started

The new system of internal DURC (“Documento Unico di Regolarità Contributiva”), through which the INPS (“Istituto Nazionale della Previdenza Sociale”) ensures the regular payment of social security contributions by the employer, officially started. 

These days, in fact, the companies have started to receive by certified e-mail (PEC) an invitation to stabilize any irregularity within 15 days.

Fixed term employment contract: fines replace reinstatement

HR Colsultancy

JOBS ACT - Fixed term employment contract: potential fines for those companies with 20% or more of their employees on fixed term contracts

Current proposed amendments by the Jobs Act include (i) replacing the fine for conversion of fixed term contracts exceeding the 20% limit into open-ended contracts with a fine to be paid to the employee and (ii) the clarification of the reintroduction of basic training for apprentices. 

On April 17, 2014, the Supreme Court of Canada denied leave to appeal to Nortel from the decision rendered by the Ontario Court of Appeal last October. For additional details and commentary on the decision of the Ontario Court of Appeal, please see our November 2013 Blakes Bulletin: Ontario Court of Appeal Applies AbitibiBowater Test in Concurrent Decisions.