This note considers the way in which the practice directions governing insolvency proceedings have evolved during 2020.
Executive Summary
In this article, we examine the repercussions of Debenhams Retail Ltd, Re [2020] EWCA Civ 600
Background
The Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (the “Act”) came into force on 26 June 2020 and introduces both temporary provisions linked to the coronavirus pandemic and more permanent changes to the insolvency framework. The key measures can be summarised as below.
Temporary measures
Wrongful trading
Oliver Hyams and Amy Held investigate the recent case of Islandsbanki Hf & Ors v Stanford [2020] EWCA Civ 480.
Background
Adjudication is a quick and comparatively cheap method of dispute resolution and for those reasons is attractive to insolvent companies seeking to recover debts. However, a respondent was likely to be able to restrain the insolvent company from referring the matter to adjudication on the basis that it would be futile to do so, since any positive decision was unlikely to be enforced as a result of the very fact of the company’s insolvency. Therefore, any award lacked practical utility. Following the decision of the Supreme Court in Bresco v Lonsdale, that is no longer the case.
Following the posting of the article I co-wrote with Morayo Fagborun-Bennett on the Recovery of Commercial and Residential Rent Arrears, there have been a couple of developments of note.
This article follows the #HardwickeBrew on 28th May 2020 which looked at the Corporate Insolvency & Governance Bill. If you would like to take part in future #HardwickeBrews, please sign up via our Events page.
Introduction
- This note reviews the provisions relating to the moratorium procedure for Great Britain under the draft Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill (“CIGB”).
CIGB
Re Debenhams Retail Limited (In Administration) [2020] EWCA Civ. 600
In these unprecedented times there has been much discussion and focus in the property community of the effect of tenants unable to operate their businesses and the risks of widescale insolvencies.