Fulltext Search

The Third Party (Rights Against Insurers) Act 2010 (the “2010 Act”) finally comes into force on 1 August 2016.

The 2010 Act makes it easier for a third party to bring a claim against an insurer when the insured party has become insolvent. The 2010 Act will replace the Third Parties (Rights Against Insurers) Act 1930 (the “1930 Act”) and is designed to extend and improve the rights of third party claimants.

Policyholders contemplating insurance coverage settlements with low-level insurers should use caution to preserve their ability to access higher-level excess policies. Excess insurers are increasingly disputing that underlying policies are properly exhausted where policyholders elect to settle with underlying insurers for less than full limits. The issue can be further complicated if the policyholder seeks protection under the bankruptcy laws against long-tail liabilities, as a recent case illustrates.

Earlier this year, both the lower and upper houses of Malaysia’s parliament, passed the Companies Bill 2015 (“theBill”) which will harmonise Malaysia's insolvency laws and bring them more in line with modern international standards. Once the Bill comes into effect (it is currently awaiting Royal Assent), it will replace Malaysia’s existing Companies Act 1965.

Imagine that your partnership is on the cusp of concluding a large transaction which has the potential to be immensely profitable. The partnership agreement does not include a fixed term for the partnership, and can instead be terminated on one partner giving notice to the others (referred to as a “partnership at will”).

Introduction

Under the Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 (the “Companies Law”) there are two procedures available for the voluntary dissolution of a Guernsey company. A Guernsey company may be dissolved either by way of a “voluntary striking off” or a “voluntary winding up”. We set out below the details of each procedure.

Everyone is familiar with the story of the dashing Musketeers – Porthos, Athos, Aramis and d’Artagnan- and their inspirational motto. At the end of his adventures, one member of this famous band retired in order to marry the widow of a wealthy French lawyer, for whom the rallying cry might well have had a different significance.

Litigation is not always about money. Sometimes, it really is about the principle of the thing. Sometimes there are rights at stake which cannot be measured in financial terms. Usually, though, litigation is born of a financial loss and ultimately what matters is that the victor receives his spoils.