The Supreme Court of New South Wales has clarified the circumstances in which a liquidator may recover deposit funds paid to a third party and the extent to which a counterparty may rely on the good-faith defence under section 588FG of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).

The hemp industry is facing a rapidly shifting regulatory landscape that could significantly alter the financial and legal viability of many businesses. In the recent episode of TaxTalk x Cannabis Quick Hits, we break down the looming regulatory overhaul, its tax and bankruptcy implications, and the restructuring options available to hemp and cannabis companies navigating financial distress.

A Major Regulatory Shift for Hemp

This past year has featured a diverse range of consequential, precedent-setting insolvency disputes across various industries, reflecting both the breadth of challenges facing Canadian businesses and the adaptability of Canada’s insolvency framework in resolving these issues. The most consequential decisions in which we have been involved are described below, alongside key takeaways for stakeholders participating in insolvency proceedings in 2026 and beyond.

Welcome back to Distressed Debt Legal Insights, Ropes & Gray’s source of timely insights for professionals navigating the complex world of liability management and special situations finance. In this issue we will provide a summary of certain aspects of the noteholder litigation in Wesco that culminated in the recent district court decision approving the 2022 uptier transaction and reversing the bankruptcy court’s decision.

The Original Transaction

In its decision in In re Brandt, the court seems to draw a clear line: No post-petition add-ons for attorneys’ fees and costs when a secured claim arises from a judgment lien.

When state legislatures consider a legislative bill, it’s important that they hear from stakeholders who would be affected by that bill.

Important ABC Stakeholders

When faced with a legislative bill on assignment for benefit of creditors (“ABC”), its important that legislatures hear from a variety of stakeholders, including this important group:

In this issue, we spotlight the unfolding litigation between the UCC and Oaktree in TPI Composites’ ongoing bankruptcy, which appears to be headed for a settlement. This case is unusual in that the uptier transformed former equity holders into senior creditors rather than elevating existing lenders.

The Unsecured Creditors Committee Challenge

Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari in two cases involving bankruptcy questions:

Before the US Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Purdue Pharma,¹ it had become common practice for Chapter 11 debtors to include a consensual or nonconsensual non-debtor third-party release in their plans of reorganization.

The University of Georgia, through the University’s athletic association (UGAA), is seeking damages totaling $390,000 against a former football player, Damon Wilson II, after he elected to transfer to Missouri following the 2024 season. The demand stems from a clause in Wilson’s NIL contract that required him to forfeit the balance of his agreement if he transferred to another school.