Introduction

The European Union (Preventive Restructuring) Regulations 2022 were signed on 27 July 2022 to give effect to an EU directive (Directive (EU) 2019/1023). The Directive aims to ensure that member states have in place effective frameworks for early warning and prevention of corporate insolvency.

On June 27, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court granted certiorari inMOAC Mall Holdings LLC v. Transform Holdco LLC (21-1270) to resolve a Circuit split over whether section 363(m) of the Bankruptcy Code limits appellate jurisdiction over bankruptcy sale orders or simply limits the appellant’s remedies on such appeals. Given the now decades-long trend toward resolving Chapter 11 cases through asset sales, including assignments of leases and contracts, the Supreme Court’s decision may provide clarity to a vitally important part of modern Chapter 11 practice.

Contradicting the popular opinion that inflation is an issue that’s set to stick around for a while yet, an article in the Times this weekend put forward an interesting opposing view - that inflation has already peaked and is likely to be on the way down.

Diese Gretchenfrage ist dem Insolvenzrechtssenat des BAG am 25. Mai 2022 einmal mehr gestellt und diesmal eindeutig - mit Auswirkungen über den zu entscheidenden Fall hinaus - beantwortet worden (Az. 6 AZR 497/21). Hintergrund war die Anfechtungsklage eines Insolvenzverwalters gegenüber einer Arbeitnehmerin des Insolvenzschuldners.

The UK's latest quarterly company insolvency statistics, published on 2 August, confirm the trends the restructuring community are seeing so far this year and are expecting to continue as we progress through the year.

State laws on assignments for benefit of creditors (“ABC”) have been around for a long time. But times have changed over the last half-century. Specifically, the bankruptcy alternative has changed dramatically:

Key Point

• The UK government's proposals to only partially implement a new UNCITRAL Model Law means that creditors of English law debts who do not consent to a foreign restructuring proceeding will still have recourse to enforcing their rights against the debtor's UK-based assets.

English Law Is Still a Special Situation

Law 216 of 14 July 2022 amends and supplements Law 85/2014 on insolvency prevention and insolvency proceedings and other legislation. The new law transposes the business prevention mechanisms introduced at European level by Directive 2019/1023.

The amendments to the insolvency law implement the business prevention mechanisms imposed by Directive 2019/1023 and clarify certain concepts and ways of action that were hitherto left to the discretion of the parties or to different interpretations by the courts.

Historically, the Hong Kong courts have generally recognised foreign insolvency proceedings commenced in the jurisdiction in which the company is incorporated. This may no longer be the case in Hong Kong following the recent decision of Provisional Liquidator of Global Brands Group Holding Ltd v Computershare Hong Kong Trustees Ltd [2022] HKCFI 1789 (Global Brands).