Introduction
The recent decision of Metigy Pty Ltd (in liq) (applications for settlement approval) [2023] FCA 818 reminds liquidators and trustees of the prerequisites they must satisfy in seeking judicial advice. Failure to meet these criteria may result in the court refusing to exercise its jurisdiction to give such advice.
The facts
Contemporary Issues: Insolvency and Arbitration in Vietnam A bankruptcy proceeding often brings with it questions as to how creditors might be able to make their claims. For example, tension may arise between the unified dispute resolution procedures under a contract (such as an arbitration agreement) and bankruptcy regulations. By way of the parties’ arbitration agreement, the parties have ostensibly intended, at the outset, for all disputes arising from the underlying contract to be resolved through arbitration.
1.1 The overriding objective
(1) The overriding objective of these rules is to enable the court to deal with cases justly.
(2) Dealing justly with the case includes –
(a) ensuring, so far as is practicable, that the parties are on an equal footing;
(b) saving expense;
(c) dealing with cases in ways which are proportionate to the –
(i) amount of money involved;
(ii) importance of the case;
(iii) complexity of the issues; and (iv) financial position of each party;
(d) ensuring that it is dealt with expeditiously; and
After a 10-month inquiry process, on 12 July 2023 the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services (PJC) delivered its final report on the effectiveness of Australia’s corporate insolvency laws.
In this alert, we distil some of the key findings from the almost 400-page report and consider what future law reforms might look like.
A COMPLEX AND INEFFICIENT SYSTEM
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida created a three-factor test to help determine the ownership interests of social media accounts. The court in In re Vital Pharm[1] found that (1) documented property interests, (2) control over access, and (3) use, each play a role in establishing ownership over social media accounts.
On June 30, the Supreme Court ruled that the Biden administration did not have authority to forgive student loans under the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act of 2003 (HEROES Act). Despite this defeat, the Biden administration is still working to reduce the burden of student loans. Advocates for student loan relief argue that student loans can be a crushing form of debt in part because of their treatment in bankruptcy. It is the common belief that student loans, unlike other forms of unsecured debt, are not dischargeable in bankruptcy.
Following are this week’s summaries of the Court of Appeal for Ontario for the week of July 17, 2023.
Summary
July, 2023 For Private Circulation - Educational & Informational Purpose Only A BRIEFING ON LEGAL MATTERS OF CURRENT INTEREST KEY HIGHLIGHTS ⁎ Delhi High Court: An arbitration clause contained in a contract perishes upon its novation. * NCLT Hyderabad rejects resolution plan for being incompliant with Regulation 36B 4(A) of the CIRP Regulations. * Madras High Court rejects enforcement of a foreign arbitration award which was passed without considering FEMA violations and fraud in share valuations. * NCLAT: NCLTs and NCLAT have the power to recall their judgments.