Introduction

Independent schools have not been immune from financial stress in recent years. Prior to the pandemic a combination of increasing staff costs, greater competition and the need for continual investment in technology and premises was already posing challenges for a number of institutions. This was exacerbated by the unique pressures of COVID, which saw income squeezed as a result of enforced school closures and reduced pupil numbers.

November, 2023 For Private Circulation - Educational & Informational Purpose Only A BRIEFING ON LEGAL MATTERS OF CURRENT INTEREST KEY HIGHLIGHTS ⁎ Delhi HC: Claims settled under a resolution plan become non-arbitrable and a reference of those claims would amount to reopening of the resolution plan. ⁎ Delhi HC: Transfer of liabilities from a previous loan agreement makes the arbitration clauses in subsequent agreements, binding. * NCLAT: No bar on the initiation of CIRP, if default is committed prior to Section 10A Period and continues during the Section 10A Period.

On October 4, 2023, a 2 (two) judge bench of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India (“Supreme Court”) in the case of Union Bank of India v. Rajat Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd and Sunview Assets Pvt Ltd. held that the powers of the Supreme Court under Article 142 of the Constitution of India, 1950 ("Constitution”), being inherent in nature, are complementary to those powers which are specifically conferred by statute.

Brief Facts

We discuss the Federal Court of Australia’s judgment and distil insights to assist trustees in bankruptcy navigate difficult estates and deal with recalcitrant bankrupts.

The National Company Law Tribunal, Kolkata Bench (“NCLT”), in EPC Constructions India Limited through its Liquidator – Abhijit Guhathkurtha v. M/s Matix Fertilizer and Chemicals Limited has ruled that preference shareholders cannot step into the shoes of a financial creditor unless their preference shares become redeemable.

Brief Facts

In a recent development, the Supreme Court dismissed the review petitions filed against its decision in State Tax Officer v Rainbow Papers Ltd., which had disturbed the settled position that in insolvency resolution proceedings, statutory dues (including tax claims) fall in the category of operational debt. Instead, the Supreme Court held that statutory dues qualify as debts owed to a secured creditor, and a resolution plan that ignores such debts is liable to be rejected.

Introduction

最高人民法院与香港律政司在2019年1月18日共同签署了《关于内地与香港特别行政区法院相互认可和执行民商事案件判决的安排》（“《新安排》”）。在香港方面，《新安排》需透过本地法律实施，根据香港政府2023年11月10日的宪报，《内地民商事判决（相互强制执行）条例》（第645章）以及《内地民商事判决（相互强制执行）规则》将于2024年1月29日生效。在内地方面，我们预期最高人民法院亦将近期颁布相关司法解释。依照双方共识，《新安排》会于2024年1月29日在两地同步实施。

《关于内地与香港特别行政区法院相互认可和执行当事人协议管辖的民商事案件判决的安排》（“《旧安排》”）将在《新安排》生效之日废止（第30条第1款）。但《新安排》生效前，当事人已签署《旧安排》所称“书面管辖协议”的，仍适用《旧安排》（第30条第2款）。

《新安排》的生效落地，将大大提高两地法院判决被互相认可和执行的便利性。据最高人民法院估计，新安排实施后内地与香港两地法院90%左右的民商事案件判决将有望得到相互认可和执行。

有鉴于此，我们希望分享《新安排》生效后的一些实务要点和操作流程概览，期待与业界交流探讨。

In a recent opinion, the Fifth Circuit reaffirmed and applied its holding from OGA Charters. In doing so, it blocked (via a bankruptcy adversary proceeding) one set of plaintiffs from keeping an insured’s entire policy limit, which the insurer paid as per Texas’ “first come first served” approach to time-limited policy limits demands.

Celsius’ retail borrowers finally have an answer on who owns the cryptocurrency they deposited into Celsius in exchange for a loan from Celsius – spoiler alert: on November 13, 2023 the bankruptcy court held that Celsius’ terms of service “clearly and unambiguously” gave Celsius ownership of retail borrowers’ cryptocurrency. The bankruptcy court’s decision follows its January 2023 decision which similarly held that the cryptocurrency of Celsius’ “Earn” customers also belonged to Celsius because the terms of service similarly unambiguously granted Celsius title ownership.