Mark Fine, Usman Khan and Sunay Radia, McDermott Will & Emery
This is an extract from the 2024 edition of GRR's Europe, Middle East and Africa Restructuring Review. The whole publication is available here.
Prompted by the EU Restructuring Directive and accelerated by the pandemic, jurisdictions all across Europe have completely transformed their restructuring regimes in recent years. This is part of a global trend towards more debtor-friendly, rescue-orientated restructuring regimes, inspired by US Chapter 11.
The recent case of Re VE Global UK Ltd (In Administration) [2024] EWHC 749 (Ch) is a useful reminder to practitioners and lenders alike of the importance of correctly identifying documents which create security interests, analysing them to determine whether such security interest is required to be presented for registration at Companies House and ensuring that all registration steps in respect of such interests are completed within the required 21 day time period.
U.K. TURNAROUND AND RESTRUCTURING UPDATE APRIL 2024 OUR OUTLOOK It would be safe to say that 2024 has begun at a ferocious pace for our Turnaround and Restructuring team, reflecting the many challenges and disruptive headwinds that businesses are facing into. Following the recessionary environment witnessed in the second half of 2023, the reported modest return to growth in January has not masked the disruption that we see in the market, irrespective of industry or sub-sector. Our current engagements span from online retail to shipping, financial services, and aerospace.
Reid-Roberts & Anor v Mei-Lin & Anor (Re Audun Mar Gudmundsson (a Bankrupt) [2024] EWHC 759 (Ch) was an unusual case resulting in an unusual application of the exceptional circumstances rule in the context of an application by the joint trustees in bankruptcy of Audun Mar Gudmundson for declarations as to the beneficial ownership of his and his ex-wife’s former matrimonial home and orders under s 335A Insolvency Act 1986 for possession and sale.
Dispute Resolution analysis: An application by the former administrators of a company for an increase in their remuneration has been dismissed, despite the Court concluding that they had standing to bring the application itself.
Frost and another v The Good Box Co Labs Limited and others [2024] EWHC 422 (Ch)
What are the practical implications of this case?
In a seminal judgment of the Court of Appeal of England & Wales in the case of In the Matter of AGPS Bondco plc (Adler), the Court of Appeal overturned the first instance judgment of the High Court of England and Wales sanctioning a restructuring plan between AGPS Bondco plc (Plan Company) and its creditors. In doing so, it restated and clarified the law in England & Wales insofar as it relates to restructuring plans. Post-Adler, the High Court has sanctioned a restructuring plan in the case of In the Matter of Project Lietzenburger Straße Holdco S.A.R.L.
Insolvency Practitioners will welcome the UK Jurisdiction Taskforce’s (UKJT) Legal Statement on Digital Assets and English Insolvency Law, published on 17 April 2024.
ChatGPT was launched less than 18 months ago. This relatively brief period feels like a lifetime, considering the seismic changes to date which are likely only the start.
On 17 April 2024 the UK Jurisdiction Taskforce (theUKJT), chaired by Sir Geoffrey Vos published its Legal Statement on Digital Assets and English Insolvency Law.