On February 22, 2023, the United States Supreme Court (“the Supreme Court”) issued its Opinion in the matter of Bartenwerfer v. Buckley, No. 21-908, LEXIS 943 (Feb. 22, 2023), holding that per 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2)(A), a partnership member is not entitled to discharge a debt incurred by the fraud of another partnership member, regardless of the fact the innocent member had no knowledge of the fraud.
Background
An overview of Guernsey legislative and regulatory developments for the period 1 December 2022 to 28 February 2023 inclusive.
1 Corporate insolvency regime – update
The Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 (Insolvency) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 (the Amendment Ordinance) finally came into force on 1 January 2023.
In Bartenwerfer v. Buckley, the Supreme Court of the United States resolved confusion in the lower courts over the scope and application of 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2)(A), which prohibits debtors from discharging debt through bankruptcy when such debt was obtained as a result of fraudulent actions.
Nicola Sharp considers the recent appeal decision in Tradition Financial Services Ltd vBilta (UK) Ltd [2023] EWCA Civ, and the ways in which it affects the definition of fraudulent trading.
From investors to regulators, FTX Trading Ltd (FTX) filing for bankruptcy was unexpected by all. A catalyst for litigation and regulation over the years to come, this collapse will serve as a warning, particularly to cryptocurrency insurers.
What happened?
The U.K. government has published its much-anticipated proposals for regulating the cryptoasset industry. These proposals, currently in the form of a consultation, will see many (but not all) cryptoasset-related activities being brought within the regulatory perimeter for financial services in the U.K.
In brief
The New Criminal Code became the first piece of legislation passed into Law in 2023 and was promulgated on 2 January as Law No. 1 of 2023.
Nicola Sharp of Rahman Ravelli considers a case that shows the courts’ reluctance to expand the jurisdiction of equity to award compound interest in common law claims.
“Geoff is a savvy and commercially astute professional” “He combines his keen intellect with a practical approach to deliver the best results for his clients”
Questions & Answers
How is the function of a company’s separate personality altered by insolvency? And to what extent may that give rise to an action in civil fraud? Nicola Sharp of Rahman Ravelli outlines the situation.
Since the end of the 19th century and the decision in Salomon v A Salomon and Co Ltd [1897] AC 22, it has been settled law that a company has its own separate personality. But as company law and insolvency law have evolved, the function of the company’s separate legal personality has developed.