Introduction
The recently published Financial Services and Markets Bill (FSM Bill) is intended to recast the U.K.’s regulatory architecture post-Brexit. It was introduced to Parliament on 20 July 2022. The Bill implements the outcomes of the Future Regulatory Framework Review, which assessed whether the U.K.
Between the lines... For Private Circulation-Educational & Information purpose only Vaish Associates Advocates… Distinct. By Experience. I. Supreme Court: NCLT/NCLAT should not sit in appeal over commercial wisdom of the CoC to allow withdrawal of CIRP. The Hon’ble Supreme Court (“SC”) has in its judgment dated June 3, 2022, in the matter of Vallal RCK v. M/s. Siva Industries and Holdings Limited and Others [Civil Appeal Nos.
Investors in a scheme that seems too good to be true should be aware that they may be liable to return the funds under principles of unjust enrichment or bankruptcy preference laws.
Diego Sierra is a dispute resolution expert who is praised for his profound ability “to understand the key points of a complex case”.
Questions & Answers
Global Perspectives on Insolvency, Restructuring & Dispute Resolution
As primarily offshore lawyers, we speak on a daily basis with onshore counsel, banks, asset managers, trustees, corporates, insolvency practitioners and individuals around the world. Those conversations give our Global Insolvency & Dispute Resolution Practice Group a unique perspective on the different market trends and their regional impact in 2022.
A discharge in bankruptcy usually discharges a debtor from the debtor’s liabilities. Section 523 of the Bankruptcy Code, however, sets forth certain exceptions to this policy, including for “any debt . . . for money, property, services, or an extension, renewal, or refinancing of credit, to the extent obtained by . . . false pretenses, a false representation, or actual fraud. . . .” 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2)(A).
Government-backed loan schemes implemented to assist ailing businesses during the pandemic have been subject to widespread abuse. An estimated £4.9bn of the £47bn invested in business support loans during the life of the pandemic is thought have been lost to fraud and up to £17bn may never be repaid. In response to concerns about potential abuse of limited company liability, new legislation received Royal Assent on 15 December 2021 - The Rating (Coronavirus) and Directors Disqualification (Dissolved Companies) Act 2021 (the Act).
As Robert Burns wrote, freedom and whisky may ‘gang thegither’ but it is fraud and wine making a fine pairing in the news recently by way of two separate examples of dishonest wine investment schemes.
Global Wine Exchange Limited
The first concerns Global Wine Exchange Limited (“Global”), which was wound-up in the public interest on 22 March 2022 following abuse of more than £1.9m of clients’ funds in a wine investment scheme.
Another interesting summary in the Times reporting on the staggering levels of fraud committed against the UK taxpayer during the pandemic. Whilst the Insolvency Service are clearly doing their best to hold fraudsters to account through disqualification orders and similar punitive measures, it appears that we are no closer to a financial recovery of any meaningful value, or at the very least imposing real financial pain on those who took advantage of the country’s generosity in the face of the unprecedented challenges of the Covid pandemic.