The NSIA is aimed at safeguarding national security and only applies to certain transactions occurring within certain sectors where national security might be threatened. There are 17 sectors in total, including energy, transport, and communications. Depending on the transaction, the NSIA may require a purchaser to notify the Secretary of State of an acquisition to … Continue Reading
Can a liquidator run an unjust enrichment claim to seek to recover PAYE and NIC liabilities from a company’s directors arising from the company’s use of a “disguised remuneration” employee benefit trust (“EBT”) scheme? Based on the findings of ICC Judge Barber in the case of Re Ethos Solutions Ltd, the answer is “no”.… Continue Reading
We look once again at the recent case of Re Active Wear Limited (in administration) (our other blog on another aspect of this case can be found here). As part of the changes introduced in light of Covid-19, the Temporary Insolvency Practice Direction (MIPD) was introduced, to enable statutory declarations on notices of intention to … Continue Reading
In PGD (in liquidation) Manolete Partners plc v Hope Mr Justice Zacaroli considered whether it was possible and/or appropriate to limit the quantum of relief granted in insolvency litigation to the amount required to pay the liquidation debts, costs and expenses where the claim had been assigned to a third-party litigation funder. Zacaroli J held … Continue Reading
It has almost been 12 months since the Administration (Restrictions on Disposal etc to Connected Persons) Regulations 2021 came into force on 30 April 2021. The regulations require an administrator to obtain creditor approval or a report from an independent evaluator in advance of completing a “substantial disposal” of the company’s property to a connected … Continue Reading
On 12 May 2021, the UK Government introduced the snappily titled “Rating (Coronavirus) and Directors Disqualification (Dissolved Companies) Bill”. As the title of the bill suggests, it seeks to amend the applicability of the directors’ disqualification regime to directors of dissolved companies. A summary of the current regime is summarised in this note on directors’ … Continue Reading
The Government has issued a consultation paper regarding statutory audits and financial reporting. The consultation makes proposals in relation to four areas, namely directors, auditors and audit firms, shareholders and the audit regulator. We have previously summarised the proposals impacting the purpose and scope of an audit. This post will focus upon the matters affecting … Continue Reading
The case of Re NMUL Realisations Limited (in administration) [2021] EWHC 94 (Ch) follows in the footsteps of the case of Re Tokenhouse VB Limited [2020] EWHC 3171 (Ch),where the Court considered whether a charge-holder’s failure to give notice of their intention to appoint administrators invalidates the appointment (see our previous blog here). The issue … Continue Reading
As set out in the first blog in this series, the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill (the “Bill”) introduces a new debtor-in-possession moratorium to give companies breathing space in order to try to rescue the company as a going concern. The first blog outlined how the moratorium will work. This blog will focus on the … Continue Reading
Following the UK government publishing the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill which sets out temporary changes to the UK Insolvency laws on wrongful trading (see here for further discussion) we have updated our guide on directors’ duties.… Continue Reading
This quick guide summarises the duties that directors of companies incorporated in England & Wales are subject to, and how those duties change when the company is insolvent or at risk of being insolvent. It also gives an overview of the personal risk to directors when the company is in financial difficulty and suggests some … Continue Reading
The High Court has delivered the first decision on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (the “Scheme”), in the context of the Carluccio’s administration. As we have previously discussed, despite further clarification from HMRC over recent days, there remain some unanswered questions regarding the detailed operation of the Scheme, given that the Scheme’s exact legal framework … Continue Reading
On Saturday 4 April, HMRC issued further guidance on the Job Retention Scheme (“JRS”). Given the unprecedented economic backdrop against which the JRS is being introduced, the exact workings of it are still being developed and clarified, with each announcement in turn giving rise to further questions for employers and employees. We have produced a … Continue Reading
This updated note sets out directors’ duties in the context of managing the practicalities that Covid-19 places on business operations. … Continue Reading
The UK Government has announced that, in order to assist businesses dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, no UK business would be required to pay VAT due between 30 March 2020 and 30 June 2020. Instead, the sums that would have fallen to be paid this quarter will not become due until the … Continue Reading
Aside from managing the practicalities that Covid-19 places on business operations, directors must also consider in this context, their duties as directors. This note is a useful reminder of what those duties are and how Covid-19 could impact on those.… Continue Reading
From a recent survey we conducted over 40% of businesses had not yet considered the Financial Support packages being made available from Government. Our quick guide sets out what financial help and other options outside of those on offer from the Government are available to help support businesses – see here.… Continue Reading
When can an insolvency practitioner pursue directors for declaring unlawful dividends? Does an insolvency practitioner need to demonstrate that the directors knew, or ought to have known, that the dividend was paid unlawfully, or is it a strict liability issue? Can director/shareholders rely on professionally prepared accounts to avoid liability?… Continue Reading
When dealing with a debtor or a tenant that has fallen behind with its payment obligations, one of the most cost effective ways of a creditor/landlord reducing its exposure against that entity will be to take advantage of a “self-help” remedy, such as taking possession of the entity’s assets and selling them in repayment of … Continue Reading
You may have noticed from the emails flooding into your inbox (even in this post-GDPR world) that this Friday 23 November is “Black Friday”. The event, originating in the US, takes place the day after Thanksgiving and is now synonymous with heavy discounting by retailers, especially those online. Less than a decade ago, this would … Continue Reading
Summary The High Court has issued a judgment dismissing the entirety of the Claimants’ claim in a long-running dispute commenced by a pair of property developers against a Judicial Factor to the estate of a Scottish businessman (the “Deceased”). Squire Patton Boggs represented the successful Defendant, who was awarded the majority of his costs on the … Continue Reading
In an article that first appeared on LexisNexis on 26 February 2018, Jon Chesman examines a High Court decision which found the applicant liquidator of a company had made out her case that a transfer of stock from the company to the first respondent, a former director of the company, amounted to a preference and … Continue Reading
On 13 July, the Insolvency Service published its annual review of personal insolvency statistics for England & Wales for the 2016 calendar year. That annual review can be accessed here. This blog discusses some of the key findings contained within that report.… Continue Reading
By Joshua Astill-Headley and Jon Chesman on Posted in UK
You might have noticed that the UK is heading to the polls on 8 June. Elections of course create a great deal of uncertainty. One of the few things we can be certain of is that whichever party (or coalition of parties) succeeds, the new UK government faces significant challenges going forward, not least of … Continue Reading
