The statement was issued as a gloss on the 1994 practice statement. A party wishing to restrict access to all or any part of an independent report prepared in support of an application for an administration order must be ready to support their application with proper reasons. Each application must be dealt with on its … Continue reading Practice Statement (Administration order: Reports): ChD 15 Apr 2002
Citations: [1999] EWCA Civ 1370 Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Insolvency Updated: 30 May 2022; Ref: scu.146285
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The cliamant appealed against an order setting aside summary judgment. Judges: Etherton, Sullivan LJJ Citations: [2009] EWCA Civ 1182 Links: Bailii Statutes: Insolvency Act 1986 285 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Litigation Practice, Insolvency Updated: 05 August 2022; Ref: scu.377818
The defendant had been subject to a possession order in respect of his secure tenancy. He was later adjudged bankrupt. He asserted that the bankruptcy specifically prevented other action to enforce the debt, and the suspended possession order was such an enforcement. Held: Where the terms of suspension were expressed so as to indicate that … Continue reading Harlow District Council v Hall: CA 28 Feb 2006
The applicants were in turn the recipient of a Social Fund loan and a claimant who had been overpaid benefit. Both were later declared bankrupt. The Secretary of State then began to recover the loan and overpayment by deduction from their current benefits. They argued that he was unable to do so because of section … Continue reading Regina v Secretary of State for Social Security, Ex parte Taylor and Chapman: ChD 5 Feb 1996
The applicants sought leave to proceed in actions against the defendants against whom bankruptcy proceedings were pending. Consent should have been obtained before proceedings were issued, but application was now made nunc pro tunc. Held: The court has a free hand in these situations to do what was right and fair. Leave was granted. Judges: … Continue reading In Re Melinek (A Bankrupt); Bristol & West Building Society v Alexander (The Trustee Of The Property of Back) (A Bankrupt); Melinek (A Bankrupt): ChD 10 Apr 1997
References: Times 10-Apr-1997, (1998) 1 BCLC 485 Coram: David Young QC The applicants sought leave to proceed in actions against the defendants against whom bankruptcy proceedings were pending. Consnet should have been obtained before proceedings were issued, but application was now made nunc pro tunc. Held: The court has a free hand in these situations … Continue reading In Re Melinek (A Bankrupt); Bristol and West Building Society v Alexander (The Trustee Of The Property of Back) (A Bankrupt); Melinek (A Bankrupt): ChD 10 Apr 1997
The trustee in bankruptcy sought to have set aside a charging order made over the bankrupt’s property before the commencement of the insolvency. Held: ‘The principle that property acquired from a debtor (in good faith and without notice of the presentation of a bankruptcy petition) is entitled to retain that property against the trustee in … Continue reading Nationwide Building Society v Wright and Another: CA 29 Jul 2009
Liquidators of the company brought proceedings alleging fraudulent trading and trading whilst insolvent by its former directors. An application was made for an in-time application for an extension of time for disclosure. Held: The Court should scrutinise an application for extension more rigorously than before the Jackson reforms and must firmly discourage any easy assumption … Continue reading Atrium Traing Services Ltd; Smailes and Another v McNally and Others: ChD 27 Sep 2013
For identifying whether a declaration of trust in favour of an employees’ pension scheme was preferential, the test was by reference to the trustees collectively. This was so under the section despite the close identity of the trustees with the directors. Citations: Times 14-Jan-1999 Statutes: Insolvency Act 1986 239 435(5)(b) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Insolvency … Continue reading In Re Thirty-Eight Building Ltd: ChD 14 Jan 1999
The House considered the effects of bankruptcy on the imposition of a committal to imprisonment in default of paying rates. The purpose of section 285 is to preserve the estate of the bankrupt for the benefit of his unsecured creditors.Lord Jauncey of Tullichettle said that, in view of the changes in policy shown by the … Continue reading Smith (a bankrupt) v Braintree District Council: HL 1989
The parties had agreed to an ancillary relief order on their divorce. The husband was made bankrupt without having paid the lump sum agreed. The former wife and now claimant had received no dividend. Debts which were not provable in the bankruptcy are not released: they are untouched by the process. The former husband now … Continue reading McRoberts v McRoberts: ChD 1 Nov 2012
The company was in liquidation. Terence Venables, who had owned the shares, had taken an assignment of a cause of action against the football club. The court had set aside that assignment, and removed the liquidator. Venables now appealed saying that the court had been wrong to intervene. Held: The appeal succeeded in part. The … Continue reading In Re Edennote Ltd; Tottenham Hotspur plc v Ryman: CA 21 May 1996
A stay of execution of an order against matrimonial assets was not defeated by bankruptcy. As to the interplay of the Insolvency Rules and matrimonial proceedings. Balcombe LJ said: ‘I cannot leave this case without saying something about the effect of r 12.3 of the Insolvency Rules 1986. Before those rules came into force orders … Continue reading Woodley v Woodley (2): CA 12 Apr 1993
The administrators of a company are deemed to have accepted the employees who had been kept on after 14 days. A letter from them denying that they would accept them as employees, was insufficient to prevent adoption of the contracts. Citations: Independent 22-Mar-1994, Gazette 08-Jun-1994, Gazette 20-Apr-1994, Times 01-Mar-1994, Ind Summary 14-Mar-1994 Statutes: Insolvency Act … Continue reading Powdrill and Another v Watson and Another: CA 1 Mar 1994
Very emphatic language was required in a statute before want of leave should, without more, result in proceedings being treated as a nullity. Leave could in appropriate circumstances be granted after the event notwithstanding the proceedings had been commenced without leave. The words used in s.130(2) of the Insolvency Act 1986 were, in their historical … Continue reading In re Saunders (A Bankrupt): ChD 1997
In ancillary relief proceedings in a divorce, the husband had been ordered to transfer his interest in property to his wife. Before it was put into effect, he became insolvent. The wife and receiver competed for the interest to have been transferred. Held: Upon the order taking effect (upon the decree absolute), the wife acquired … Continue reading Mountney v Treharne: CA 8 Aug 2002
The court discussed the the receipt and acceptance of a letter of request: ‘The scheme of subsection (5) appears to me to be this. The first step is to identify the matters specified in the request. Secondly, the domestic court should ask itself what would be the relevant insolvency law applicable by the domestic court … Continue reading Re Dallhold Estates (UK) Pty Ltd: ChD 1992
The court was asked whether the debts due to a former holder of a floating charge which, after the commencement of the liquidation of the company, releases its security, are ‘unsecured debts’ within section 176A. Judges: Roger Kaye QC J Citations: [2010] EWHC 2850 (Ch), [2011] BCC 93 Links: Bailii Statutes: Insolvency Act 1986 176A(2)(A) … Continue reading Kelly and Another v Inflexion Fund 2 Ltd and Another: ChD 11 Nov 2010
Application by liquidators to be excused compliance with section 176A. Judges: Blackburne J Citations: [2008] EWHC 2339 (Ch) Links: Bailii Statutes: Insolvency Act 1986 176A(5) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Insolvency Updated: 19 July 2022; Ref: scu.276790
A wife who had an order for ancillary relief in her favour, but whose husband entered into an Individual Voluntary Arrangement, was obliged to accept the allotted dividend, but her special position under the Act was also to be acknowledged. She had the choice of awaiting discharge from the IVA first. Citations: Gazette 03-Mar-1999, Times … Continue reading In Re M (A Debtor) (488-Io of 1996): ChD 10 Feb 1999
Administrators took on new employees during the period of administration, but when it came to an end, they were unable to pay the PAYE and NIC for the employees. Held: The statute gave special priority to debts incurred under new contracts. The liability for PAYE fell under that category, and so did liability for NIC, … Continue reading In Re FJL Realisations Ltd: ChD 2 Mar 2000
An airline company went into administration. The airport seized two airplanes. The administrators claimed they were property within the administration, could not be seized without a court order, and the court should exercise its discretion not to allow seizure. Held: The definition of property in the 1982 Act was wide enough to include leased property. … Continue reading Bristol Airport Plc and Another v Powdrill and Others: CA 21 Dec 1989
Appeal against strike out of application to have set aside deeds of assignment. Judges: Brooke VP, Arden LJJ Citations: [2005] EWCA Civ 276 Links: Bailii Statutes: Insolvency Act 1986 167(3) 168(5) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Cited – In Re Edennote Ltd; Tottenham Hotspur plc v Ryman CA 21-May-1996 The company was in liquidation. Terence … Continue reading Ultraframe (UK) Ltd v Rigby and others: CA 19 Jan 2005
The company Edennote had been wound up on insolvency. It had a possible claim for fees against Tottenham, owned by Mr Sugare. The shareholder, Terry Venables, took an assignment of that action. An application was made to set aside the assignment and to remove the liquidator. Held: The application succeeded. The assignment of the action … Continue reading In Re Edennote Ltd; Tottenham Hotspur plc v Ryman: ChD 1 Nov 1994
Citations: [2000] EWCA Civ 46 Links: Bailii Statutes: Insolvency Act 1986 168(5) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Cited – In Re Edennote Ltd; Tottenham Hotspur plc v Ryman CA 21-May-1996 The company was in liquidation. Terence Venables, who had owned the shares, had taken an assignment of a cause of action against the football club. … Continue reading Mahomed and Another v Morris and Others: CA 17 Feb 2000
The collector of taxes distrained on the goods of the company under section 61 TMA 1970 for unpaid taxes and the company entered into a walking possession agreement. Before the collector had sold the goods, and completed the distress, the company entered into voluntary winding-up and a liquidator was appointed. There was a deficiency of … Continue reading Herbert Berry Associates Ltd v Inland Revenue Commissioners: ChD 1976
The High court may not exercise its jurisdiction under section 263 of the 1986 Act within a voluntary arrangement within the county court. Judges: Blackurne J Citations: [1995] BCC 226, [1995] 2 BCLD 208 Statutes: Insolvency Act 1986 263(5) Cited by: Followed – In re Sankey Furniture Ltd, ex parte Harding; Re Calorifique Limited, ex … Continue reading Re Bridgend Goldsmiths Limited and Others: ChD 1995
Administrators took on new employees during the period of administration, but when it came to an end, they were unable to pay the PAYE and NIC for the employees. Held: The statute gave special priority to debts incurred under new contracts. The liability for PAYE fell under that category, and so did liability for NIC, … Continue reading In Re FJL Realisations Ltd: CA 2 Aug 2000
The forfeiture of a bankrupt’s lease is not an exercise of a security disallowing landlord from proving in the bankruptcy. the right of physical re-entry is neither a ‘security’ nor a ‘remedy’ within the meaning of those provisions, nor does it constitute ‘other proceedings’ or the execution of ‘other legal process’. The present law is … Continue reading Razzaq v Pala: QBD 6 Jun 1997
Appeal to the High Court from a decision of a district judge exercising insolvency jurisdiction in the county court on appeal from a decision of the bankruptcy adjudicator raising two fundamental, and apparently novel, questions. The first concerns the evidential burden, if any, resting on an applicant for a bankruptcy order to adduce evidence as … Continue reading The Office of The Bankruptcy Adjudicator and Another v Shaw: ChD 7 Oct 2021
The claimants sought to have set aside statutory demands served to enforce judgmens, they said under a discrepancy. The order refusing their application should they said, have notified them of their right to appeal. Held: None of the applicable rules expressly required otification that an appeal was available. Newey J [2015] EWHC 932 (Ch), [2015] … Continue reading Clarke v Cognita Schools Ltd (T/A Hydesville Tower School): ChD 1 Apr 2015
(Grand Chamber) The subsequent use against a defendant in a prosecution, of evidence which had been obtained under compulsion in company insolvency procedures was a convention breach of Art 6. Although not specifically mentioned in Article 6 of the Convention the right to silence and the right not to incriminate oneself are generally recognised international … Continue reading Saunders v The United Kingdom: ECHR 17 Dec 1996
The claimants complained of their segregation while in prison. Several preliminary questions were to be decided: whether damages might be payable for breach of a Convention Right; wheher the act of a prison governor was the act of the executive; whether time ran from the date of the first breach, whether want of proportionality is … Continue reading Somerville v Scottish Ministers: HL 24 Oct 2007
The Court was asked ‘whether, and if so, in what circumstances, an order or judgment of a foreign court . . in proceedings to adjust or set aside prior transactions, eg preferences or transactions at an undervalue, will be recognised and enforced in England. The appeals also raise the question whether enforcement may be effected … Continue reading Rubin and Another v Eurofinance Sa and Others: SC 24 Oct 2012
The bankrupt applicants each applied to the Court of Appeal for leave to appeal against the judgment for a liquidated sum on which the bankruptcy petition had been based. In the first case, the trustee in bankruptcy indicated his unwillingness to pursue an appeal; in the second, no trustee had been appointed. Held: A bankrupt … Continue reading Heath v Tang, Stevens v Peacock: CA 11 Aug 1993
The claimant was trustee in bankruptcy but the court failed to register the bankruptcy petition at the Land Registry as a pending action. The bankrupt was therefore able to sell her land, and the trustee did not recover the proceeds. The trustee sought to recover from the defendant who was responsible for the court service. … Continue reading Poulton v Ministry of Justice: CA 22 Apr 2010
The appellant sought to recover overpayments of benefits and Social Fund Loans, after the respondent had had a Debt relief order. Held: The Secretary of State’s appeal failed. The ‘net entitlement principle’ argued for did not exist. The entitlement is a statutory one, and any liability to repay is separate and independent, being only a … Continue reading Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v Payne and Another: SC 14 Dec 2011
Administrators of the claimant company asserted that the company had held informal leases of two hangars owned by the defendant, and also complained of their transfer at an undervalue. The first defendant said that the occupations were under license only. Held: The occupation, having the characteristics of a tenancy, was in fact a tenancy. As … Continue reading Mann Aviation Group (Engineering) Ltd v Longmint Aviation Ltd and Another: ChD 19 Aug 2011
Application for directions in a pending appeal. The claimant alleged negligence against his former solicitors. After his successful claim was substantially overturned on appeal, he was made bankrupt.
Held: If the trustee adopted and pursued . .
