The High Court can appoint an insolvency practitioner to act in emergency in many matters. Citations: Gazette 12-Mar-1997 Statutes: Insolvency Act 1986 108(1) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Insolvency Updated: 24 July 2022; Ref: scu.81687
The section gives the court jurisdiction to make an administration order if it ‘(a) is satisfied that a company is or is likely to become unable to pay its debts’ and ‘(b) considers that the making of an order . . would be likely to achieve’ one or more of the purposes specified in s8(3). … Continue reading In re Harris Simons Construction Limited: ChD 1989
A prerequisite to making an administration order under section 8(1) is that the court considers making such an order ‘would be likely to achieve’ one of the statutory purposes. Held: This required the court to be satisfied there is a ‘prospect sufficiently likely in the light of all the other circumstances of the case to … Continue reading In re Primlaks (UK) Ltd: 1989
The court does not have power to order the payment of a liquidator’s costs which had not been properly incurred. The costs of unsuccessful litigation were not recoverable in priority to a secured creditor in priority to the charge. As to rule 7.47(1) of the Rules: ‘But, since the point has been raised and may … Continue reading Mond and Another v Hammond Suddards and Another: CA 15 Jun 1999
A statutory demand as served showed an incorrectly calculated sum owed and was in the wrong form. Held: The application to set the demand aside was refused. A statutory demand should not be set aside for a mere technicality.Lord Justice Nicholls said: ‘The question arising on this appeal concerns the exercise by the court of … Continue reading In re a Debtor (No 1 of 1987), ex parte the Royal Bank of Scotland: CA 1989
This appeal raises two closely related questions of law: whether purported execution of a foreign judgment registered in the High Court pursuant to the terms of the Lugano Convention can be execution issued in respect of the judgment debt, for the purposes of section 268(1)(b) of the Insolvency Act 1986, if the execution occurred before … Continue reading Islandsbanki Hf and Others v Stanford: CA 2 Apr 2020
The claimant sought damages after his agency with the defendants was terminated. The central issue was whether compensation was to be calculated at two years commission as derived from French practice or otherwise. Held: ‘there is no clear agreement on the principles governing the assessment of compensation under regulation 17(6) . . . the common … Continue reading Lonsdale v Howard and Hallam Ltd: CA 8 Feb 2006
Sheriff’s failure to gain access meant that he had failed to execute the writ of fieri facias. Failure to serve writ of fieri facias is not merely a formal defect or irregularity. Citations: Ind Summary 13-Sep-1993, Times 19-Jul-1993 Statutes: Insolvency Act 1986 268(1)(b) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Litigation Practice Updated: 26 October 2022; Ref: scu.81660
Citations: [2003] EWCA Civ 1886 Links: Bailii Statutes: Insolvency Act 1986 268(1) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Insolvency Updated: 06 September 2022; Ref: scu.193675
The ordinary procedure of an insolvency involves two-stage, a statutory demand followed by a bankruptcy petition. The service of a ‘statutory demand’ in the prescribed form is simply one means of establishing ‘inability to pay’. The procedure is intended to be brief, and is aimed at establishing an inability to pay and no more. It … Continue reading Re a Debtor: ChD 1994
EAT TRANSFER OF UNDERTAKINGS: Acquired rights directive TRANSFER OF UNDERTAKINGS: Varying terms of employment As a matter of construction of TUPE Reg 5(1), a contractual term entitling employees to pay ‘in accordance with collective agreements negotiated from time to time by [the NJC]’ is protected on a TUPE transfer to the private sector so as … Continue reading Alemo-Herron v Parkwood Leisure Ltd: EAT 12 Jan 2009
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
The claimant alleged that the defendants had funded the purchase of various properties by secret and unlawful commissions taken by them whilst in power in Pakistan. They sought to recover the proceeds. They now sought permission to serve proceedings on the defendant companies abroad, outside a Lugano Convention country. Held: The claim should proced. ‘There … Continue reading Islamic Republic of Pakistan v Zardari and others: ComC 6 Oct 2006
The High Court may always choose to appoint a new supervisor of a voluntary arrangement. Citations: Times 03-Mar-1997 Statutes: Insolvency Act 1986 108(1) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Insolvency Updated: 17 June 2022; Ref: scu.82310
The administrators held cash. They proposed a distribution giving creditors who would on a winding up be preferential, full preference. They appealed refusal by the court to sanction the proposal. Held: The court had no power to make such an order. From the cases there were three sources for the court’s power to sanction, or … Continue reading In re Luna Metal Products Ltd (in Administration): CA 14 Dec 2006
The liquidators had lost their legal action, and had been ordered to pay the present claimants their costs. They sought payment out of an insolvency services account in competition with the solicitors for the liquidators. Held: An award of costs was not a payment of ‘expenses incurred in the winding up’ and therefore the court … Continue reading Digital Equipment Co Ltd and Others v Bower and Others: ChD 4 Dec 2003
The liquidator in a creditor’s voluntary liquidation sought a direction that he could take his costs of pursuing former directors in actions for wrongful trading and preferences, out of realised funds. It was held that nothing in the rules or Act supported the contention that such costs would be expenses of the voluntary winding up. … Continue reading Lewis v Commissioner of Inland Revenue and others: CA 2 Nov 2000
A former partner in a firm could not set off sums due to him from the former partnership, against sums expended by remaining partners in acting to protect partnership property, and claimed from him. There was insufficient mutuality to enforce the set off. The one claim was by partners but as trustees, and the other … Continue reading Hurst v Bennett and Others In Re A Debtor (No 302 of 1997): CA 16 Feb 2001
The claimants worked for Rotaprint when it went into receivership in 1988, and then for the receiver before being transferred to Pan Graphics. Statutory redundany payments were made on the receivership of Rotaprint. The claimants sought further redundancy payment on the insolvency of Rotaprint. The Secretary now appealed the decision of the EAT that payments … Continue reading Lassman and Others v Secretary of State for Trade and Industry: CA 19 Apr 2000
A company went into liquidation, being owed substantial sums by another company in the same group, but itself insolvent. A settlement did not include accrued interest, but was claimed to be taxed as if it had, and on an accruals basis. If so, was this an expense properly arising in the insolvency, and payable as … Continue reading Kahn and Another v Commissioners of Inland Revenue; In re Toshoku Finance plc: HL 20 Feb 2002
The court was asked ‘What relation should the costs and remuneration bear to the circumstances, and in particular the size, of the bankruptcy?’ The bankrupt had considered that the costs first awarded to the trustee in bankruptcy and the trustee’s solicitors were disproportionate. On appeal they had been reduced, but he appealed again seeking a … Continue reading Brook v Reed: CA 25 Mar 2011
The appellants had overpaid under a mistake of law very substantial sums in VAT over several years. The excess had been repaid, but with simple interest and not compound interest, which the now claimed (together with other taxpayers amounting to 17 . .
