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The EU referendum outcome to “Brexit” has divided the county. Whilst supporters of both the “Remain” and “Leave” campaigns continue to speculate on what might have happened had the result been different or what will happen following the trigger of Article 50, the only apparent certainty is that these are uncertain times for the UK. Unprecedented, uncertain times.

It is certain that the entire legal sector will face complex challenges; it is also certain that UK law, across all areas, is set to undergo significant reform in the forthcoming years as a consequence of Brexit. Leading on from our last blog, this article will consider the likely implications of Brexit on cross-border restructuring and insolvency proceedings in the UK and the effect of this on the UK’s leading international reputation for restructuring.

EC Regulation

The EC Council Regulation on Insolvency Proceedings 1346/2000 (the “EC Regulation”) currently has direct effect in all EU member states (except Denmark, which has opted out) and provides a framework of rules for insolvent companies and individuals on prescribed insolvency proceedings. The EC Regulation is the legislation from which rules on jurisdiction to open insolvency proceedings in an EU member state have been standardised; it sets out the rules by which national laws are applicable to insolvency proceedings across EU member states; and it is the legislation from which recognition of insolvency proceedings throughout the EU has also been standardised. Post-Brexit, there is great concern that the UK will cease to enjoy the benefit of these established rules of reciprocation as granted by the EC Regulation.

Following the UK’s vote to Brexit, the Government will at some stage begin extensive negotiations with the EU to determine what continuing relationship the UK will have with the EU. It is possible that, from these negotiations, an agreement could be reached whereby the EC Regulation continues to apply to the UK; however, to do so, the UK Government must first seek such recognition and, secondly, all EU member states must ratify the agreement.

Cross-border insolvencies

For compulsory windings up, CVLs, administrations, CVAs, IVAs and bankruptcies, both jurisdiction and recognition are governed by the EC Regulation. If no agreement is reached between the Government and EU as to the continuation of the EC Regulation in the UK, the jurisdiction to open these insolvency processes in the UK would fall back to the pre-existing jurisprudence and criteria set out in the Insolvency Act 1986. Similarly, the jurisdiction for the opening of processes in EU member states would be governed by the domestic law of that EU member state. It is here that the processes would become messy, as interested parties would be required to consider a combination of statute and case law for each individual member state in place of the current clarity and established principles of the EC Regulation throughout the EU.

Similarly, recognition by EU member states of the prescribed insolvency processes opened as main proceedings or secondary proceedings in the UK, would no longer be automatic. Similarly, insolvency proceedings opened in EU member states would no longer receive automatic recognition in the UK. The two main alternative options to the EC regulation in the UK (1. relying on the other EU member state’s domestic law; or 2. opening secondary proceedings in the other EU member state) may very well lead to increased costs and complexity, as a result of the additional procedures; decreased certainty and consistency, as a result of each matter having to be dealt with on a case by case basis; and a general worsening position for creditors given the increased time, cost and uncertainty.

The Cross Border Insolvency Regulations 2006 (the “2006 Regulations”), as implemented by the UK pursuant to the UNCITRAL Model Law, provides for office holders of insolvency proceedings opened outside of the UK to secure recognition of those proceedings in the UK. Whilst recognition under the 2006 Regulations would offer many of the benefits enjoyed from recognition under the EC Regulation, the only other member states to have signed up are Greece, Poland, Romania and Slovenia and so such route is of limited effect in reality.

MVLs, schemes of arrangement and receiverships are outside the EC Regulation and would not be affected by a UK withdrawal from the collective EC Regulation regime.

In the wake of the Referendum

UK office holders and lawyers alike will be hoping for positive negotiations with the EU in the wake of the referendum such that an agreement can be reached whereby the UK continues to adopt the EC Regulation regime. Notwithstanding any agreement that is reached, once the UK leaves the EU it will have limited involvement in future negotiations on the EU cross-border insolvency regime and so may suffer revisions that prove to be against the UK’s interests, which is ironic given the Government’s apparent concern with UK standing in the World Bank rankings.

If no agreement is reached, it is anticipated that the increased costs, complexity and uncertainty in insolvency proceedings will knock the UK’s leading reputation in this area globally and could well see corporates and individuals moving their “Centres of Main Interest” out of the UK to other EU member states so as to secure recognition of the EC Regulation across the EU.

What next?

Insolvency laws both domestically and internationally were set for change, with or without Brexit, in the forthcoming years by way of the new Insolvency Rules 2016; the Recast EC Council Regulation on Insolvency Proceedings 848/2015; and the EU Commission’s minimum standards directive, which is expected to be published by the end of 2016. With the addition of Brexit: speculation is mounting, clarity is diminishing and greater change is inevitably pending…

For further information regarding this topic, please contact Simeon Gilchrist – Partner, Sophia Mew – Associate, or any member of the Edwin Coe Restructuring & Insolvency team.

Please note that this blog is provided for general information only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content of this blog.

Edwin Coe LLP is a Limited Liability Partnership, registered in England & Wales (No.OC326366). The Firm is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. A list of members of the LLP is available for inspection at our registered office address: 2 Stone Buildings, Lincoln’s Inn, London, WC2A 3TH. “Partner” denotes a member of the LLP or an employee or consultant with the equivalent standing.

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