Understanding foreign signs – how to make sure your contract is properly executed – Technology Law Update

Posted May 6th, 2015 in appeals, company law, contracts, EC law, international law, news by sally

‘The negotiations are over, the deal is done. Now it’s time to sign the contracts. But before popping the champagne corks, you’ll need to make sure that those signatures are valid. Here’s a cautionary tale of what can go wrong.’

Full story

Technology Law Update, 1st May 2015

Source: www.technology-law-blog.co.uk

In re International Game Technology plc and another – WLR Daily

Posted March 31st, 2015 in company law, law reports, mergers, regulations by sally

In re International Game Technology plc and another [2015] EWHC 717 (Ch); [2015] WLR (D) 148

‘The court had jurisdiction under regulation 16 of the Companies (Cross-Border Mergers) Regulations 2007 (SI 2007/2974) to make an order approving a cross-border merger subject to conditions and that conditionality was merely a factor for the court to take into account in exercising its discretion unless the court was satisfied that a conditional order would be futile.’

WLR Daily, 19th March 2015

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Ninety Broomfield Road RTM Co Ltd v Triplerose Ltd; Garner Court RTM Co Ltd v Freehold Managers (Nominees) Ltd; Holybrook RTM Co Ltd v Proxima GR Properties Ltd – WLR Daily

Posted March 31st, 2015 in appeals, company law, landlord & tenant, law reports, regulations by sally

Ninety Broomfield Road RTM Co Ltd v Triplerose Ltd; Garner Court RTM Co Ltd v Freehold Managers (Nominees) Ltd; Holybrook RTM Co Ltd v Proxima GR Properties Ltd [2015] EWCA Civ 282; [2015] WLR (D) 147

‘Pursuant to section 72 of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002, a right to manage company could not acquire the right to manage more than one self-contained building or part of a building.’

WLR Daily, 27th March 2015

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

A loophole in the slavery bill could allow companies to hide supply chain abuses – The Guardian

Posted March 25th, 2015 in bills, company law, construction industry, forced labour, news, sale of goods by sally

‘The modern slavery bill now in parliament must ensure big business respects human rights in providing its goods and services worldwide, not just in the UK.’

Full story

The Guardian, 24th March 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Just like that! – New Square Chambers

Posted March 17th, 2015 in company law, duty of care, insolvency, news, winding up by sally

‘The recent decision of Mr Justice Edis in DavisonSebry v Companies House and the Registrar of Companies [2015] EWHC 115 (QB) has highlighted how, in the interconnected age of the internet, the careless click of a mouse button can have incredibly far-reaching consequences and abruptly destroy the business of a successful company. The unusual facts would suggest that further cases against the Registrar (against whom judgment was entered) would be unlikely, not least because the reporting procedures are bound to be tightened up.’

Full story (PDF)

New Square Chambers, February 2015

Source: www.newsquarechambers.co.uk

Integral Petroleum SA v SCU-Finanz AG – WLR Daily

Posted March 6th, 2015 in company law, conflict of laws, contracts, documents, EC law, law reports by sally

Integral Petroleum SA v SCU-Finanz AG [2015] EWCA Civ 144; [2015] WLR (D) 97

‘Where a contract had been signed by only one of a company’s two joint signatories, the question of whether the company was bound by the contract was properly characterised as a question of the company’s capacity, to be governed by the law of the company’s constitution, rather than a question of the formal validity of the contract, to be governed by the law which governed the contract, pursuant to article 11 of Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) No 593/2008.’

WLR Daily, 26th February 2015

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

UK restructuring laws already geared towards business rescue, says government – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 11th, 2015 in company law, debts, EC law, insolvency, news, small businesses by sally

‘UK procedures allowing businesses to restructure in order to avoid insolvency already meet EU plans for a more ‘rescue-orientated’ approach to business failure and insolvency, according to a discussion document published by the Insolvency Service.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 10th February 2015

Source: www.out-law.com

When a duty of care does arise in tort – suing Companies House – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted February 9th, 2015 in bankruptcy, company law, compensation, duty of care, mistake, news, winding up by sally

‘Cases about whether someone owes a duty of care in tort can be surprisingly difficult to decide. Kate Beattie has just posted on the Michael case here, where no duty was held to arise, despite (it appears) the police control room being told by the doomed Ms Michael that her ex-boyfriend had just told her that he was just about to “fucking kill you”. He was as good as his word, within 20 minutes, and the family now sues the police. How much more direct can you be than that? And yet the family lost 5-2 in the Supreme Court.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 8th February 2015

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Director loses appeal against FCA fine and ban in conflict of interest case – OUT-LAW.com

‘A non-executive director who failed to declare a conflict of interest has lost her appeal against the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which had fined her £154,800 and banned her from holding a regulated financial services role.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 13th January 2015

Source: www.out-law.com

In re APCOA Parking Holdings GmbH and others – WLR Daily

Posted December 2nd, 2014 in company law, jurisdiction, law reports, news, schemes of arrangement by sally

In re APCOA Parking Holdings GmbH and others [2014] EWHC 3849 (Ch); [2014] WLR (D) 499

‘The court had jurisdiction to sanction a scheme of arrangement pursuant to Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006 where, pursuant to a change of law clause in a facilities agreement governing the indebtedness of the scheme companies, a change of governing law to English law had been effected, even though the parties were incorporated in another jurisdiction and had COMI in another jurisdiction. The change of law was valid even where the original choice of law was the foundation for access to the processes and provisions of the new law chosen and those processes and provisions enabled the same parties as objected to the change of law to be placed under compulsion to accept some further change in their existing contractual rights.’

WLR Daily, 19th November 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

HRH Prince Abdulaziz Bin Mishal Bin Abdulaziz (Appellant) v Apex Global Management Ltd and Faisal Abdel Hafiz Almhairat (Respondents) – Supreme Court

HRH Prince Abdulaziz Bin Mishal Bin Abdulaziz (Appellant) v Apex Global Management Ltd and Faisal Abdel Hafiz Almhairat (Respondents) [2014] UKSC 64 (YouTube)

Supreme Court, 26th November 2014

Source: www.youtube.com/user/UKSupremeCourt

Human rights guidance for lawyers – is it necessary? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted November 17th, 2014 in barristers, codes of practice, company law, human rights, news, solicitors by sally

‘On 23 October 2014, the International Bar Association (IBA) Business and Human Rights Working Group released draft guidance for bar associations and business lawyers on the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (the Guiding Principles).’

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 14th November 2014

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

LSB attacks “arbitrary nature” of separate business rule – Legal Futures

‘The Legal Services Board (LSB) has attacked the “arbitrary nature” of the separate business rule used by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), and said the list of what is permitted and what is not is “confusing”.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 10th October 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

No loss of confidence – establishing causation in confidential information claims – RPC Privacy Law

‘This case is an interesting example of a claim for breach of confidence (both in contract and in equity) where, although liability was established, only nominal damages (£1) were awarded to the Claimant.’

Full story

RPC Privacy Law, 7th October 2014

Source: www.rpc.co.uk

Shareholder democracy in shackles? – 11 Stone Buildings

Posted August 7th, 2014 in company law, news, shareholders by sally

‘Lexa Hilliard QC and Sarah Clarke discuss the potential ramifications of the first Court of Appeal decision in Burry & Knight Ltd V Martin John Murless Knight (2014) [2014] EWCA Civ 604 on new provisions in the Companies Act 2006 which limit access to the register of members.’

Full story (PDF)

11 Stone Buildings, July 2014

Source: www.11sb.com

Insolvent defendants and claimants – Thirty Nine Essex Street

‘Corporate bodies (limited companies or LLPs) have a separate legal identity that ceases to exist upon dissolution. Dissolution can occur, broadly speaking, in two ways, one is at the end of the process of winding up (whether voluntary or compulsory) and the other is by the process of striking off the Register of Companies or limited liability partnerships. The latter occurs either as a result of the company’s or LLP’s failure to file accounts, returns etc. or by a process of voluntary striking off.’

Full story (PDF)

Thirty Nine Essex Street, 7th March 2014

Source: www.39essex.com

Rewriting the Register? Statutory powers and jurisdiction to amend the Register of Companies – 11 Stone Buildings

Posted June 5th, 2014 in amendments, company law, documents, news by sally

‘In Registrar of Companies v Angela Swarbrick, Maurice Moses and Craig Lewis (as Joint Administrators of Gardenprime Limited) [2014] EWHC 1466 (Ch), the High Court provides guidance on the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 which permit the removal of unnecessary material on the Register of Companies and clarifies the extent of the Court’s jurisdiction to control the Registrar of Companies’ functions in this regard. Sarah Clarke explains a decision which is likely to expand the circumstances in which the Registrar will agree to remove material.’

Full story

11 Stone Buildings, May 2014

Source: www.11sb.com

Government proposes higher court fees for commercial cases – OUT-LAW.com

Posted December 6th, 2013 in civil justice, company law, consultations, courts, fees, news by tracey

‘Companies seeking to recover large sums through the civil courts could be charged up to £20,000 in fees under proposals put forward by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 6th December 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Justice Committee calls for “more meaningful” penalties for companies convicted of financial crime – OUT-LAW.com

“Fines handed to companies convicted of fraud or other financial crimes should be calculated as a percentage of turnover, rather than with reference to the amount of financial harm caused, a committee of MPs has said.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 13th November 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Public register to boost company transparency – Department for Business, Innovation and Skills & Prime Minister’s Office

Posted October 31st, 2013 in company law, disclosure, news, shareholders by michael

“Details of who really owns and controls UK companies will be made publicly accessible, the Prime Minister announced at the Open Government Partnership summit.”

Press release

BIS and Prime Minister’s Office, 31st October 2013

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-innovation-skills