Case law

Too much independence? a re-issue of my 2016 commentary

My analysis below of the law of insolvency practitioner independence, written in October 2016, is reissued in February 2020 in

Bad timing? or will Euclid save the day?

Calculation of time limits in law should be straightforward but judges have taken us to the mathematics of Euclid and

Demands by liquidators – trying their luck, or “no ifs, buts or maybes”?

If anyone receives a letter from a liquidator of a company requesting, or demanding, important information, or payment of a

The reform of the intersection of trust and insolvency law – Killarnee

Once the trustee and insolvency lawyers have explained the law about the insolvency of trading trusts in the decision in

Release from bankruptcy of a deaf person

A deaf person, with some mental impairment, who was bankrupt was successful in having an objection to his discharge from

Does Political Criticism of Judges Damage Judicial Independence?* a paper by Dyson Heydon

This is the title of a recent article written by Dyson Heydon AC QC on contempt of court, with a

Offence reporting in insolvency

In reporting breaches of the law to ASIC, and triggering action by ASIC, liquidators are not required to express any

Linc Energy’s insolvency disclaimer prevails over environmental demands

The success of the claims of Linc Energy’s liquidators against Queensland’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) won’t resolve the continuing legal

Some casual Friday comments on recent insolvency developments

This is a quick review of some on-going current issues in insolvency and related. Pending decisions The Commonwealth v Byrnes

One ship has berthed – the insolvency and trust law decision in Amerind

The Victorian Court of Appeal has resolved, for the moment, the complex issue of how a corporate trustee’s right of

Lawless, oxymoronic insolvency law – the mining regulators aren’t happy.

This comment updates our recent commentary on the complicated intersection between insolvency law and environmental regulation. There are now at

Restricting insolvency disclaimer rights in mining company failures?

The possibility of the West Australian government legislating to get around the insolvency disclaimer provisions of the Corporations Act was

Avoid misleading cases – cite the latest court decisions

With all the numerous decisions being delivered by the higher courts, some attention is needed to ensure the latest case

The tragic personal consequences of the collapse of Banksia securities

This does no more than set out the opening paragraphs of Justice Clyde Croft’s judgment of 16 February 2018 about

Cleaning up the law – WA’s old diamond and other mines

The collapse of WA’s Ellendale diamond mine, and the liquidators’ prompt disclaimer of the mining site, leaving the clean up

Cleaning up after a failed miner – who pays: Part 2

This commentary highlights a confluence of 4 events concerning the complicated intersection between insolvency law and environmental regulation, one event

ASIC and one-year bankruptcy, AUSTRAC, a fees claim settled, and more …

The following further commentary on insolvency – submissions due, events and conferences and case law – may be of interest.

What’s up, or on, in insolvency, early in 2018?

The following commentary on submissions due, events and conferences, professional standards, international and local, hearings and case law*, all in

Macks v Viscariello – appeal outcome

The appeal decision in the contentious matter of Macks v Viscariello has now been delivered. It needs to be read

Cleaning up after a failed miner – who pays?

The Queensland Court of Appeal in Linc Energy, and the Supreme Court of Canada in Redwater Energy, are each determining

Revisiting the Chorley exception

While it has been said that lawyers acting for themselves have fools for a client, the law does not discourage

Challenge to banktruptcy trustees’ remuneration – continued

A challenge by the Inspector-General in Bankruptcy to trustees’ remuneration in an estate is before Justice Jennifer Davies of the

‘WTF’ – five years of tax returns not lodged!

Upon being told in 2102 by his accountant, D, that his company’s business activity statements had not been lodged for

Bankruptcy remuneration challenge referred to mediation – Groll

Justice Jennifer Davies of the Federal Court has referred bankruptcy trustees’ remuneration to mediation, following a challenge by the trustees