Books, articles, commentary

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

An economic perspective on trends in start-ups, and -downs

The federal government’s Innovation Statement of 2015 contained some simplistic aims for the promotion of entrepreneurial activity from proposed changes

A History of Australian Legal Education, by David Barker

I was pleased to have attended the recent book launch of A History of Australian Legal Education written by my

Where’s an economist when you need one?

R3 in the UK has commented on a recent OECD Report, about which we gave some views when it came

Codes of conduct

Codes of conduct need to remain in step with on-going changes in the commercial and business worlds in which they

Keay – phoenix reforms

It is good to see that that several reform issues raised in my and Jason Harris’ textbook, Keay’s Insolvency, appear

Safe harbour – some inherent behavioural issues to overcome

While the new safe harbour law[1] is the end result of some years of torturous debate, still on-going, it is

“The human importance of bankruptcy”

The significance of bankruptcy and the need for its law to be clear and predictable is emphasized in a recent judgment of the

Black Economy Taskforce: Consultation Paper

The Black Economy Taskforce has released a discussion paper outlining a number of additional policy ideas which draw on its

OECD report – “low personal costs to entrepreneurial failure with high barriers to restructuring”

Economic analyses of insolvency in Australia are strangely limited, given that a major purpose of an insolvency regime is its support of

International insolvency regulation – London 2017

The annual meeting of the International Association of Insolvency Regulators, IAIR, is being held in London, from 4 to 7

England’s review of its insolvency code – independence, remuneration and more

The question of insolvency practitioner independence is important given the role of a company liquidator and bankruptcy trustee. Independence rules

NZ accountants’ new Code obligations, with Australia close behind

Accountants in New Zealand, including those who are insolvency practitioners, are from this week required to refer relevant breaches of

Director charades continued

After giving directors the benefit of protection from liability for insolvent trading, through the ‘safe harbour reforms’, the government has

Protocol for International Recognition of Insolvency Proceedings Affecting Natural Persons

As INSOL International explains, this Protocol of June 2017 is a project that has been completed by members of the

The AAT strikes back

Mr Dutton, the immigration minister, has been found wanting in refusing an application by a Mr Singh for a 6 week bridging

Accountants and NOCLAR – more than a systems update

Professional accountants in Australia will soon be bound by a new standard that could require them to report offences to

Is the end result of Sakr Nominees continued “institutionalised time billing”?

While the insolvency profession might be satisfied with the final approval given to the liquidator’s remuneration, by Justice Ashley Black, in Sakr

Penalising insolvent companies – a King Charles I comparison

Regulators seeking penalties against companies in liquidation often reveal, as I have recently commented,[1] some serious signs of frustration that

Australia today

“… Nazi troops responded to this secret emigration campaign by inspecting all Danish boats, using specially trained dogs to sniff out

“Straw directors”? no kidding!

The federal government is putting through laws that would give directors of companies greater latitude to incur debts that cannot

Challenges to trusts by bankruptcy trustees – New Zealand law reform

A recent change to the New Zealand Insolvency Act 2006 (Schedule 1, new para (x)) has given power to the

NSW mines and their potential environmental impacts

In the context of the recent intersections between environmental protection laws and insolvency laws, in relation to CORA laws and Linc

INSOL’s Directors in the Twilght Zone – Australia’s “medium risk” for its directors

INSOL International has released the 5th edition of its excellent review of the international laws regulating director conduct in the ‘twilight