This important book provides a comprehensive analysis of governance issues that exist in relation to the management of insolvent companies, both while an insolvent company is still controlled by the directors and when it passes into the hands of an insolvency practitioner in a formal insolvency regime. Throughout, the authors argue that the two most important features of corporate governance are transparency and accountability and offer a detailed analysis of the relevant law and practice.

This book presents an account of legal, economic and managerial perspectives on governance in situations of financial distress and insolvency. It uses detailed real-life case studies of executive decision making to explore and illustrate the discussion. The book deals with the emergence of corporate governance as a framework of checks and balances on executive decision-making, before moving to the core issues of governance during financial distress and insolvency and alternative informal and formal rescue. Identifying and reviewing turnaround strategies and formal rescue processes available to management, the book also examines the increasing importance of creditors and their impact on business decision-making. The book provides a detailed interpretation of governance in five mega insolvencies in retail and construction following the financial crisis in 2008. It also sets out a methodology which is designed to inform and help those readers seeking to analyse and interpret director behaviour in such circumstances.

Vanessa Finch provides an interesting look at corporate insolvency laws and processes. She adopts an interdisciplinary approach to place two questions at the centre of her discussion. Are current UK laws and procedures efficient, expert, accountable and fair? Are fundamentally different conceptions of insolvency law needed for it to develop in a way that serves corporate and broader social ends? Topics considered in this wide-ranging book include different ways of financing companies, causes of corporate failure and prospects for designing rescue-friendly processes. Also examined are alternative asset distribution of failed companies, allocations of insolvency risks and effects of insolvency on a company's directors and employees. Finch argues that changes of approach are needed if insolvency law is to develop with coherence and purpose. This book will appeal to academics and students at advanced undergraduate and graduate level, and to legal practitioners throughout the common law world.

Corporate law and governance are at the forefront of regulatory activities worldwide, and subject to increasing public attention in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis. Comprehensively referencing the key debates, the Handbook provides a much-needed framework for understanding the aims and methods of legal research in the field.

Having gone through an accelerated parliamentary process, the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 came into force on 26 June, 2020 having been given Royal Assent on the 25 June, 2020. It introduces the most significant changes in corporate insolvency law for nearly 20 years and has been introduced in response to COVID-19. Its main aim is to assist companies and directors by providing businesses with the flexibility and breathing space they need to continue trading during the difficult time caused by COVID-19. The key insolvency related reforms included in the Act are: - New moratorium outside of a formal insolvency process - New restructuring plan - Prohibition on issuing statutory demands and winding up petitions in connection with Covid-19 related debts - Retrospective suspension of wrongful trading - Protection of supplies of goods and services

Examining the role of shareholders in modern companies, this timely book argues that more should be expected of shareholders, both morally and legally. It explores the privileged position of shareholders within the corporate law system and the unique rights and duties awarded to them in contrast to other corporate actors. Introducing the concept of shareholders as responsible agents whose actions and inactions should be judged on that basis, Stephen Bottomley unites a number of distinct corporate governance discussions including stewardship, activism and shareholder liability.

Comparative Insolvency Law argues that the most important development in contemporary insolvency law and practice is the shift towards a rescue culture rather than full creditor satisfaction. This book is the first to specifically examine the rise of the pre-pack approach, which permits debtor companies to formulate a clear pre-arranged exit before entering into formal insolvency proceedings.