The phenomenon of forum shopping in insolvency situations has long troubled policy makers and scholars alike. Forum shopping describes the situation where a debtor engages in regulatory arbitrage by modifying certain criteria that allow them to benefit from a different, more favourable insolvency law or jurisdiction. The European Insolvency Regulation, an instrument determining the competent courts and the applicable law in cross-border insolvency proceedings, has long sought to curb such efforts. A major reform adopted in 2015 has the specific objective of further restricting abusive versions of forum shopping, in particular by introducing a 'suspension period' for forum shopping activities carried out shortly before the debtor files for insolvency. This article demonstrates that these efforts fail to achieve a satisfactory response to forum shopping. Further, forum shopping with use of an English scheme of arrangement remains entirely outside the Regulation's scope.

One of the most contentious issues in cross-border insolvency is the 'forum shopping' phenomenon. The European Insolvency Regulation has set as one of its core objectives to avoid forum shopping. Nevertheless, the phenomenon continues to flourish due to the ability of a debtor to transfer its 'Centre of Main Interests'. This strategy has been creatively used by companies and over-indebted individuals in order to avail themselves of more advantageous insolvency regimes. Such practice, however, is viewed with suspicion by media and legal practitioners. This study questions the adverse reaction towards forum shopping. It argues that forum shopping is not always undesirable, but can also have beneficial effects when is undertaken with the consent of the stakeholders involved. It concludes that as long as disparities between insolvency laws exist the phenomenon is destined to endure.

This book comprises contributions relating to the Insolvency Regulation Recast,which recently entered into force. The authors analyse the changes introduced andgive their views on the improvements that are thereby achieved. In other words, theyassess to what extent the amendments have mitigated the disadvantages of the previousInsolvency Regulation. Three of the chapters concentrate on the issues pertaining to jurisdiction, such asthe problem of forum shopping by re-locating the debtor’s centre of main interests.Furthermore, the extent to which the parties have the freedom to contract withinthe framework of the Insolvency Regulation Recast is discussed. Also, the relevanceand consequences of recent developments in corporate law for the current crossborderinsolvency framework, as well as the jurisdictional issues concerning approvalrequirements are amongst the matters addressed. Aside from the jurisdictional matters,the question of the law applicable to so-called ‘avoidance actions’ is analysed and crossbordercooperation between national authorities in the field of insolvency is touchedupon. To conclude, this book covers a range of specific and intriguing topics broughtup by the Insolvency Regulations Recast. This third volume in the Short Studies in Private International Law Series is primarilyaimed at legal academics dealing with cross-border insolvency, but it will also proveuseful to insolvency judges and practitioners, as well as those specialised in financialand fiscal law. Finally, advanced students as well as those with a general interest ininsolvency law will also find it of added value./div Vesna Lazić is Senior Researcher at the T.M.C. Asser Institute and Associate Professorof Private Law at Utrecht University in The Netherlands. Steven Stuij is an expert inprivate international law and PhD Candidate at the Erasmus School of Law, Rotterdam./div

An eye-opening account of the widespread and systematic decay of America's bankruptcy courts

Cross-border insolvency protocols play a critical role in facilitating the efficient resolution of complex international corporate insolvencies. This book constitutes the first in-depth study of the use of insolvency protocols, enriching existing knowledge about them and serving as a comprehensive introduction to their application in the context of multinational enterprise group insolvency. It traces the rise of insolvency protocols and discusses their legal basis, contents, effects, major characteristics and limitations.

This book presents problems that often arise in the context of international/cross-border insolvencies; analyzes and compares national legislations and jurisprudence; elucidates the solutions offered by international/regional instruments; and explores the differences in the implementation of these instruments by various countries and the consequences of these differences. It examines in detail a number of famous and less famous cases tried by national courts, in which it became readily apparent that insolvency law remains one of the bastions of national law. In addition, the book discusses the notion of transplanting foreign [international] insolvency rules and especially the influence that US insolvency law has exerted on other countries’ insolvency [and international insolvency] law. Far from adopting an unrealistically optimistic stance, it soberly examines the complications of cross-border insolvencies, while also presenting potential solutions.