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The judge, jury and executioner: a Trustee’s capacity to adjudicate proofs of debt for legal fees

By Jodie Rodrigues, Solicitor at Matthews Folbigg in the Insolvency, Restructuring and Debt Recovery Group.

Pursuant to s 102 of the Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth), a trustee is required to “examine each proof of debt and the grounds of the debt sought to be proved”.

Legal costs can often be a problematic consideration, when questions of assessment, and the nature of the costs claim are taken into account. It is therefore important to have regard to the type of costs claims (for instance those of the bankrupt’s own solicitors, or adverse costs orders against the bankrupt). It is also relevant to consider at what stage in any costs assessment process the question of costs is being considered. [...]  READ MORE →

Defended Claims
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Winding Up Applications and the Extension of Time

By Darrin Mitchell, Senior Associate at Matthews Folbigg in the Insolvency, Restructuring and Debt Recovery Group

Section 459R(1) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (“the Act”) requires that an application be filed to wind up a company, and for it to be determined within six months of filing. Should that six month period expire, the application can be dismissed without the orders sought being made.

However, there is provision for the six month period to be extended under section 459R(2) of the Act, if the applicant can satisfy the Court that special circumstances exist. [...]  READ MORE →

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To Extend, or Not to Extend: That is the Question

By Darrin Mitchell, Senior Associate at Matthews Folbigg in the Insolvency, Restructuring and Debt Recovery Group

Part 5.7B of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)(“the Act”) contains provisions that allow a liquidator to seek orders that void certain transactions undertaken by a company whilst it is insolvent, or that are not in the company’s interests. The kinds of transactions that will be investigated by a liquidator include:

  • Preferential payment – see section 588FA of the Act;
  • Uncommercial transactions – see section 588FB of the Act;
  • Insolvent transactions – see section 588FC of the Act;
  • Insolvent transactions – see section 588FD of the Act;
  • Unreasonable director-related transactions – see section 588FDA of the Act; and
  • Creditor-defeating dispositions – see section 588FDB of the Act.

The period of scrutiny of the company’s transactions prior to liquidation for each category of voidable transaction is set out in section 588FE of the Act. [...]  READ MORE →

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The handcuffs are on debt recovery, but for how long? What you can do in the meantime…

By Jeffrey Brown, Principal at Matthews Folbigg in the Insolvency, Restructuring and Debt Recovery Group

As part of the Federal Government’s response to the COVD-19 crisis, a handbrake has effectively been applied to court proceedings aimed at bankrupting individuals and placing companies into liquidation. This has been achieved by lengthening the time for debtors to respond to formal demands, from 21 days to 6 months, for both bankruptcy notices (in the case of individuals) and statutory demands (for payment of debts incurred by companies). As part of the same reforms, the minimum debt amount that can be the subject of bankruptcy or winding up proceedings has been increased to $20,000.00. [...]  READ MORE →

Winding Up
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Model Behaviour: the Australian version of America’s Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Scheme – Trustees & Creditors

By Jodie Rodrigues, solicitor at Matthews Folbigg in the Insolvency, Restructuring and Debt Recovery Group

On 24 September 2020, the latest instalment in Australia’s insolvency reforms was announced. These reforms have been branded “the most significant reforms to Australia’s insolvency framework in 30 years”.

For information about the proposed insolvency regulations, read Part 1 of this blog here.

 The proposed scheme has been developed to provide relief to small business in light of the economic impact of the coronavirus by way of the additional debt taken on to survive. However, the impact of the proposed mechanisms is wide reaching, and particularly in circumstances where no draft legislation has been released, no consultation has been undertaken, and the plan is to have these amendments in place by 1 January 2021, the reforms may be hazardous for creditors and insolvency practitioners. Read on to find how the insolvency reform will affect you.
 [...]  READ MORE →

Winding Up
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Model Behaviour: the Australian version of America’s Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Scheme – Key Points

By Jodie Rodrigues, solicitor at Matthews Folbigg in the Insolvency, Restructuring and Debt Recovery Group

Part 1: The Key Points

On 24 September 2020, the latest instalment in Australia’s insolvency reforms was announced. These reforms have been branded “the most significant reforms to Australia’s insolvency framework in 30 years”.

And yet the plan, apparently, is to have these reforms in place in 3 months.

Under the Morrison government’s proposal, Australia would adopt a framework modeled on parts of Chapter 11 of America’s Bankruptcy Code. The proposed system would provide two alternative forms of insolvency administration for small businesses with liabilities of up to $1,000,000: [...]  READ MORE →

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Debt Collection – Who Signed the Document?

By Darrin Mitchell, Senior Associate at Matthews Folbigg in the Insolvency, Restructuring and Debt Recovery Group

In the current age of technology, with capabilities to do just about anything, it seems redundant and “old fashioned” to be asked to execute a document by hand writing your signature on a sheet of paper! Because of this, debt collection can be a distinct (and difficult) exercise.

When opening a credit account, a supplier of goods and/or services will generally forward a Credit Application and a Deed of Guarantee to the customer. These documents are helpful in debt collection as they include information from the customer as to the customer’s financial viability, and security for the repayment of amounts owing should debt collection become necessary. In days gone by, these documents were to be completed by the customer physically writing on the forms as required, then posting these back to the credit provider, or perhaps giving the documents to a sales representative for the supplier. [...]  READ MORE →

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Debt Collection – Liquidated or Unliquidated Debt?

By Darrin Mitchell, Senior Associate at Matthews Folbigg in the Insolvency, Restructuring and Debt Recovery Group

Is your debt collection for a liquidated or an unliquidated amount? What is the difference?

In a debt collection action, the debt is often defined by the amount specified in tax invoices issued for the supply of goods or services. Debt collection for these types of debts involves a “liquidated” debt. This is because the debt which is the subject of the debt collection is ‘liquid’, in the sense of having a specific monetary value. There may be an ability to claim interest in debt collection proceedings for a liquidated debt, but again this will be a defined amount and calculated in accordance with the terms and conditions of the agreement between the parties. [...]  READ MORE →

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Collecting Money? Avoid Going It Alone!

By Ellen Ferris, a Solicitor in Matthews Folbigg’s Insolvency, Restructuring and Debt Recovery Group.

Collecting money, especially from people you know, is always a delicate business.

Collecting money requires you to be persistent, and all too often becomes something that we let slip to the back of our mind to avoid the hassle, inconvenience, and sometimes even embarrassment of chasing valued customers for unpaid debts. Certain debts, even large ones, can be placed in the “too hard basket”, and never followed up on. Certain timelines for recovering debts can then expire, or more simply, debts can be forgotten or ignored. [...]  READ MORE →