Directors Liability

Speaking slot - Agoria, Belgium’s largest sectorial employers’ federation of technology driven companies, patent office V.O. and Stibbe jointly organise a webinar on the main aspects of insolvency proceedings and their impact on intellectual property rights.

Short Reads - On 26 May 2020, the Dutch Parliament’s House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer) adopted the Act on confirmation of private restructuring plans (Wet homologatie onderhands akkoord (“WHOA”)). The next step will see the WHOA put to vote in the Senate.

Short Reads - Door het gemak waarmee krediet kon worden verkregen en de extreem lage kosten ervan, hebben veel bedrijven grote leningen aangetrokken. De schuldenpositie van bedrijven is nog nooit zo groot geweest.

Articles - This Guide covers common issues in corporate recovery and insolvency - including issues that arise when a company is in financial difficulties, insolvency procedures, cross-border issues - in 30 jurisdictions. Pieter Wouters and Paul Van der Putten of Stibbe Brussels' Litigation department contributed to the Belgian chapter of the ICLG.

Short Reads - Het Wetsvoorstel Wet Homologatie onderhands akkoord (“WHOA”) is op 26 mei 2020 door de Tweede Kamer aangenomen en is momenteel in behandeling bij de Eerste Kamer. De WHOA combineert aspecten van de Engelse Scheme of Arrangement en de Amerikaanse Chapter 11 procedure. Ondernemingen die in zwaar weer verkeren krijgen de mogelijkheid om hun schulden buiten formele insolventieprocedures te herstructureren door een akkoord op te leggen aan (een deel van) de schuldeisers. De verwachting is dat de wet dit najaar in werking zal treden.

Articles - The Belgium Chapter of the International Comparative Legal Guide to Restructuring & Insolvency 2020 is online. The publication, authored by Paul Van der Putten and Pieter Wouters, covers common topics in restructuring and insolvency, including issues that arise when a company is in financial difficulties, restructuring options, insolvency procedures, tax, employees, and cross-border issues in 27 jurisdictions. 

Inside Stibbe - As of 1 January 2020, David Orobio de Castro, Michael Molenaars and Job van Hooff will form the new board of Stibbe in Amsterdam. David Orobio de Castro has been on the board of Stibbe since 2016 and succeeds Derk Lemstra as managing partner. After a period of six years on the board, Derk will once again fully focus on advising clients in the field of corporate law.

Articles - Does the legislative framework in your jurisdiction allow for informal work-outs, as well as formal restructuring and insolvency proceedings, and to what extent are each of these used in practice? What formal rescue procedures are available in your jurisdiction to restructure the liabilities of distressed companies? What effect does each restructuring procedure have on existing contracts? How are the creditors and/or shareholders able to influence each winding up process.