Carry on, debtor—jurisdictional hijinks in cross-border bankruptcy proceedings (Jones v Aston Risk Management Ltd)
Restructuring & Insolvency analysis: The High Court refused permission to serve bankruptcy proceedings out of the jurisdiction on a debtor in Guernsey, holding there was no good arguable case that he had carried on business in England and Wales within the last three years under section 265(2)(b)(ii) of the Insolvency Act 1986 (IA 1986). The court found that the debtor's continuing relationship with companies based in England and Wales as director and creditor/debtor did not constitute carrying on a separate business on his own account. The decision provides important guidance on the interpretation of ‘carrying on business’ for cross-border insolvency jurisdiction, particularly in cases where debtors maintain connections with companies in England and Wales while residing outside the UK. Written by Camilla Whitehouse, barrister and head of Chambers, Gainsborough Law.