The ability of a creditor to offset any liability it may have to a debtor against the amount of the debtor's obligation to the creditor is an important right. The Bankruptcy Code expressly preserves that right, provided it...more
We lawyers and judges may be Dylan’s “writers and critics who prophesize with your pen.” Then, as now, the times for us are a-changin’, as U.S. District Court Judge Kathryn C. Ferguson recognized in her opinion in In re...more
The right to set off a claim is a legal concept through which reciprocal claims between a creditor and a debtor company are settled against each other reducing or extinguishing the smaller claim and leaving only a balance...more
In Short - The Situation: Historically, creditors pursued by liquidators under the unfair preference regime could rely on a statutory set-off as a defence to the claim, reducing or eliminating their liability to repay...more
This practice note discusses the use of setoff by creditors as a mechanism to limit loss when a debtor has filed bankruptcy. In bankruptcy, setoff is governed by and subject to the limitations imposed by Section 553 of the...more
Background - During a winding up, the statutory duty of a liquidator is to gather in the estate of the company, which includes recovering any amounts owing to the company. Creditors then submit proofs of debt and receive...more
The Third Circuit’s recent decision in In re Orexigen Therapeutics Inc., 990 F.3d 748 (3d Cir. 2021) holds that section 553 of the Bankruptcy Code, which governs creditor setoffs, requires “strict bilateral mutuality.” As a...more
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit recently became the first circuit court to address the question of whether a corporate parent can set off an obligation that it owes to a bankrupt company against a claim owed...more
Few issues in bankruptcy create as much contention as disputes regarding the right of setoff. This was recently highlighted by a decision in the chapter 11 case of Orexigen Therapeutics in the District of Delaware. Judge...more
In July 2017, we wrote about the case of Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd v Forge Group Power Pty Ltd (in liquidation) (receivers and managers appointed), in which the Western Australian Supreme Court held that rights of set off...more
This article provides a brief overview of the somewhat related doctrines of setoff and recoupment in the Chapter 11 context. Setoff is recognized in the Bankruptcy Code to offset the claims of creditors and the debtor in a...more
In Feltman v. Noor Staffing Grp., LLC (In re Corp. Res. Servs. Inc.), 564 B.R. 196 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2017), the bankruptcy court considered whether section 553 of the Bankruptcy Code creates a right of setoff when no such...more
Understanding your rights as a creditor while navigating under China’s bankruptcy laws is becoming a must these days, especially for foreign creditors. As many foreign companies engage in business with Chinese companies,...more