Recognition of Foreign Judgments and Cross-Border Insolvencies

Swee Ling Adeline CHONG, SMU

Abstract

In the joined appeals of Rubin v Eurofinance and New Cap Reinsurance v Grant, the Supreme Court held that first, the traditional rules on recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments applied to judgments in insolvency proceedings, and secondly, the act of lodging proof in foreign insolvency proceedings by a creditor meant that he had submitted to the jurisdiction of the supervising court. This article considers these decisions and suggests that the ruling in Rubin is sound while that in New Cap is unfounded. Further, assuming instead that the law is ripe for reform, this article considers what might be appropriate recognition and enforcement rules for judgments in insolvency proceedings.