Prospects for international bankruptcy legislation and new challenges

In our increasingly globalised world, businesses may operate in more than one country. If this is the case for a business and the business is forced to declare bankruptcy, multiple legal issues can arise. This is due to the lack of a single law relating to international insolvency, with most legal systems across the world having been developed on a territorial basis. Although there have been attempts to develop a unified framework for international insolvency, there is a need for improved harmonisation and modernisation of international business rules. Professor Etsuko Sugiyama, Graduate School of Law, Hitotsubashi University, Japan, is working to develop and implement measures that will facilitate cross-border cooperation when it comes to international bankruptcy. In one line of investigation, she is exploring whether existing systems in Japan are sufficient to deal with issues associated with international bankruptcy. In addition, Sugiyama is part of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) working group five, which works to facilitate a harmonisation of the rules surrounding domestic and cross-border insolvency. However, the group's rules and recommendations are yet to be adopted by all countries, necessitating more work to encourage uptake. This involves providing information on legislation and promoting the benefits.