Judges Summer School

GRIP21 CONTINUES
JUDGES TRAINING INITIATIVE


The creation of genuine understanding and co-operation between judges dealing with the issues and complexities of cross border cases has been a key objective for some time right across the insolvency and restructuring world. The topic has been discussed at the international conferences of bodies such as INSOL International, INSOL Europe and UNCITRAL.

A number of specific initiatives are in progress to help with the achievement of this important goal. UNCITRAL’s Model Law specifies such co-operation. INSOL Europe has created the CoCo group under the leadership of Professors Bob Wessels and Miguel Virgos.

In the summer of 2006, GRIP21 arranged for French insolvency judges to travel to San Antonio in Texas to learn more about the US bankruptcy system, with the support of Judges Leif Clark and Ronald B. King and the law firms Haynes & Boone and Cox Smith Matthews Inc.

In February 2007, GRIP21 brought French judges to London to share experiences and exchange views with UK judges, under the guidance of Mr. Justice David Richards.

The positive feedback from these events has now prompted GRIP21 to broaden the experience to still more jurisdictions. It is organizing a “Summer Camp” for judges in Paris in July this year. This will be a training workshop for judges from across Europe and from the USA. It will be run with the support of a number of GRIP21’s members and friends, under the patronage of UNCITRAL and III.

Among the supporters are: Alix Partners, Banque Themis, Begbies Global Network, Cabinet B Brenner, Deloitte, Cabinet I. Didier, Eversheds, Freshfields, Cabinet Hoche, Pluta, 3 / 4 South Square, Urbanek Lind Schmied Reisch, and White & Case.

Over 20 judges, from Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Serbia, UK, and USA will be present and will debate such subjects as: The role and powers of the main players in insolvency proceedings; criteria for commencement of proceedings; the judicial treatment of conflicts of jurisdiction; the protocols of cooperation; the fundamental principles of the Model Law; financing of the reorganizations and many others.

The training workshop, which will take place over three full days (July 2-3-4), will also include visits to and presentations from the Supreme Court (Cour de Cassation), where the participants will be received by president Tricot, and from the Nanterre Commercial Court (Bankruptcy Court) in the presence of its president, Mr. Drummen.