Bankruptcy and Companies Court
Who we are | Our Work | Bankruptcy Court | Companies Court
Who we are
The Bankruptcy and Companies Court is part of the Chancery Division of the High Court.
Our Work
Our work covers two main areas:
- Insolvency law (both corporate and individual)
- Company law
We deal with cases under the Insolvency Act 1986, the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986, the Companies Act 1985 and the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.
Our work is dealt with by six bankruptcy registrars who are the judges who deal with the majority of cases. Appeals from their decisions are to a single judge of the Chancery Division.
The Bankruptcy Court
The Bankruptcy Court deals with:
- All bankruptcy petitions which may be presented in the London insolvency district
- Applications to set aside statutory demands
- Post-bankruptcy applications, the purpose of which is to obtain information about or achieve realisation of the bankrupt's assets
- Public examinations and applications for the suspension of the bankrupt's discharge period
- Applications for permission to act as director where the applicant is an undischarged bankrupt
- Some applications in connection with bankruptcy appeals
The Companies Court
The Companies Court deals with:
- Company winding up petitions
- Post-winding up applications, the purpose of which is to obtain information about or achieve realisations of company assets
- Petitions for the approval of the reduction in the capital or share premium account of companies
- A wide range of final applications relating to companies, such as:
- Applications to restore to the register
- To register charges out of time
- Applications for permission to bring proceedings
- Applications appealing a liquidator's rejection of proof
- A range of interlocutory applications such as the pre-trial management of unfair prejudice petitions
- Applications by the secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the Official Receiver for the disqualification of unfit company directors
- Applications for permission to act as a director following the making of such an order