LAW 7115 - Insolvency Law
North Terrace Campus - Winter - 2017
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code LAW 7115 Course Insolvency Law Coordinating Unit Adelaide Law School Term Winter Level Postgraduate Coursework Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 3 Contact Intensive Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y Prerequisites Students without a Bachelor of Laws must have completed LAW 7177 Assessment Typically will include either a research essay or examination. Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Professor Christopher Symes
Professor (Dr) Christopher Symes
Room 2.23 Ligertwood Building
Phone 8313 4452
email christopher.f.symes@adelaide.edu.auCourse Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
1. To further the student’s knowledge and understanding of personal and corporate insolvency law, practice and regulation
2. To further the student’s ability to understand, analyse and solve practical issues and problems associated with the personal and corporate insolvency law
3. To evaluate selected Australian personal and corporate insolvency law issues in the global context
4. To gain awareness of international developments in selected personal and corporate insolvency law issues
5. To develop critcial thinking using personal and corporate insolvency law
6. To apply excellent research skillsUniversity Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Deep discipline knowledge
- informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
- acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
- accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
1,2,3,4,5, Critical thinking and problem solving
- steeped in research methods and rigor
- based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
- demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
1,2,3,4,5 Teamwork and communication skills
- developed from, with, and via the SGDE
- honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
- encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
3,4,5, Career and leadership readiness
- technology savvy
- professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
- forward thinking and well informed
- tested and validated by work based experiences
4,5, Intercultural and ethical competency
- adept at operating in other cultures
- comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
- able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
- demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
3,4,5 Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
- a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
- open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
- able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
3,4,5 -
Learning Resources
Required Resources
As this is a Master level course there is no one text book that covers all aspects of corporate and personal insolvency at the depth explored in this course.
However, the undergraduate text Symes & Duns Australian Insolvency Law 3rd ed (2015) is certainly a useful, perhaps essential, read.
There is also a companion casebook: Symes,Brown & Welland Australian Insolvency Law Cases Materials (2016). This also is a useful, perhaps essential, read.
Practitoners will often refer to Keay's Insolvency Personal and Corporate Law and Practice 9th ed (2016) by Murray and Harris - Australia.Access to current legislation the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and the Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) is essential.
Insolvency law is dynamic so books can become out of date as far as detail is concerned, and some books are overseas texts, so bear that in mind when reading (e.g. UK, US) .
Key relevant general texts are:
Finch, Corporate Insolvency Law, Perspectives and Principles, 2nd ed Cambridge (2009), UK
O’Donovan, Company Receivers and Administrators (looseleaf, 2 volumes)- (Aus) This is a practitioner book frequently updated
Australian Corporations Law (CCH, looseleaf)
Annotated Bankruptcy Act 1966 6th ed by Paul Nichols (Lexisnexis, 2014)
Fletcher, The Law of Insolvency 4th ed (2009) UK
Other leading Australian Company Law textbooks (e.g. Ford, or Lipton, Herzberg and Welsh) will contain useful introductory chapters on insolvency law.Recommended Resources
Journals that are important in Insolvency Law include
Insolvency Law Journal (Thomson Reuters, Aus)
Insolvency Law Bulletin (Lexisnexis, Aus)
International Insolvency Review (INSOL published in UK)
Insolvency Law and Practice (UK)
Insolvency Intelligence (UK)
Australian Insolvency Journal (Journal of IPA/ARITA
Company and Securities Law Journal (Aus)
Australian Journal of Corporate Law
On-line sites that are important include
Large lawfirms in Australia will have webpages dedicated to Restructuring and Insolvency matters.
For example see claytonutz.com.au
allens.com.au
kwm.com.au
Online Learning
This course will be delivered on-line.
There are numerous lectures and activities delivered using the on-line platform. -
Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
This course is to be delivered on-line.
There are no face to face lectures or seminars scheduled.
Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
The workload is equivalent to a Level 8 AQF course as required by the Insolvency Practice Rules 2016 (Cth).
Learning Activities Summary
Course stage
Course component
Topic
Part I
Module 1
An introduction to the theory, policy and history of insolvency law, and to its fundamental principles
Part I
Module 2
An introduction to the main forms of insolvency procedure for individuals (bankruptcy and its alternatives) and corporations (liquidation, voluntary administration, and receivership)
Part I
Module 3
Issues in relation to personal insolvency including consumer bankruptcy, the property of the bankrupt 'estate', and the rights of bankrupts and restrictions upon them
Part I
Module 4
The role and duties of directors
Part II
Module 5
The position of security and rights and duties of secured creditors
Part II
Module 6
The regulation and reform of insolvency law and the profession, and 'globalisation' of insolvency law and practice through involvement of international bodies;
Part II
Module 7
An introduction to cross-border insolvency
Specific Course Requirements
None. -
Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
Task name
Due Date
Weighting %
of final markIndividual or group
Redeemable
Course Learning
OutcomeCase comment
28/07/17
30
individual
No
1,5,6
Research essay
25/08/17
70
individual
No
1-6
Assessment Detail
Case comment -30%
Assessment will be based on a written paper of a maximum 1500 words. The task is to identify the precedential value of a recent case chosen by the student. The written paper is due in August.
Case comments can be written on any of the following areas:
Definition of insolvency
The property of the bankrupt ‘estate’
Alternatives to bankruptcy (Part IX or Part X)
The rights of bankrupts and restrictions upon them
The role and duties of directors of insolvent companies
The rights of secured creditors in corporate insolvencies
The remuneration of insolvency professional
Cross-border insolvency
The sale of corporate assets by a receiver
Public and private Examinations
Proof of Debts
Ranking of claims
Challenges to liquidator’s actions
Set off in bankruptcy
Cases do not have to be long and complex nor necessarily the seminal case but should express a ratio to assist the class in understanding the area of insolvency law.
Research Essay – 70%
Word limit: 6000 words.
The research paper may be on any aspect of insolvency law you choose, though can build upon your earlier case comment area if you wish. The precise topic/title must be approved by the course coordinator and advice will be given to those who need help choosing or framing a topic. Further criteria, and a timetable, for the research assignment will be notified at the start of the course.Submission
Standard Adelaide Law School submission requirements apply. Specific information will be provided in the assessment instructions for each item of assessment.Course Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through .
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