LEXLAW Solicitors & Barristers
In Manolete Partners Plc v Trevor Howarth [2024] EWHC 2294 (Ch), the High Court dismissed a £101,000 claim against the former CEO of One Legal Services. Manolete alleged that repayments to Mr Howarth’s director loan account during the firm’s CVA were unlawful preferences under the Insolvency Act 1986. Judge Barber disagreed, holding the payments were made in good faith.
The High Court, per Chief ICC Judge Briggs, held that Manolete Partners could not advance misfeasance claims under section 212 Insolvency Act 1986 via an Insolvency Application, and instead had to pursue them under CPR Part 7, ordering payment of the full Part 7 issue fee despite procedural arguments about hybrid claims brought in insolvency proceedings.
Account Freezing Orders (AFOs) are among the most formidable tools that law enforcement and regulatory bodies in England and Wales wield in the fight against financial crime. In…
The High Court ordered former director Simon Thacker to repay £33,542.20 after benefiting from the extinguishing of his director’s loan account, which was ruled a preference under s.239 Insolvency Act 1986. In contrast, claims against fellow director David Coleman were dismissed after he successfully rebutted the statutory presumption of desire to prefer, despite having received £15,000 shortly before insolvency.
A time-to-pay proposal enables a debtor to negotiate structured repayment terms with creditors, creating a legal pathway to avoid insolvency while ensuring creditors’ rights are protected. Commonly sought by companies with tax arrears, such arrangements require careful preparation and timely negotiation to maximise acceptance.
When false statements are published online that damage your reputation, swift legal action can help you secure compensation and restore your good name. This guide explains how internet libel claims work under UK law, the legal tests involved, and the types of remedies available, including commonly overlooked scenarios.
The High Court refused a summary judgment application by Sampson Coward LLP, a Salisbury-based law firm, over its handling of £2 million in escrow funds, allegedly misapplied while acting for connected parties, following assignment of the claims to litigation funder Manolete Partners.
The High Court ordered Dr Amir Matta, director of Saint George Investment Holdings Ltd, to repay £1.43 million after he misapplied company funds for personal expenses, breaching his statutory duties under the Companies Act 2006 and authorising unsubstantiated payments to connected parties during a period of financial distress.
The High Court, presided over by Andrew Lenon KC, upheld HNW Lending Limited’s enforcement of a £1.52 million bridging loan against property developer Nicole Lawrence, dismissing her claims of duress and unauthorised agreement amendments.
Manolete pusured a Direcors Claim against Director Norman Freed. The High Court ordered the director to repay £918,590 for funnelling monies to linked firms pre-insolvency, breaching duties under the Companies Act 2006 and Insolvency Act 1986.