On the one hand, it turned out that the applicable bankruptcy law is too complicated, especially for private persons and over indebted families, for whom has to be applied the same bankruptcy law, and thereby, on the other hand, that the proceedings are too expensive, so that only a few of them make use of them. The costs and the duration of the proceedings, which is obviously too long, are a problem for insolvent companies as well. The government intends therefore to simplify the proceedings and to substantiate those vague legal items of the bankruptcy law. The costs of the proceedings – here have to be mentioned lawyers, solicitors, procurator, courts’ fees – should be reduced by law and the deadline for the proceedings should be cut down.
According to the Spanish press, this year the commercial and the bankruptcy courts (Juzgados de lo Mercantil), which were established in every province by the reform of the bankruptcy law, were over helmed with bankruptcy petitions, in fact, new bankruptcy courts are constantly being established and the existing infrastructures are being expanded. As an improvement of the situation can not be expected in short term because of the progression of the crises, the companies and the courts should be pleased with a soon modification of the bankruptcy law, a simplification of the procedural steps and with a facilitation of the possibilities of recapitalisation of the insolvent companies. It remains to be seen which package of modification concretely will be released.
For further information, please contact Sönke Schlaich: [email protected]