Authors

Priya Suresh

Document Type

Research Memorandum

Publication Date

2021

Abstract

(Excerpt)

A debtor’s center of main interest (“COMI”) is not defined under title of 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”). As a result, bankruptcy courts have taken a number of different approaches to determining a debtor’s COMI. The starting place for determining COMI is the statutory rebuttable presumption that a debtor’s registered office, or habitual residence is the debtor’s COMI. If the presumption is rebutted, the party seeking recognition as a foreign main proceeding must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the debtor's COMI is in the jurisdiction where the proceeding is pending. Under chapter 15 of the Bankruptcy Code, there are two types of foreign proceedings: (i) a foreign main proceeding which is defined as a proceeding pending in the country where the debtor has its COMI, and (ii) a foreign nonmain proceeding which is defined as proceeding in a country where the debtor has an establishment.

Before a court will determine the location of COMI, the court must first determine the point at which COMI is considered. Most courts have found that the point in time for determining when to look at COMI is the chapter 15 petition date, not the filing date for the foreign bankruptcy proceeding, with a possible look back period to thwart manipulation. However, not every court follows this approach. After, the court will determine the location of COMI under various non-exhaustive factors.

This memorandum examines the different aspects of COMI in a twofold approach. Part I discusses the implications of the timing of when COMI is determined. Part II discusses the various factors courts may examine when determining where COMI is located.

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.