Book review: Prof. Dr. Bob Wessels, International Insolvency Law 3rd ed., Kluwer, Deventer, 2012

• Author: Paul Varul - Signe Viimsalu
• Position: Professor of Civil Law, University of Tartu - Ph.D., Managing Partner at SiGN9
• Pages: 187-188

187

JURIDICA INTERNATIONAL XIX/2012

Paul Varul Signe Viimsalu

Professor of Civil Law Ph.D.,

University of Tartu Managing Partner at SiGN9

BOOK REVIEW

Prof. Dr. Bob Wessels

International Insolvency Law

3rd ed., Kluwer, Deventer, 2012.

International insolvency cases can give rise to different complex legal questions. Typical examples are the

international jurisdiction of a court, the law applicable to insolvency proceedings and the substantive and

procedural effects of these proceedings. An additional dimension plays a role when relevant legal systems of

insolvency law differ, because of the economic structure of the market, the policies underlying the general

legal system, the interests protected in the insolvency law system and the order of the private law.

The book written by Bob Wessels is defi nitely a source to be commonly used in international insolvency

practice. This publication contains some 1200 pages in all including bibliography, list of relevant websites,

table of cases and tables of legislation and is a very useful source for the reader, whether an academic or a

practitioner.

This publication, as the author states in the preface, is a revised and augmented edition of “Interna-

tional Insolvency Law” published in 2006. As with the 2nd edition in 2006, this 3rd edition appears as

Volume X of the ten-volume series Wessels Insolvency Law. This book differs from other Volumes in its

aim not only to be the fi rst point of reference on any question on international insolvency law for special-

ists (such as practitioners, judges and scholars), but also for those, who are new to the subject, including

legislators and students. It is inevitably obvious that substantial qualitative updates have been made to the

previous edition of the book.

This book contains four main chapters:

I International Insolvency Law,

II International Insolvency Law in the Netherlands,

III UNCITRAL Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency, Legislative Guide on Insolvency Law

and Practice Guide,

IV EU Insolvency Regulation

IV 1 General Provisions

IV 2 Recognition of insolvency proceedings

IV 3 Secondary insolvency proceedings

IV 4 Provision of information to creditors and lodgement of their claims

IV 5 Transitional and fi nal provisions

IV 6 The Insolvency Regulation as a model

and an additional concluding chapter, V – To conclude

Every chapter (excluding V) starts with introductory remarks to the topic, which gives an opportunity for

the new reader to get familiar with the scope of the ensuing themes and general problems to be focused on.

Each theme contains sources which are included in the discussions and analysis throughout the book. In