Weekly law digests

Re Liberty Mutual Insurance Europe plc and another [2018] EWHC 1445 (Ch), [2018] All ER (D) 77 (Jun)

The Companies Court allowed an application by Liberty Mutual Insurance Europe plc (Liberty) and LSM Luxembourg plc SA, pursuant to Art 26 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2157/2001, concerning a proposed merger between the two companies to allow Liberty to become a ‘Societas Europaea’ (SE), namely a European company, in preparation for the consequences of the UK leaving the EU on 29 March 2019. The court held that all the requirements of Art 26 had been satisfied and it ordered that the companies were free to take steps to bring the proposed merger between them, and the formation of Liberty Mutual Insurance Europe SE, into effect.

European Union

Laboutin and another v Van Haren Schoenen BV C-163/16, [2018] All ER (D) 57 (Jun)

Article 3(1)(e)(iii) of (EC) Directive 2008/95 had to be interpreted as meaning that a sign consisting of a colour applied to the sole of a high-heeled shoe, such as that at issue