Collateral in Bankruptcy: The Limits of Protection of Secured Rights Cover Image

Opstanak kolaterala u stečaju: granice pravne zaštite
Collateral in Bankruptcy: The Limits of Protection of Secured Rights

Author(s): Bojana Drobnjak
Subject(s): Economy, Law, Constitution, Jurisprudence, Business Economy / Management, Law on Economics
Published by: Udruženje banaka Srbije p.u.
Keywords: bankruptcy proceedings; bank; creditor; borrower; right of separate satisfaction; security right; guarantee; avoidance of pre-bankruptcy transactions

Summary/Abstract: Banks typically occupy a dominant position in bankruptcy proceedings involving borrowers, a fact underscored by the competing interests of various creditor classes. The distinction between secured and unsecured creditors, established in the pre-bankruptcy phase, does not grant an automatic right of separate satisfaction upon the commencement of proceedings; rather, such rights are contingent upon statutory requirements and judicial verification. This article re-examines the legal standing of creditors in their multifaceted roles - as secured creditors, pledge creditors, and counterparties in potentially avoidable transactions. Within this framework, particular focus is placed on the scope of the avoidance of pre-bankruptcy transactions (actio Pauliana), inconsistent criteria for recognising recovery rights, divergent interpretations of the legal nature of guarantee, and judicial inconsistency regarding the assessment of a bank’s ‘bad faith’. The article further explores the broader economic and legal implications of non-recoverable claims and argues for legislative reform and the harmonisation of judicial practice to enhance legal certainty.

  • Issue Year: 55/2026
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 42-75
  • Page Count: 34
  • Language: English, Serbian
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