On 27 July 2026, the UK Supreme Court held unanimously in Drelle v Servis-Terminal LLC [2026] UKSC 29 that an unrecognised and unregistrable foreign judgment for a debt or definite sum of money can constitute a “debt” for the purposes of section 267 of the Insolvency Act 1986, so that a creditor can present a bankruptcy petition in England and Wales on the strength of it without first recognising or registering the judgment here.
The Court confirmed that a foreign judgment given by a court of competent jurisdiction, and that is final and conclusive and not “impeachable” (i.e. capable of being challenged on grounds of fraud, being contrary to public policy or opposed to natural justice), creates an immediate obligation at common…