Case Study Protopapaps

This episode features a conversation with Martha Wyrick, counsel in the Restructuring Practice Group in the Dallas office of Haynes Boone, and Eugenio Vaccari, Associate Professor at Royal Holloway, University of London. Both Martha and Eugenio are III NextGen members.

The podcast examines the Protopapas litigation through both US and English lenses, exploring how cross‑border mass‑tort disputes challenge long‑standing principles of corporate separateness and jurisdiction. Our guests discuss the expanding use of South Carolina receiverships as a mechanism to pursue claims against foreign parent companies, the resulting jurisdictional tensions, and the broader implications for multinational groups facing legacy asbestos liabilities. From the United States’ more flexible approaches to enterprise and alter‑ego theories to the English courts’ strict adherence to Salomon and Adams v Cape, the conversation highlights how these contrasting legal frameworks shape parent‑company exposure, comity concerns, and the limits of using insolvency or procedural tools to manage complex global tort risks.

The podcast is introduced by NextGen’s co-chair, Gemma Bellfield of Ogier, and moderated by Francesca Burigo, Professor of Business Law at University eCampus in Italy. It was recorded in early February 2026, with information accurate at the time of recording.