This book deals with the procedure for obtaining a winding-up order chronologically from presentation of a petition through to making the order. It also looks at the application process as it applies to various classes of petitioner, such as creditors, contributories (shareholders) and public officials.The fourth edition is completely updated to cover new legislation and new procedures. It includes new coverage of the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016, which rewrote the procedural rules for applications to wind up companies. The book also covers Regulation (EU) 2015/848 on insolvency proceedings (recast) concerning amended rules applying to jurisdiction, as well as new provisions for housing and education administration.Though focused on the procedure in the courts of England and Wales, the work also considers the jurisprudence of the many Commonwealth jurisdictions which have adopted the English procedure. This work contains all there is to know about applying (petitioning) to have companies and similar entities wound up by the court, making it essential for all lawyers who make, or defend, such applications.