2015 Mid-level Professional Development Program

From issues of consent and matters of constitutional authority, to the all-important topic of professionals’ fees, the Supreme Court considered a number of issues critical to restructuring attorneys and advisors in 2015. Our panel of Supreme Court advocates and bankruptcy scholars will weigh in on the Court’s most recent term and provide expert analysis of the Court’s opinions and their applicability to everyday practice.

2015 marks an unprecedented year of distress for the entire coal mining industry. During this session, the panel will provide the audience with a complete picture of the major operational, financial, legal, and regulatory issues that have led to the present state of the industry and offer a glimpse into how these issues might impact restructurings in the industry and the overall health of the industry for years to come.

From developing a watch list to distinguishing your firm in a pitch setting, our panel of experienced business generators will share their best practices and tips.

This panel will explore the oil and gas industry from a restructuring perspective. The panel will also examine the unique and complex capital structures that are frequently present in oil and gas companies, which present challenges for the restructuring practitioner. Finally, the panel will review the basic features of pertinent legal documentation, including the rights and remedies of the players in this space, that must be accounted for in devising restructuring solutions.

The Momentive decision is one of the most momentous decisions concerning secured creditor cramdown in recent years. This panel will review the Supreme Court’s Till decision and post-Till developments and explore the Momentive decision, focusing on the decision’s impact on and importance for future restructurings.

Come hear a distinguished, national panel of bankruptcy judges share their candid reflections and views about professional do’s and don’ts, effective advocacy, courtroom (in)civility and the importance of bankruptcy law and bankruptcy practice to society generally.

A broad array of potential restructuring clients — private equity, examiners, traditional bank clients, industry clients, etc. — will share their thoughts about best practices, dos and don’ts, and helpful anecdotes. What characteristics distinguish a great bankruptcy or restructuring practitioner? What advice should someone give to younger professionals in the industry who want to be future leaders? What are some examples of the challenging ethical dilemmas that younger professionals face, and how should they be handled? How will changes in the industry impact younger professionals who want to remain in the industry for their entire career?

This nuts-and-bolts panel will cover the mechanics of § 363 sales, featuring discussions on pros and cons, current trends and recent cases, with a particular focus on credit-bidding (Fisker, Philly News and Free Lance-Star) and challenges to free-and-clear-sales (GM, Chrysler, Energytec).