2026 Midwest Regional Bankruptcy Seminar

This panel examines the evolving ethical landscape attorneys face as artificial intelligence tools become increasingly integrated into legal practice. From drafting and research to client communications, AI raises new questions about competence, confidentiality, supervision, and the unauthorized practice of law. Panelists will also address related ethical challenges surrounding client identity. The discussion will offer practical guidance for attorneys seeking to leverage new technologies responsibly while upholding their core ethical obligations to clients and the profession.Learning Objectives:Attendees will understand the ethical duties of competence, confidentiality, and supervision as they apply to the use of AI tools in legal practice.Attendees will identify potential conflicts of interest and client identity issues that can arise from the use of technology in client intake, communication, and representation.Attendees will develop practical strategies for integrating AI responsibly into their practice while maintaining compliance with applicable rules of professional conduct.

This panel examines three of the most common adversary proceeding subjects arising in bankruptcy practice: student loan discharge actions, including current guidance governing partial and total agreed discharges; fraud claims under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2) and (a)(4); and claims for willful and malicious injury under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(6). The panelists provide a broad overview of the scenarios in which each type of action typically arises and highlight the factual and evidentiary issues practitioners should be prepared to address, whether representing a debtor or a creditor.Learning Objectives: Attendees will summarize the scenarios in which student loan discharge actions typically arise, including current guidance governing partial and total agreed discharges.Attendees will identify the elements and evidentiary requirements for fraud claims under 11 U.S.C. §§ 523(a)(2) and (a)(4).Attendees will evaluate the factual and legal issues relevant to claims for willful and malicious injury under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(6), whether representing a debtor or a creditor."

This panel provides an overview of the current treatment of merchant cash advance agreements by bankruptcy courts, as well as practical approaches for debtors and creditors when encountering these agreements.Learning Objectives:Attendees will understand how to identify MCAs and address their unique impact on commercial bankruptcies.Attendees will examine how bankruptcy courts currently characterize merchant cash advance agreements, including the recharacterization and usury arguments raised in recent case law.Attendees will develop practical strategies for debtors and creditors negotiating, challenging, or enforcing MCA agreements in a bankruptcy proceeding.

The upheaval in the Regional Sports Network marketplace has created unprecedented legal and commercial challenges for sports organizations. This presentation explores the causes of RSN financial distress, the impact of restructurings and bankruptcies on media rights agreements, and the key legal considerations teams must navigate in an increasingly fragmented media ecosystem.Learning Objectives:Attendees will outline the causes of financial distress in the Regional Sports Network marketplace and the factors contributing to its broader upheaval.Attendees will examine the impact of restructurings and bankruptcies on media rights agreements between RSNs and sports teams.Attendees will assess the key legal considerations teams must navigate when negotiating and protecting their interests in an increasingly fragmented sports media ecosystem."

This panel examines how judicial estoppel arises when a personal injury plaintiff fails to list a pending or potential claim in a bankruptcy filing, and the serious consequences that can follow, including dismissal of the injury claim itself. The panelists discuss the doctrine's origins, how courts distinguish inadvertent omissions from bad-faith conduct, and practical steps attorneys can take to protect clients' recoveries. The discussion also covers coordination between personal injury counsel and bankruptcy counsel, timing of disclosures, and strategies for amending schedules before it's too late.Learning Objectives:Attendees will understand the legal basis for judicial estoppel and how it is applied in personal injury cases involving bankruptcy.Attendees will identify best practices for advising clients on disclosure obligations when a personal injury claim arises during a pending or contemplated bankruptcy.Attendees will develop strategies to prevent or remedy judicial estoppel issues, including timely amendment of bankruptcy schedules and effective communication between counsel."

This panel explores fraud issues in bankruptcy cases, including how to spot warning signs and protect officers and directors from liability. Experts discuss fiduciary duties, lender misconduct, and the impact of equitable subordination and recharacterization when fraud is involved. Attendees gain practical strategies for anticipating and responding to fraud risks in bankruptcy.Learning Objectives:Attendees will identify common warning signs of fraud in bankruptcy cases and the fiduciary duty considerations relevant to officers and directors.Attendees will analyze the impact of lender misconduct, equitable subordination, and recharacterization claims when fraud is at issue in a bankruptcy case.Attendees will develop practical strategies for anticipating, defending against, and responding to fraud-related liability risks in bankruptcy proceedings."

Join ABI’s own Bill Rochelle and a panel of distinguished judges for an insightful discussion on the most important recent case law developments impacting bankruptcy practice. This session covers key decisions from the appellate and Supreme Court levels, analyzes emerging legal trends, and explores their practical implications for practitioners, judges and academics alike.Learning Objectives:Attendees will examine recent significant rulings in bankruptcy law and evaluate their potential impact on future case strategy and court interpretation.Attendees will identify emerging legal trends and doctrinal shifts in bankruptcy jurisprudence across various jurisdictions.Attendees will gain practical insights from expert commentary to better navigate evolving legal standards and apply recent case law in day-to-day practice."