abiLIVE Webinars

Many higher-education institutions find that COVID-19 simply shined a harsh spotlight on what had already been a slow burn, ignited by demographics, debt, distress and denial. Join our panelists for a thoughtful conversation about how we got here, and which institutions are most at risk. A discussion of chapter 11 issues and alternatives for nonprofit colleges will follow, with time for questions at the end.

Sponsored by the ABI's Asset Sales and Ethics and Professional Compensation Committees This webinar will discuss ethical issues professionals may face in asset sales and weave in some real life stories from previous deals our panelists have been involved with. Topics to be addressed include collusion, confidentiality, and fiduciary responsibility.

On January 14, 2021, the Supreme Court ruled in the case of City of Chicago, Illinois v. Fulton that the mere retention of estate property after the filing of a bankruptcy petition does not violate 11 U.S.C. § 362(a)(3), which operates as a “stay” of “any act” to “exercise control” over the property of the estate. ABI Editor-at-Large Bill Rochelle will host a discussion with two leading bankruptcy academics who filed amicus briefs in the case, Profs. John Pottow of the University of Michigan Law School (Ann Arbor, Mich.) and Ralph Brubaker of the University of Illinois College of Law (Champaign, Ill.), to analyze the decision and its impact on future bankruptcy case law.

Sponsored by ABI's Diversity and Inclusion Working Group Build a better law practice while building a more diverse and inclusive workplace! Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) leaders from the public and private sectors will discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion's impact on career trajectory, mentorship, and the bottom line, while providing tips and best practices to retaining and attracting talent. The session will begin with a plenary session, followed by breakout rooms staffed with a D&I expert and a bankruptcy judge. Confirmed participants in the Breakout Room Discussions: Hon. Christopher M. Alston, Western District of Washington Hon. Daniel P. Collins, District of Arizona Hon. Robert D. Drain, Southern District of New York Hon. Barbara J. Houser, Northern District of Texas Hon. Laurel M. Isicoff, Southern District of Florida Hon. Klinette H. Kindred, Eastern District of Virginia Hon. Christopher M. Lopez, Southern District of Texas Hon. Brendan L. Shannon, District of Delaware Hon. Sage M. Sigler, Northern District of Georgia Hon. Kathy A. Surratt-States, Eastern District of Missouri Hon. Deborah L. Thorne, Northern District of Illinois Kori Carew, Chief Inclusion & Diversity Officer, Seyfarth Shaw LLP Mary Ellen Connerty, Director of Diversity & Engagement, O'Melveny & Myers LLP Carlos Davila-Caballero, Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Simpson, Thacher & Bartlett, LLP Maja Hazell, Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion, White & Case LLP John Iino, Diversity & Inclusion Global Chair, Reed Smith LLP Sylvia James, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Winston & Strawn LLP Melique Jones, Director of Talent Pipeline, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP Nimesh Patel, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP Peter Wilson, Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Proskauer Rose LLP

Sponsored by the Consumer Bankruptcy Committee On December 9, Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Representatives Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) and David Cicilline (D-R.I.) introduced the Consumer Bankruptcy Reform Act of 2020. The Act proposes a fundamental reform of the consumer bankruptcy process under the Bankruptcy Code, with the goal of making the process easier, less expensive, and more equitable. Among other things, the Act proposes to replace chapter 13 and chapter 7 with a new chapter 10 that simplifies the consumer bankruptcy process and provides flexibility in terms of the consumers’ retention of assets and commitment of income toward the repayment of claims. Please join our panel in a discussion of the Act’s highlights, including their initial impressions on the contrast between current processes under chapters 7 and 13 and the proposed processes under chapter 10.

Sponsored by the Consumer Bankruptcy Committee ABI's Consumer Bankruptcy Committee is presenting this webinar, moderated by Committee Co-Chair Jon J. Lieberman of Sottile & Barile, Attorneys at Law, and featuring Hon. Allan C. Stout of the Western District of Kentucky, Chapter 7 Trustee Hannah W. Hutman of Hoover Penrod PLC, Chapter 7 Trustee Richard D. Nelson of Todd, Kite & Stanford LLC, and Keith J. Larson of Seiller Waterman, LLC. The panelists will discuss a range of issues surrounding the trustee program, including tips and strategies for both debtor and creditor attorneys in working with case trustees, the current state of chapter 7 trustee compensation and why compensation reform may be needed, and the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on everything from 341 exams to the retention and recruitment of chapter 7 trustees. The panelists will also discuss the role of the trustee in subchapter V cases under the SBRA, including trustee compensation.

Presented by ABI’s Secured Credit Committee, this panel will discuss recent trends and developments concerning debtor-in-possession financing by highlighting relevant issues from the debtor’s, lender’s, and creditors’ committee’s perspectives. The discussion will focus on recent chapter 11 cases, including cases from the retail and energy industries, disruption from COVID-19, and broader market observations.

Join the SRS Acquiom team and their panel of experts as they dive into recent transactions involving collateral disputes between lenders and borrowers. The discussion will highlight real-life examples, look back on why the disputes are happening, review the options for lenders, and examine how to prevent disputes from happening in the future.

Members of ABI's Commercial Fraud Committee will discuss hot topics related to COVID-19, particularly fraudulent schemes likely expected due to the pandemic and schemes that may be revealed as a result of the pandemic's economic repercussions. The panelists will also address the coronavirus relief bill and resulting potential fraudulent schemes, as well as the international impact of the pandemic.

Join us for a discussion on the key features of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the current legal landscape regarding the eligibility of companies in bankruptcy to receive PPP Loans, including an overview of SBA guidance and recent court decisions.