Business

A self-described political junkie, Chuck Todd has earned a reputation as one of the most passionate journalists and sharpest analysts in American media. He is NBC News’ chief political analyst and, from 2014-23, served as the moderator of “Meet the Press” — NBC’s flagship Sunday morning public affairs program. A seasoned journalist and TV veteran, Todd will provide his unparalleled perspective on the media’s relationship with Washington and balanced scrutiny of politicians in this election year.

This panel will explore issues related to the conversion of cases between the various chapters, including questions related to property of the estate, exemptions, a debtor’s “right” to convert, nonconsensual conversions, post-petition asset appreciation, post-petition debt, procedural matters, and other considerations that can arise in the context of a converted case.

This panel will address current trends in private credit restructurings, including the types of companies and industries that are most affected. The panelists also will explain the role of private equity and hedge funds in private credit restructurings, as well as the potential impact on stakeholders, and will analyze the legal and regulatory landscape for private credit restructurings, and the challenges associated with navigating this landscape.

This panel will explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is evolving, where it is likely headed, and how AI may aid in various aspects of legal practice both now and in the future. The panelists will focus on the uses and potential uses of AI in consumer cases, bankruptcy sales, creditor claims, research, first-day motions and legal arguments, among others, and briefly review ethical concerns surrounding the use of AI.

This panel will present a lively debate addressing current trends in DIP financing. Who are (and are not) DIP lenders these days? What opportunities and challenges arising from the amortization of Main Street lending programs should practitioners be aware of? How is DIP financing being used to buttress liability-management transactions? How big should a DIP loan be, and what issues arise in corporate governance when a company seeks a DIP? When do DIP protections go too far?

This panel will explore an as-yet-untested question: Can a domestic debtor use the law of another country to effect the restructuring of all or some of its debt, then commence a chapter 15 case and bind U.S. creditors to the terms of that foreign restructuring? Some think that this scenario is inevitable. The panelists will discuss how U.S. and foreign insolvency laws may be utilized by U.S. debtors, and the potential incentives, benefits and risks associated with this type of restructuring.

This session will focus on various aspects of bringing and litigating multi-count causes of action springing from fraud, and how to uncover hidden assets in the context of fraud-based avoidance actions.

Forever Chemicals: PFAS chemicals have been dubbed “forever chemcials” because they are extrermely presistent, lasting thousands of years. Many have been linked to long-term health problems, thus generating trillions of dollars in potential liabilities — and bankruptcy filings. Chapter 7 Clawbacks in Fraud Cases: Hear the latest on chapter 7 trustees’ ability to use clawbacks in fraud cases. Distressed Investing Update: Learn about the latest trends in distressed investing — what the latest opportunities are, and what factors should you be paying attention to. The Changing Landscape of Chapter 11: Find out about the newest trends in restructuring and chapter 11 filings, and what new tools parties-in-interest and the courts are turning to in in-court and out-of-court restructurings.

This panel will discuss a selection of cases that raise current substantive bankruptcy issues and litigation challenges, including how to convince a bankruptcy court to extend the automatic stay (or issue an injunction) to protect debtor-related (but nondebtor) entities from tort or other litigation that could interfere with the plan process (e.g., Robertshaw (S.D. Tex. 2024); Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Center (S.D.N.Y. 2023)); how best to present valuation evidence for unusual, complex and illiquid assets, including mortgage-backed securities, derivatives and crypto assets; and how to deal with evidentiary issues — particularly relating to damages — arising in “liability management” litigation. The panelists will conclude with a rapid-fire presentation of successful bankruptcy litigation tips.

This panel will discuss the wide-ranging changes to the Bankruptcy Code resulting from the 2005 amendments, and how they do and do not continue to affect bankruptcy practice today.