Free Sessions (no CLE)

Hosted by the Consumer Bankruptcy and Labor & Employment Committees This panel will feature a discussion of 11 U.S.C. § 525 regarding protection against discriminatory treatment based on bankruptcy status and its interpretation, including the Supreme Court’s NextWave decision. Additionally, the panel will address practical issues faced daily between employers and consumers in bankruptcy, such as the use of corporate credit cards, reimbursement of business expenses, commissions and bonuses as assets, and security clearance.

Hosted by the Commercial Fraud and Secured Credit Committees. This panel will take a fresh look at secured creditor rights and unique solvency issues in fraud and Ponzi cases. Learn how to avoid being trumped in federal forfeiture proceedings or paying on bankruptcy clawback claims by treading in the safe harbor of § 546(e) — and learn how to navigate the shoals of receivership

Home value is all in the perspective. If you want to learn how to convince the court that your client’s perspective on the value of a residence is the right one, this is the panel for you! Experienced litigators will discuss best practices for litigating the value of a home by using familiar scenarios from everyday valuation practice.

Hear the expert panelists describe their approaches to valuing assets that are inherently difficult to value, including mineral reserves, intellectual property and more.

The experts on this panel have current and deep experience in restaurant chapter 11 cases. The panelists will discuss and analyze the various and peculiar restructuring issues related to restaurant chapter 11 cases, and forecast whether this industry will continue to incur financial distress.

Resolved: Third-party litigation financing should be permitted. Pro: Justin Brass Burford Capital LLC; New York Con: John H. Beisner Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP Resolved: Inquiry notice should play a role in the good-faith transferee defense. Pro: Catherine L. Steege Jenner & Block LLP; Chicago Con: Philip D. Anker WilmerHale; New York Resolved: Wrongly decided cases Like Dewsnup should be overturned by the Supreme Court. Pro: Prof. Ilya Somin Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University; Arlington, Va. Con: Prof. Bruce A. Markell Northwestern University School of Law; Chicago

In 2010, at the height of the last economic downturn, there were almost three million foreclosure filings nationwide. It therefore is not surprising that almost all insolvency professionals will confront foreclosure at some point, either representing a lender considering a foreclosure filing or whose claim is affected by one, or a borrower facing threats of foreclosure. This Webinar will provide experienced and novice practitioners alike with the tools needed to advise on these situations. Following a brief overview of foreclosure and how it works, the Webinar will address current trends in foreclosure actions, including UCC issues, impediments to lenders foreclosing (e.g., Bank Secrecy Act, repository issues) and alternatives to foreclosure, and a comparison between foreclosure and bankruptcy (including approaches to asset sales, treatment of prepayment penalties, bad boy guarantees and restrictions on filing for bankruptcy). View Materials

It isn’t enough to just be ethical; professionals employed at the bankruptcy estate’s expense have additional responsibilities as well. This panel will explore these additional responsibilities and duties, what they are, and to whom they are or are not owed.

This panel will explore the myriad issues that arise in chapter 7 and 11 cases when the debtor is the sponsor of an employee retirement benefit plan, including 401(k) plans and pension plans.

Often the hardest part about bankruptcy litigation is making the decision to take it on in the first place, considering the time, expense, available resources and anticipated benefit to the estate and its constituents. Many bankruptcy attorneys often divorce litigation from the business goals of the client, resulting in disproportionately high fees, disappointed clients and unpaid professionals. Too little time and effort is undertaken before and during the early stages of litigation to consider the foregoing and client objectives. Consequently, in most cases litigation must be viewed as a business decision. This panel will discuss these important issues and take the audience down the litigation and settlement road: (1) pre-filing the complaint; (2) early disclosures to opponents; (3) early motions; (4) discovery and discovery disputes; (5) pre-trial motions (e.g., motions for summary judgment); and finally (6) trial. The tactics and strategies often used during these steps to promote or advance settlements that best favor clients will also be addressed.