No CLE

Unemployment rates are slowly dropping after hitting an all-time high in April of this year and remaining in the double digits for four months straight. However, the effects of the ongoing pandemic remain. Rent payments are down, and homeowners are delaying payments on their mortgages. The Federal Reserve has dropped interest rates to near-zero, and small business revenue nationwide is down nearly 20%, even after accounting for the thousands of businesses that have already closed for good. Congress, states and local governments are scrambling to put policies and programs in place that will help forestall financial collapse. As bankruptcy practitioners and scholars, this is our moment — or is it? This presentation will explore the role that bankruptcy policy can and should play in a global pandemic, discuss the role that bankruptcy policy has already begun to play, and query what factors may be limiting the effectiveness of bankruptcy policy in easing financial distress and limiting unnecessary business closures.

Ranking on Google is perhaps the most important thing you can do to market your law firm. In this presentation, we’ll dig into how PPC (Google paid ads) complement your SEO (search engine optimization), social media and email marketing; how connecting your paid ads to your Google My Business (GMB) listing helps get your practice in front of more prospective clients; how search terms in paid ads are an invaluable source of information on consumer behavior and intent; and how geo-scheduling ads down to the zip code and overlaying such demographics as age, income and audience can help make sure your ads reach the right people. This session will also explain the intricacies of Google Ads rebranding from AdWords, including YouTube and more than 2 million websites in the Google Display Network.

NO CLE Norman N. Kinel, Moderator Squire Patton Boggs; New York Resolved: The Bankruptcy Code impliedly repeals the Federal Arbitration Act with respect to disputes regarding the allowance of claims against a bankruptcy estate. Pro: Hon. Ashely M. Chan U.S. Bankruptcy Court (E.D. Pa.); Philadelphia Con: Hon. Eric L. Frank U.S. Bankruptcy Court (E.D. Pa.); Philadelphia Resolved: A chapter 11 plan of reorganization may lawfully release the liability of a third party for its own tortious conduct without the consent of the creditor whose claim is being released. Pro: Hon. Janet E. Bostwick U.S. Bankruptcy Court (D. Mass.); Boston Con: Hon. Frank J. Bailey U.S. Bankruptcy Court (D. Mass.); Boston

The title says it all — and these sessions are always full of fireworks. We’ll cover post-petition appreciation in chapter 13s (to whom does it belong?), bifurcation of chapter 7 fees, and lien-stripping in chapter 20. You might be picking a side, but you’ll learn a lot from both sides!

A panel of judges and ABI 40under40 honorees will be debating key bankruptcy issues including arbitration disputes, cramdown provisions and more! Listen in, weigh in and learn a lot! First Debate Cramdowns “East vs. West” Resolution 1: An arbitrator should decide whether disputes in bankruptcy cases and proceedings are subject to arbitration. Pro: Andrew Helman Con: Lindsi Weber Resolution 2: All disputes in bankruptcy cases and proceedings can be subjected to binding arbitration. Pro: Hon. Michael Fagone Con: Hon. Daniel Collins Second Debate Cramdowns “North vs. South” Resolution: Section 1129(a)(10) dictates that a joint chapter 11 plan may be confirmed if a single impaired class with claims against any debtor accepts the joint plan. Pro: Hon. Mary Grace Diehl & Jonathan Edwards Con: Hon. Michael Wiles & Erica Weisgerber

This plenary will present two exciting debates on timely circuit split topics. Judges will be paired with emerging regional leaders to face off over key bankruptcy issues. Resolved: The automatic stay terminates automatically after a repeat filing only to property of the debtor, and not to estate property. Resolved: A “makewhole” provision may be enforced against a debtor and is not disallowed as “unmatured interest” pursuant to Bankruptcy Code § 502(b)(2).

This panel features seasoned professionals discussing and demonstrating how to address and negotiate appropriate bid procedures and run an effective sales process. The panelists will discuss these issues in the presence of a judge through the presentation of a hypothetical sale that has more than its share of complicating factors. Sponsored by Perkins Coie LLP

The health care industry is plagued by fraud and abuse issues. What have we seen already, what do we anticipate seeing in the future, and what do health care providers need to know going forward?

COVID-19 spurred unprecedented levels of government support. Through Provider Relief Funds, Medicare Advanced Payments, PPP loans and other mechanisms, federal agencies provided substantial liquidity, in some cases with strings attached. Join the panelists as they delve into the effects these funds might have had on fraud and abuse in the health care space.

The health care industry in general, and hospitals in particular, have been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in many respects. At its most basic level, the impact has been devastating financially. The American Hospital Association estimates that between March 1 and June 30, 2020, hospitals will have suffered financial losses of $202.6 billion, or approximately $1.66 billion per day. These losses affect all hospitals, whether they are part of large chains or are stand-alone nonprofits. Economists expect the result to be more financial failures, mergers and bankruptcy filings in an industry that was already in dire financial straits. The panelists will discuss several issues that have been pushed to the forefront by the recent decisions in Gardens Medical Center and Verity Health Systems.