No CLE

Bankruptcy lawyers are confronted with daily decisions that may have ethical traps. This panel of experts will identify some of these traps and show you how to avoid them.

Presented by the Hon. Eugene R. Wedoff Seventh Circuit Consumer Bankruptcy Conference The panelists will discuss § 348(f), bad-faith conversion, best-interest test, post-petition acquisitions, and dilemmas regarding the return of property, among other conversion issues.

Sponsored by Husch Blackwell LLP The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity defines implicit bias as “the attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner.” According to the Kirwan Institute, “[t]hese biases, which encompass both favorable and unfavorable assessments, are activated involuntarily and without an individual’s awareness or intentional control.” Researchers have found that implicit biases can impact many aspects of an individual’s life. For the bankruptcy attorney, it is imperative to consider whether implicit bias affects her day-to-day interactions with clients. This session will highlight studies confirming the pervasiveness of implicit bias, as well as empirical research establishing its influence on bankruptcy proceedings. The session will also provide techniques for reducing and/or eliminating the impact of implicit bias.

Panel presented by the International Insolvency Institute (III) This panel will discuss a proposed solution for a response to the need for funding to recapitalize and provide liquidity to viable businesses seeking to emerge from the disruption.

The panelists will cover a host of topics, ranging from ethical issues surrounding micro-business chapter 7 cases, confidentiality and ethical issues related to working remotely, to limited representation and obligations of counsel in bankruptcy. You'll also hear a trustee's perspective on conflicts, retention and employing special counsel.

This session will focus on professional retention issues in chapter 11 cases, starting with a brief primer on applicable Bankruptcy Code sections. The panelists will then delve into recent case law on such hot topics as disclosures, conflicts and retroactive relief.

This panel will discuss attorneys’ fee and sanction topics, including involuntary-proceeding issues.

Domestic support obligations versus separation of debt, § 523(a)(5) and (a)(16), and concurrent jurisdictions between bankruptcy and state courts.

Sponsored by Williams-Keepers LLC This panel will present a mock hearing consisting of direct and cross-examination of a financial advisor in connection with a contested chapter 11 confirmation hearing. Panelists will also discuss best practices and strategies for presenting and eliciting testimony in an evidentiary hearing.

Panel presented by the International Women's Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC) Panelists from IWIRC's Latin America network will explore the tools available and strategies for recovering assets in cross-border insolvencies from a Latin American perspective.