No CLE

Let our experts guide you through the most important current chapter 13 issues, including (1) is a chapter 7 trustee entitled to a commission on a converted case?; (2) is interest required in a 100 percent chapter 13 plan where not all disposable income is contributed?; (3) is failure to make direct payments on a mortgage grounds for denial of discharge?; and (4) can a debtor employ § 506(d) to avoid a lien in a subsequent chapter 13 case (chapter 20), even though the debtor is not eligible for discharge?

This panel will explore the effectiveness (and, sometimes, lack thereof) of creditor strategies to restrict by contract a borrower’s ability to obtain bankruptcy relief, whether by limiting the ability of a corporate borrower to seek bankruptcy relief without certain stakeholder approvals, limiting the type of available bankruptcy relief, choosing which country’s bankruptcy laws will apply to an insolvency proceeding involving the borrower, bankruptcy-remote structuring techniques, and other means. For example, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit recently upheld a “golden share” arrangement whereby a creditor was able to prohibit the debtor limited liability company from filing bankruptcy; and in the international realm, choice of law clauses have at times limited a debtor’s ability to obtain relief under the Model Law for Cross-Border Insolvency. This panel will also explore variations in international public policies with respect to restrictions on a borrower’s ability to seek bankruptcy relief.

This panel will discuss what strategies sponsors are using to retain control (or at least a stake) through the bankruptcy process, as well as the risks to sponsors, such as fiduciary duties; use of special committees as sword and shield; related-party transactions; sponsor affiliates purchasing debt in the portfolio company’s capital structure, as well as 10b-5 compliance; and selling or spinning off assets/business units (Caesars, Cengage, Nine West, PetSmart, Sears, Toys).

The panelists will tackle the domestic reach of a foreign stay (Sanjel); non-U.S. companies filing for chapter 11 and the consequences thereof (Ocean Fisheries); recognition of foreign judgments more generally; and recent cases filed in Canada (Concordia and the CBCA).

This panel is in the format of current-events TV program “Crossfire” and will address three “hot” or “interesting” bankruptcy issues that are not being addressed in the other sessions, including future waivers, new-value issues and Jevic.

How do judges view the various types of committees–official statutory committees (including unsecured creditor, equity, retiree and tort claimant committees) and ad hoc committees? Is the makeup of the committee (trade/landlords/noteholders/bondholders/litigation claimants) relevant? What is Jevic’s impact on the ability of unsecured creditors’ committees to obtain recoveries for their constituents—do committees representing deeply out-of-the-money creditors have anything left in their toolboxes? This panel will discuss these questions and more relating to official and ad hoc committees.

This program will include discussion of a series of issues that arise in adversary proceedings. They will include Merchant Cash Advance Chapter 5 litigation; trustees attempted 10 year IRS statute of limitations use in section 544 actions; license issues on contested sales (Lubrizol); jurisdiction in international cases). This program is designed for lawyers with beginner level experience in adversary proceedings.

Recovering estate property isn’t always as straightforward as directing the debtor to turn over property. This session will focus on situations where a nonbankrupt party (receiver, agent, court officer or assignee) has possession of property of the debtor/estate. How does the Bankruptcy Code define a “custodian," and what rights and responsibilities do custodians have? What rights do the debtor and trustee have? Can the custodian maintain possession of the property, and under what circumstances? Are custodians entitled to any fees/costs, statutory or otherwise, for maintaining possession of the property? Do creditors have to assist in getting the property back from the custodian? If the custodian gives up possession of the property, does it go to the debtor or the trustee?