Business

This panel will examine splits among the circuits on bankruptcy and bankruptcy-related issues, and will discuss whether the U.S. Supreme Court has granted or will grant certiorari on applications seeking resolution of these circuit splits.

Do some provisions of the Bankruptcy Code seem so out of date and maddening that you want to call your congressional representatives? Our panel of “sharks” will evaluate pitches for legislation to remedy nagging issues in the Code, including implementing restrictions on the appointment of creditors’ committees in chapter 11 cases, tax exemptions for asset sales under § 363, increasing statutory compensation for trustees, the creation of bankruptcy appellate panels in every circuit, and the elimination of debt limits for chapter 13. Come see whether any ideas make the cut!

This panel will discuss issues that have arisen in recent chapter 15 cases, including the several issues presented in the Hanjin Shipping Co. case. The panel will also address how Cayman courts approach applications for assistance by foreign representatives, as well as the factors considered by Cayman courts when Cayman liquidators request authority to seek chapter 11 or chapter 15 relief in the U.S. courts.

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

The panel will address the pros and cons of a 363 sale, essential provisions to include in your bidding procedures and hot topics in 363 sales including credit bidding, reopening an auction, consigned goods, sale of customer information and successor liability.

This panel will review the art and science of valuations prepared for different stakeholders in the same case. Panelists will discuss how professionals can use the same data but arrive at dramatically different results through the manipulation of various methodologies and assumptions depending on the interests of their clients.

This panel will discuss the similarities and differences of judicial approaches in Delaware’s two most prominent business courts: Chancery and Bankruptcy. The panelists will discuss how the different courts approach their reviews of transactions and the statutory interpretations for two statute-driven practices, and how an appellate court views the two courts.

This panel will review some of the unique aspects of municipal bankruptcy cases, including the use of mediators, the role of a creditors’ committee and how committee professionals can be compensated, the involvement of state and federal laws and precedent for municipal bankruptcies, and the uncharted territory of Puerto Rico’s insolvency, as well as the potential impact on financially troubled states.

Join Hon. Eugene R. Wedoff (ret.), ABI President and member of the ABI Commission on Consumer Bankruptcy, for a discussion of the Commission’s recommendations for improving the consumer bankruptcy system within the existing structure. Attendees will have the opportunity to offer ideas and feedback on key issues, in advance of the Commission’s December 2018 release of its recommendations. To learn more about the ABI Commission on Consumer Bankruptcy, visit consumercommission.abi.org.