Business

This panel will focus on the continuing role of creditors’ committees in the current chapter 11 environment. As the fulcrum of security moves up the balance sheet, the utility of committees has been coming under attack. Although historically committees have consisted primarily of trade creditors, they now regularly include bondholders, indenture trustees, the PBGC and unions. Learn about the challenges for professionals representing committees and the way committee members evaluate how to fulfill their fiduciary duties.

Discussion and debate about the venue statute (28 U.S.C. § 1408) and whether it should be modified; special issues involving venue for chapter 15 (including for Chinese companies); impact of venue controversies on UCC selection, first-day orders, and other early issues and decisions; could claims arise from improper venue selection?

This panel will discuss common issues that arise in a § 363 sale, including timing issues, typical marketing programs (or conversely, no-shop clauses), bid procedures, break-up fees and bid-protection provisions. The panel might also touch on critical-vendor provisions, employee incentive programs, claw-back and true-up provisions, and successor liability clauses, as well as the applicability of the various subsections in § 363(f).

Luncheon Keynote at the Annual Spring Meeting

This session will examine the legal issues that impact the flow and diversion of the value distribution waterfall, including identifying gaps between the scope of, and the methodology for determining, enterprise value and collateral value; the impact of §§ 502, 506(a), 506(c) and 552 on the allowed amount of secured and unsecured claims; and contractual and non-contractual adjustments to legal priorities (including intercreditor lien agreements, intercreditor claim-subordination agreements, participation agreements and collective action, equitable subordination, intercompany claims and substantive consolidation). Using a hypothetical case, the panel will illustrate these issues and the uncertain and complex valuation, allocation and intercreditor issues that can arise in a multi-tranched, multi-debtor restructuring case

Madoff: Ponzi Presentation

This panel will discuss applicable federal and state laws, case studies, transactions in regards to actual vs. constructive fraud, tests for constructive fraudulent transfers, and professional liability.

This session will cover revenue and expense recognition, financial statement analysis, financial ratios, and the calculation and forecasting of a firm’s free cash flow.

This panel will consider the robustness of financial models and valuation techniques in assessing the value of financially distressed businesses vis-à-vis the market for debt and equity securities of such businesses. Market efficiency/accuracy will also be considered, as well as the circumstances that might warrant abandoning the values determined by the market in favor of a model-driven value estimate.