Business

Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) failed on March 10 following a run on its deposits, representing the second-largest bank failure in U.S. history behind the 2008 failure of Washington Mutual. Prior to its collapse, the Santa Clara, Calif.-based SVB was the 16th-largest bank in the U.S. and was the largest bank by deposits in Silicon Valley. This panel of experts will break down the failure and future of SVB, the FDIC's role in the banking crisis, and the impact its collapse may have on other financial institutions.

This panel will discuss the various issues surrounding merchant cash advance (MCA) lenders from the perspectives of MCA lenders, debtors, the bench, and other secured creditors whose interests may be affected by MCA lenders.

Following a brief introduction into the modern-day Wild, Wild West of currency that is crypto, this panel will discuss the rise in crypto bankruptcy filings, the unique issues and challenges of crypto bankruptcies, and the future of crypto.

This panel will compare and contrast the SPAC craze of 2020-21 to see where we are now and what lies ahead.

Third-party releases remain a hot topic in bankruptcy proceedings. Learn what the laws in various circuits have to say about permissible third-party releases, whether bankruptcy courts are deemed to have subject-matter jurisdiction and statutory authority to approve third-party releases as part of confirmation orders approving plans of reorganization, and what standards are imposed by circuit courts to determine whether a third-party release should be approved.

This session will discuss recent decisions and developments regarding third-party releases, both internationally and domestically.

Many industries have incorporated artificial intelligence (AI) into their operations over the last several years, including the legal industry. This panel will discuss the current status of the use of AI in the legal industry, and will explore the ethical implications and obligations of practitioners when using (or not using) AI. Is AI the answer to increasing access to justice? What are lawyers’ ethical obligations when using (or not using) AI? How have lawyers gotten into trouble when using AI?

This panel will present views from the perspectives of management, debtor’s counsel and creditors' committee’s counsel on hot-button and common issues in public company bankruptcies. These large and interesting cases are not filed every day, but their frequency has been on the rise because of the role of special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs). The panelists will discuss the nuances of what makes public company bankruptcies different.

This panel will present a mock trial focusing on valuation, with the panelists serving as counsel arguing each side, and as a witness and a judge. The session will cover direct and cross-examination topics that come into play with valuations, including expert witness issues, applicable evidentiary rules and procedural aspects.