Consumer

When solvent debtors file for bankruptcy protection, some funny things happen under the Bankruptcy Code. This panel will investigate what can be learned from that and how to handle these curious, but not uncommon, cases.

This panel, which includes a bankruptcy judge, experienced litigators, and an expert witness, will explore through a mock trial various evidentiary issues that routinely arise in trials in bankruptcy court.

Join a distinguished group of panelists involved in the hiring — and firing — of bankruptcy professionals. Hear how you can serve clients better and make them want to work with you.

This panel will examine and discuss the rights of oversecured lenders to obtain recoveries that go beyond principal and ordinary interest and recent case law dealing. The panel will focus on the right of oversecured lenders to recover late fees, reimbursement of attorneys’ fees, make-whole provisions/pre-payment premiums, original issue discounts and default interest.

This panel will explain the practice of “unbundling,” along with the ethical and legal considerations involved, and will provide sample engagement letters where services are unbundled. The panel will discuss evolving case law on this issue wherein debtors and their attorneys attempt to use alternative agreements to limit the scope of their representation. ABI's Ethics Task Force Final Report might also be applied.

Past Presidents’ Debate: Michael P. Richman Hunton & Williams LLP; New York Deborah D. Williamson Cox Smith Matthews Incorporated; San Antonio Resolved: Secured creditors should be required to fund the payment of all administrative claims and make a distribution to general unsecured creditors as a condition of cleansing substantially all of the debtors’ assets through a § 363 sale process. Judicial Debate: Hon. Kevin J. Carey U.S. Bankruptcy Court (D. Del.); Wilmington Hon. Frank J. Santoro U.S. Bankruptcy Court (E.D. Va.); Norfolk Resolved: A claim is not impaired for purposes of § 1129(a)(10) if the alteration of the rights in question arises solely from the debtor’s exercise of discretion, because § 1129(a)(10) recognizes impairment only to the extent that it is driven by economic need. Consumer Debate: John Rao National Consumer Law Center; Boston Brett Weiss Chung & Press, PC; Greenbelt, Md. Resolved: The Bankruptcy Rules and Forms should require that a national chapter 13 official plan form be used in all cases.

This panel will present an in-depth discussion as to what rights and obligations a licensor and/or licensee has in a bankruptcy case. Section 365(c)(1), (g) and (n) will be highlighted, as well as the impact that the Sunbeam decision will have on the courts.

This panel will discuss the Supreme Court’s decision in Bellingham, the coming decision in Wellness, as well as other topical issues of interest.