No CLE

This panel will discuss the creative ways that debtors, committees and settling parties are utilizing channeling injunctions, bar orders and settlements to curtail continued litigation to facilitate settlements in bankruptcy. In particular, the panelists will cover the applicable standards and the benefits that can be obtained for a bankruptcy estate and all settling parties.

A panel of German insolvency professionals will discuss the recent reform of the German insolvency regime and its implications for the stakeholders in restructuring and/or insolvency proceedings and share their views and experience on the practical application of the reformed law with the audience.

We live in the so called information and communication times. But the media carrying these information are in distressed situation. The entire industry faces a strategic turmoil, be it DVDs, CDs, newspapers, magazine or books. The panel will address the change of lifestyle, the adaption of the business and its failures.

The panel will discuss the pitfalls that chapter 13 debtors encounter when dealing with claims that may or may not be dischargeable or have priority status.

17th Annual Great Debates Past Presidents’ Debate Resolved: The Bankruptcy Code should be revised to eliminate a debtor in possession's and trustee's ability to recover preferential transfers. Judicial Debate Resolved: A claim against the debtor’s estate, transferred to a third party, should be treated the same as if in the hands of the original holder. Consumer Debate Resolved: An attorney in a consumer case should be able to limit the scope of her employment.

This panel will discuss the obstacles that debtors and creditors face when attempting to effectuate a sale of a debtor’s assets through a fast-track § 363 sale motion at the outset of a case. The discussion will include (a) the advantages and disadvantages, from both the debtor and creditor perspective, of selling a debtor’s assets through a motion as opposed to a plan, (b) limitations of “free and clear” relief, (c) valuation and marketing on a short timeframe, and (d) insider transactions.

This year’s installment of the Boris Badenough ethics play centers primarily around Boris’s romantic problems, rather than his traditional financial woes. Boris’s latest wife, Sophia “Sting” Shire, an up-and-coming photo artist, has just filed for divorce and is seeking to void her prenuptial agreement with Boris so she can get the $100,000 per week in support she believes she is entitled to. Boris isn’t distressed about the loss of his sixth (or is it seventh?) wife, but the fact she wants money and half of his massive snowglobe collection enrages him. However, Boris has a plan to put Sting into an involuntary bankruptcy with two other creditors, have a trustee appointed (Boris does know how to dig up dirt!) and settle any claims that Sting may have with her trustee for a small amount of his hoard. Unfortunately for Boris, Sting and her counsel, Bill “Bo” Baggins, have a few tricks of their own up their sleeves, including the discovery of Boris’s deepest and perhaps most profitable secrets in Hidden Hoard LLC, a company Sting owns 1% of (through Boris’s attempt to make her a minority contractor). Will Baggins and Sting be able to discover the secret Hidden Hoard, or will Boris’s counsel, Tom “Bomber” Dill, prevail and save his client’s “preeciousss”?

This panel will provide an update on procedural developments in bankruptcy cases, covering issues such as personal jurisdiction, service of process, and perhaps enforcement. There will also be an update on Stern and its practical implications.

With the Supreme Court due to hear oral argument on a critical bankruptcy case on January 14, ABI has released the following free video preview of the upcoming High Court bankruptcy cases. This 75 minute program features ABI Resident Scholar Kara Bruce talking with noted appellate advocate and law professor Eric Brunstad (Dechert LLP; Hartford, Conn.). Eric has argued many cases before the Court and is an expert in bankruptcy appellate practice. He discusses in depth Law v. Siegel, which questions whether the court may use its general equitable authority under §105 of the Bankruptcy Code to surcharge a debtor's exempt assets, and Executive Benefits Insurance Agency v. Arkison (In re Bellingham), which will address the bankruptcy court's authority to adjudicate Article III matters. The latter case will be argued in January and represents another opportunity for the Court to clarify (or reverse) its holding in Stern v. Marshall. He also provides a candid view of what it is like to argue a case before the Court.