No CLE

A Discussion Surrounding the Current Developments in Make-Whole Litigation - Where It’s Going and Issues on the Horizon.

Many debtors cannot afford to pay Ch. 7 fees in full in advance of filing. This leads to perverse outcomes for debtors, including the common filing of Ch. 13 cases solely to obtain a stay while paying counsel’s fees over time or not filing a needed bankruptcy. Courts across the country are adopting local rules allowing prepetition agreements to render services post-petition for payments to be made post-petition. Many courts do not allow this. What is appropriate?

This will be a lively discussion of the latest cases involving student loan dischargeability and issues related to litigating in this area, including what constitutes “undue hardship”, the Brunner Test, consideration of income-based repayment programs and other related topics.

This program would focus on what each section of 523 is really meant to address. Unfortunately, these complaints, more often than not, tend to recite a story and then the plaintiff tries to establish a cause of action under each provision of 523 to see what will stick, rather than pleading just the correct and applicable section(s).

Content begins at 19:26 Beyond discussing issues related to systemic bias, this panel will discuss approaches to challenging the status quo and addressing issues of diversity and inclusion. The panel of experts will provide attendees concrete, actionable knowledge on how to approach creating a welcoming workplace. Attendees will leave the session ready to use this knowledge to jumpstart their own efforts to enhance their workplace diversity, or to contribute to the firm’s existing diversity and inclusion efforts.

Resolution of important issues in bankruptcy occasionally depend on which Circuit the case is pending. In this session, a panel of three preeminent judges will hear arguments by three sets of outstanding advocates on important topics where the Circuits are divided.

Resolution of important issues in bankruptcy occasionally depend on which Circuit the case is pending. In this session, a panel of three preeminent judges will hear arguments by three sets of outstanding advocates on important topics where the Circuits are divided.

2021 kicks off a new version of the Broken Bench program: Jeopardy Host, Chief Judge Pamela Pepper, will challenge contestants Judge Cate Furay, Professor Nancy Rapoport, and Demetra Liggins with educational and fun questions. The Jeopardy categories will include: Famous Debtors, Bricks & Mortar, Supremely Strange, Sex & Religion, and Covid-19.

This panel will focus on the changing tides of chapters 7 and 13 due to recent legislation, including the CARES Act, Consolidated Appropriations Act, Bankruptcy Administration Improvement Act of 2020 and other nonbankruptcy legislation/policies that have an impact on bankruptcy filings. The panelists also will take a peek at what is on the horizon for potential new legislation.

This panel will explore some of the nasty topics that keep consumer lawyers awake at night, such as HOA/timeshare issues, surrendering in light of no foreclosure, and fee-jumping.