Professional Compensation/Fees

This panel will explore and discuss ethical issues that arise in consumer practice. The panelists will reviewrecent cases and provide hypotheticals to invoke audience participation and discussion regarding topicsrelated to attorney fees, conflicts, and attorney/client privilege and confidentiality.

This panel, featuring a bankruptcy judge, a practicing debtor’s attorney and a trial attorney with the Office of the U.S. Trustee, will discuss the latest cases involving nontraditional methods of getting paid as a consumer chapter 7 debtor’s lawyer, including Code, Rule and local rule requirements; the applicable Rules of Professional Conduct and potential ethical ramifications; and what you need to know to avoid potential sanctions, disgorgement, penalties and discipline.

Sponsored by Riordan, Fincher & Mayo, P.A. Following the Money: Tracing Financial Transactions in Popular Phone Apps Rachel L. Foley Foley Law, PC | Independence, Mo. An Analytical Review of Reversals/Affirmance Rates Between BAPs and District Courts Jacklyn M. Branby Snell & Wilmer L.L.P. | Phoenix The Unconstitutionality of Chapter 11 UST Fee vs. Non-UST Fee Districts Nicholas J. Zluticky Stinson LLP | Kansas City, Mo. SBRA and Chapter 12 Definitions for Qualifying Debtors Mark A. Craige Crowe & Dunlevy | Tulsa, Okla.

This panel will provide insolvency professionals with practical business-development tips from numerous perspectives.

This panel will look at ethical issues that arise in the context of bankruptcy proceedings, including protecting common interest privilege and retaining and compensating professionals. Panelists will discuss recent cases and share best practices.

Recent large bankruptcies like NRA, Boy Scouts of America, Roman Catholic Archdiocese, Purdue Pharma and J&J have invigorated debate over the longstanding issues of venue and bad faith in bankruptcy. This panel will explore matters surrounding venue and bad-faith filings, related ethics considerations, and the newest wave of reform initiatives.

This panel will present a series of short TED talks and debates on issues arising with respect to attorneys’ fees.

This panel will be conducted in the format of the TV show “Crossfire” and will address three “hot” or “interesting” bankruptcy issues that are not being addressed in the other sessions. At the conclusion of each discussion, attendees will have an opportunity to vote on how they believe the issue should be resolved.

Getting paid in a world populated by bankrupt debtors is a tricky dance, but there are ways to make it happen. What you learn in this session is sure to be music (and money) to your ears! This panel will address chapter 7 fee bifurcation, effective chapter 13 fee applications and step-up plans, as well as practice-management profitability strategies, budgeting, billing and retirement.