Video

Former American Airlines General Counsel Gary Kennedy and journalist Terry Maxon recount the challenges and crises American faced during the years following the tragic attacks of 9/11, during which American Airlines lost billions as it struggled to avoid bankruptcy. The company finally had to file for bankruptcy, but merged with US Airways and concluded one of the most successful bankruptcies in U.S. history.

With discharge of student loans under the undue hardship standard often requiring a "certainty of hoplessness", this panel will instead focus on alternative methods that debtors and courts have addressed the ever mounting student loan crisis. These alternatives will include an examination of what actually constitutes an "educational benefit", how various repayment programs from the Department of Education can be integrated with bankrptcy and non-bankruptcy causes of action and defenses, including Statutes of Limitation, burdens of prood regarding standing and consumer protectioin laws, that can be used to provide borrowers relief.

The mock valuation trial will be a battle to remember pitting the public shareholders against the Debtor, its hedge fund DIP lenders and plan sponsors, and even the Creditors' Committee in order to preserve their equity value. The trial will be based on the case of Horsehead Holding Corp., Case No. 16-10287 (Bankr. D. Del.), and the hotly contested valuation dispute over plan confirmation. Everything you wanted to know about valuation methodologies, risk premiums, beta, debt/equity ratios, direct and cross examination strategies, expert testimony practice tips, and even commodity forecastinga"it's all here.

Experienced bankruptcy attorneys will argue cases before Judge Margaret Mann. She will preside, inquire and explain the analytic process leading to her decisions. The panelists will present topics such as new developments regarding the initial transferee defense to a preference allegation and the right of litigants to legal fees in bankruptcy litigation.

This panel will discuss how venue (and proposed venue law changes) impacts everyday practice, particularly for younger lawyers. The panel will also have a candid discussion of venue-related concerns such as local counsel requirements, accessibility of courtroom staff, telephonic particiations and the impact on appellate practice

Join a judge, trustee, and consumer practitioner as they discuss how to view problems in consumer cases with a new lens. ATopics include using savings to assist a debtor's fresh start, obtaining relief from prior orders, and professionally dealing with aggressive parties (even sometimes the judge).

This panel will explore key bankruptcy issues concerning the lawyer’s obligation to be “disinterested” and free from having adverse interests. How do these bankruptcy issues relate to the Model Rules of Professional Conduct, including RPCs 1.6 (“Confidentiality of Information”), 1.7 (“Conflict of Interest: Current Clients”), 1.9 (“Duties to Former Clients”), 1.18 (“Duties to Prospective Clients”), 3.3 (“Candor Toward the Tribunal”) and 4.1 (“Truthfulness in Statements to Others”)? The panel will also address the current state of affairs with respect to the allowance of fees incurred in defending fee applications and the use of in-camera disclosures in conjunction with retention-related issues.

This panel will explore current topics of interest involving third-party releases, including issues regarding: "deemed consent" of releasing parties; the scope of third-party releases; and the impact of jurisdictional or constitutional limits on bankruptcy courts to approve non-consensual third-party releases.

Resolved: Under Till v. SCS Credit Corp., a bankruptcy court is required to use a two-step approach to determine the cramdown interest rate, and must first determine whether there is an efficient market before it can use the formula approach. Resolved: A trademark licensee retains the right to use a debtor’s trademark post-rejection.

This panel will discuss safe harbors after Merit Management, the reach of the UFTA after Crystallex, and the preemption of creditor claims after Tribune and Physiotherapy Holdings, and will take a look at where the law is heading.