Alaska State Approved Sessions

Intellectual Property assets present unique challenges in bankruptcy. Article 9 financing statements may or may not be enforceable, and, in some instances, may actually be to your client’s detriment. Can a debtor assume and assign IP rights? Revoke them by rejecting a license? How is a security interest in intellectual property perfected and enforced? How you define the intellectual property assets can greatly impact your client’s rights, and those rights are constantly changing. This panel will cover practical issues and problems, including how to document and value IP assets, to help you spot the issues and navigate your way out of the bankruptcy riptide, whether you represent a secured lender, debtor, or contract counterparty.

The healthcare industry in general, and hospitals in particular, have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in many respects. At its most basic level, the impact has been devastating financially. The restructuring of a healthcare entity, whether in or out of court, raises unique and significant issues, in large part because federal and state governments pay for the bulk of medical care in the United States and the industry is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the nation. This program will discuss several issues which, although not necessarily new, have been pushed to the forefront by recent decisions in bankruptcy cases in Delaware, New York and Los Angeles.

IWIRC sponsored this October 14, 2020, session as part of the Insolvency 2020 Summit. The expert panel discusses trustees' powers in various foreign courts and the challenges they face. The panlists also provide tips for hiring foreign counsel and recovering offshore assets.

Our distinguished panel will feature former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives John Boehner, former Congressman and Chairman of the Democratic Caucus Joseph Crowley, former Congressman Bill Shuster and former Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater. Topics to discuss will include the election, the U.S. Supreme Court, the political impact of a Trump or Biden administration, the possible change of control in the Senate, and what all of this means for unemployment and future stimulus programs, interest rates, taxes, infrastructure and the U.S. economy in 2021. And of course, how does the pandemic impact the analysis – now and for the foreseeable future? There will also be ample time for Q&A.

Global markets continue to shift as the world confronts today’s unprecedented challenges. But in this uncertain time, there are also opportunities that savvy investors can capitalize on if they know where to look. Join this interactive panel as leading experts representing renowned capital-raising gurus, global private-equity firms and one of the world's largest independent financial advisory groups discuss the leading trends taking place in the M&A space today. Understand trends and considerations private-equity firms are currently facing, analyze the landscape for alternative lending and learn how traditional capital fundraising has shifted, and assess strategies for success in the long term as we continue to battle COVID-19 in the global marketplace.

A better understanding of what trustees do in their day-to-day work can help debtors and credit and finance professionals appreciate some of the complexities of the bankruptcy process. Bankruptcy trustees are often painted as the bad guys: Creditors sometimes think that trustees sell assets at bargain-basement prices for a quick result, or that they're only in it for the fees, and debtors may view the trustee as their arch enemy. But the role of bankruptcy trustees is very challenging, involving and rewarding — not to mention highly regulated. Their work has been further complicated by the emergence this year of subchapter V trustees. This session will provide a better understanding of what trustees do, and will compare the roles of chapter 7 trustees versus the newly minted subchapter V trustees to help debtors and credit and finance professionals appreciate some of the complexities of the bankruptcy process, primarily when it comes to (1) appointment processes; (2) roles; (3) day-to-day duties; (4) fiduciary duties; (5) compliance obligations; (6) immunity, liability and court supervision; and (7) the steps to take to make the trustee happy.

Do the safe harbor provisions of 11 U.S.C. § 546(e) also provide shelter to transferees from state law fraudulent transfer actions in nonbankruptcy courts? Does the doctrine of pre-emption apply to impact litigation outside of bankruptcy court? This panel will review § 546(e) after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Merit Management Corp. LP v. FTI Consulting Inc. After the Merit decision, the Supreme Court sent back the case of In re Tribune Co., fraudulent conveyance litigation that was also pending before the Supreme Court, to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. What did the appeals court do in Tribune II, and what impact does the court’s decision have on fraudulent transfer litigation by private litigants under nonbankruptcy law?

Come join our experienced panelists as they share practical applications of mindfulness that you can use every day at work and home. Areas include being less reactive in challenging situations, listening more effectively and gathering more useful data, more skillfully entertaining uncertainty, and feeling less stressed in general. You'll learn basic mindfulness and relaxation exercises and tips for incorporating them into your day.

A panel of experts in agriculture bankruptcy insolvency matters will discuss the unique issues and legal strategies facing professionals in these cases, such as problems facing family operations, the nature and benefits of chapter 12 proceedings, plan strategies in chapter 11 and 12 cases, and traps for the unwary in dealing with the different constituencies in a farm case. As these cases become more prevalent, well-prepared practitioners will need a working knowledge of the issues confronting the agricultural sector. This panel will give you expert insights into the tools you need to manage these types of cases.

The record-setting 11-year national economic expansion has now been displaced by the worst pandemic in a generation. In this session, moderated by Bankruptcy Judge Michelle Harner (D. Md.), Professors Abbye Atkinson (UC Berkeley School of Law) and Roger Tutterow (Kennesaw State University) consider how pandemic-related economic challenges are impacting household spending, corporate performance, and the ability of both consumers and corporate entities to service existing debt obligations. The discussion will also engage with issues such as reductions in labor force participation, the Federal Reserve’s commitment to low short-term interest rates, trends in access to credit and forbearance of debt, the role of debt in smoothing household consumption, and the socioeconomic implications of these shifts. You will not want to miss this lively discussion concerning the perfect storm we are now experiencing.