Arizona State Approved Sessions

This panel will explore the critical issues surrounding plan confirmation under subchapter V. Topics will include the interpretation of “fair and equitable” standards, the role of the subchapter V trustee, the debtor’s obligation to pay disposable income, and the potential for disputes over feasibility and good faith. The discussion also will address recent case law, practical tips for navigating confirmation challenges, and strategies for resolving disputes to achieve a successful plan confirmation. Attendees will gain valuable insights into how to approach confirmation in subchapter V cases, with a focus on practical solutions to common problems and the latest developments in the field. This session is essential for attorneys, trustees and other professionals involved in small business bankruptcies who are looking to deepen their understanding of subchapter V and improve their practice in this evolving area.

Hosted by Legislation & Mediation Committees Using the current proposed amendments to Bankruptcy Rule 9031 as an example, this panel will provide an overview on how to add, delete or revise the Bankruptcy Rules from concept to a successful enacted rule change.

With the increasing role of private capital (debt and/or equity) in health care businesses, from hospitals to specialty practices, the financial pressures, challenging payor reimbursement rates and regulatory environment have led to a growing number of restructurings and bankruptcies in this sector. This highly experienced panel of bankruptcy attorneys and financial advisors will discuss the critical issues involved in health care insolvency proceedings, including private-equity ownership and use of private capital on restructuring strategies, regulatory and compliance challenges, patient care considerations, and the role of the courts in balancing financial recovery with public health concerns. The discussion also will cover recent case studies, highlighting the lessons learned and best practices for managing these complex cases.

Hosted by International & Asset Sales Committees Several U.S. bankruptcy courts recently have recognized CCAA reverse vesting orders in chapter 15 cases, but not without some reservations as to their breadth and effect. This panel will discuss the use of reverse vesting orders to effect asset sales in cross-border transactions.

Hosted by Bankruptcy Litigation & Real Estate Committees Fraud is an ever-present concern in bankruptcy cases, manifesting in various forms from False Claims Act violations to Ponzi schemes. This panel will provide practical tips and strategies for identifying, addressing and litigating fraud in the bankruptcy context.

Everyone knows that estate professionals must be disinterested and able to represent the debtor free of conflicts. But what happens when the professional represents a related nondebtor party — for example, the private-equity sponsor or the sole member/shareholder? What if the professional has relationships with others in the case? The professional may bring significant experience and value to the table, some being derived from its prior representation of the debtor, creditors or others involved in the case. When do these considerations outweigh the interests of the estate and the integrity of the system? Is disclosure of the potential conflicts and relationships enough? This panel will explore these and related issues to help guide professionals and judges alike.

Every now and then, a reviewing court issues a decision that seems contrary to the statutory language or underlying policy of the Bankruptcy Code. Perhaps it was a decision based on bad or unusual facts; perhaps it was a decision that focused on the text more than the policy of the Code. Regardless, practitioners and bankruptcy judges must work with these decisions in cases before them. This panel will talk about the appellate decision-making process.

Insurance carriers are now permitted to participate in the plan-confirmation process, even when a plan is “insurance neutral.” How do recent Supreme Court rulings change the confirmation process, or will the Bankruptcy Code permit debtors to alter the rights of insurance carriers over their objection of insurance and bind them to the terms of the plan? Finally, there are no circuit splits, no nonconsensual third-party releases under a plan — or is the issue still unsettled when the plan “pays claims in full,” and what does it mean to “consent” to a release? Opt-in, opt-out, negative notice: What works? This panel will provide an overview of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decisions in Truck Insurance Exchange v. Kaiser Gypsum Co. Inc., et al. and Harrington v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al. and how they impact a debtor’s ability to confirm a plan. The panelists will discuss how debtors and insurance carriers will need to work to address their competing needs. The panelists also will discuss how debtors will address mass-tort bankruptcies without the third-party-release tool or workarounds, and will look to the case law and confirmed plans in circuits where nonconsensual releases are not permitted.

Hosted by Financial Advisors and Investment Banking & Unsecured Trade Creditors Committees This panel will discuss the strategic use of valuation evidence throughout the life of a chapter 11 case, from financing and sale process to confirmation and fraudulent conveyance/other litigation.

In this candid and dynamic discussion, experienced bankruptcy judges will address the importance of adhering to the Bankruptcy Code as the foundation for successful practice and decision-making. As practitioners become increasingly reliant on precedent, creative arguments and procedural shortcuts, this session will serve as a reminder of the Code’s fundamental role in guiding bankruptcy proceedings. This discussion is designed for attorneys, trustees, and other restructuring professionals who seek to enhance their understanding of the Bankruptcy Code and its application in everyday practice. Expect lively discussion, practical advice, and a renewed appreciation for the importance of the Code in bankruptcy law.