Arkansas State Approved Sessions

The panelists will discuss in-court and out-of-court options for distressed businesses, as well as alternatives both pre- and post-COVID-19, drawing upon their experiences and what they see in the market going forward. Sponsored by Ballard Spahr LLP

This panel will discuss the effects that the pandemic has had on both business and consumer bankruptcy filings, as well insolvency case work in general. The panelists will provide their insights on whether there will be permanent changes to bankruptcy and insolvency practice spurred by COVID-19. Sponsored by AlixPartners, LLP

This panel features seasoned professionals discussing and demonstrating how to address and negotiate appropriate bid procedures and run an effective sales process. The panelists will discuss these issues in the presence of a judge through the presentation of a hypothetical sale that has more than its share of complicating factors. Sponsored by Perkins Coie LLP

The panel will enact three hypotheticals involving repeat filer/debtor Harry, his not-quite-blue-stocking creditor Lloyd of Lloyd’s Auto Lot, and the chapter 7 and chapter 13 trustees, Dusty and Rusty. The legal issues presented will concern the “expiring stay” for repeat filers, redemption of repossessed vehicles, a discharge violation question involving refusal to release the car lien/title, and the attendant procedural and costs questions for each. Ripe Potatoes rates this a “must see”!

This panel will discuss several threshold issues that should be considered when determining whether you can and should represent a potential debtor client, including (1) whether you can ethically and legally be retained, (2) how you can be compensated for your work, (3) whether your potential client has the requisite corporate authority, and (4) reasons to walk away from an engagement before it’s too late. The panelists will highlight real-life examples and provide best practices and pitfalls to avoid with respect to these issues.

Sponsored by American Bankruptcy Institute and INSOL International A distinguished panel of legal and business professionals from the U.S., Canada, U.K. and E.U. will explore the current state of the commercial and office markets, where the markets are headed, and creative strategies for both landlords and tenants to address the hardships posed by the pandemic. The relevant issues will be addressed across the panelists' varied jurisdictions.

James Fama, former vice president of energy delivery for the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), will provide an overview of current issues in cybersecurity from a national perspective, as well as planning opportunities for businesses.

This panel will provide a consumer bankruptcy legal update on significant cases from 2020, and explore what's happened so far in 2021.

The health care industry in general, and hospitals in particular, have been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in many respects. At its most basic level, the impact has been devastating financially. The American Hospital Association estimates that between March 1 and June 30, 2020, hospitals will have suffered financial losses of $202.6 billion, or approximately $1.66 billion per day. These losses affect all hospitals, whether they are part of large chains or are stand-alone nonprofits. Economists expect the result to be more financial failures, mergers and bankruptcy filings in an industry that was already in dire financial straits. The panelists will discuss several issues that have been pushed to the forefront by the recent decisions in Gardens Medical Center and Verity Health Systems.

This panel of legal experts will break down topical circuit-level and bankruptcy court rulings that are dividing circuits across the country.