California State Approved Sessions

Sponsored by Telpner Peterson Law Firm, LLP

A judge, chapter 13 trustee and bankruptcy attorney will discuss how to help chapter 13 debtors succeed in chapter 13 despite increasing asset values, increased loan balances and increased expenses. This panel will delve into such issues as creating feasible plans with debtors’ ever-tighter budgets, instilling flexibility in the bankruptcy system, and dealing with asset appreciation. The panelists also will discuss options for cases that are running long in light of the Kinney decision, along with other issues that can arise.

This session will focus on several of the Model Rules of Professional Conduct, including 1.2 (Scope of Representation and Allocation of Authority Between Client and Lawyer), 1.4 (Communications), 1.6 (Confidentiality of Info.), 1.7 (Conflict of Interest: Current Clients), 1.18 (Duties to Prospective Clients), 3.3 (Candor to Tribunal), 3.4 (Fairness to Opposing Party and Counsel) and 7.3 (Solicitation of Clients). The panelists will also discuss many current ethical challenges, including ethical issues in subchapter V, future claimants' representative (FCR) standards, remote proceedings and witness testimony, and client authority.

Two pairs of judges square off to consider (1) whether bankruptcies can be properly filed when a debtor faces a deluge of potential tort claims and (2) whether bankruptcy courts can support plans regarding certain special fee and financing arrangements for debtors. RESOLVED: That a bankruptcy is filed in good faith where the debtor is not otherwise in immediate financial distress and appears to have the liquidity to pay its creditors in full, but where the case is filed because of the debtor is a defendant facing a deluge of tort claims that could at some point threaten the debtor’s business and where the debtor believes that the mechanism for liquidating those claims through a trust created under a plan of reorganization will be fairer and better for all parties than the results that would otherwise obtain in the tort system. RESOLVED: That a bankruptcy court may approve a DIP financing agreement that incorporates the milestones set out in a restructuring support agreement, that provides that (a) the debtors will propose a plan that provides specified treatment to the Supporting Parties, which treatment is materially the same as the plan provides to similarly situated creditors; (b) obligates the Supporting Parties to vote in favor of the debtor’s plan and to vote against any competing plan; and (c) provides that the Supporting Parties (and only the supporting parties) will provide exit financing to the Reorganized Debtors, at rates and fees that exceed prevailing market terms.

This panel will discuss UST authority in appointing committees, venue impact on committee appointment and committee composition, when it makes sense to have two committees and when it does not, and the retention of professionals or substantive contributions. The panelists also will discuss the scope of Rule 2004 examinations post-confirmation.

Based on the "Ted Talks" format, presenters will address timely and divisive issues such as rejection of power purchase agreements, the future of oil and gas, venue alternatives and an analytical review of Bankruptcy Appellate Panels reversal and affirmances.  Nellwyn Voorhies Donlin, Recano & Company, Inc.; New York Jurisdictional Battle: Bankruptcy Courts vs. FERC in Rejection of Power Purchase Agreements Theodore E. Tsekerides Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP; New York Ninth Circuit as an Alternative to SDNY/Delaware Tobias S. Keller Keller Benvenutti Kim LLP; San Francisco Current State and Near Future of Oil and Gas Scott M. Pinsonnault Ankura Consulting Group, LLC; Indian Hills, Colo. Analytical Review of Reversal/Affirmance Rates Between BAPs and District Courts in BAP Circuits Steven D. Jerome Snell & Wilmer L.L.P.; Phoenix

This panel will discuss notable Chapter 11 cases and legislation from the past year for an overall refresher and update on chapter 11 basics and trends.

This panel will discuss options and issues surrounding distressed shopping centers, retail spaces, apartments, office buildings, and other distressed real estate assets, plus proactive planning for distressed real estate assets.

This session addresses when a bankruptcy court will accept jurisdiction and control of pending state court litigation upon the filing of a bankruptcy case by an involved party. Topics include removal, abstention, stay relief and remand, as well as the strategies and risks of filing bankruptcy in hopes of having a state court action removed to bankruptcy court.

This panel takes a look at PPP forgiveness issues, the PPP’s effects on M&A transactions and bankruptcy cases, and what comes next.