California State Approved Sessions

What really happens when the Federal Rules of Evidence collide with the practical realities of bankruptcy court? Too often, practitioners raise objections that sound right but fail to move the needle with bankruptcy judges. Others overlook evidentiary opportunities that could have made or broken their client’s position. In this lively and highly practical 75-minute program, seasoned bankruptcy litigators will unpack how evidence is actually admitted, challenged and weighed in contested matters, adversary proceedings and other bankruptcy hearings — and why relying on “trial court instincts” can sometimes cost you the case.This webinar will cut through the myths and focus on what works — and what doesn’t — in the unique procedural and evidentiary environment of bankruptcy litigation. Whether you represent debtors, creditors, trustees or other parties in interest, the panelists will help you sharpen your courtroom instincts and litigate more effectively in bankruptcy court. You’ll gain a stronger understanding of how to use the Rules of Evidence as both a sword and a shield — and how to avoid the common traps that can turn a winning case into a losing one.

In this interactive roundtable, bankruptcy judges will engage in a candid discussion of prominent recent bankruptcy cases and decisions shaping the current insolvency landscape. Drawing on their judicial perspectives, the judges will explore emerging legal trends, notable rulings and practical implications for practitioners while highlighting areas of doctrinal development and unresolved questions.

This panel will address the expectations for professionalism and civility in the conduct of litigation in and out of court, examining the different perspectives of the U.S., U.K. and Colombia in regards to their respective ethics rules and cultural frameworks.

Catch up with Ferris Bueller as he faces consequences from his infamous “Day Off.” Can Ferris navigate the Federal Rules of Evidence and manage the admissibility of information from the Wayback Machine’s archives? Will his debts be excepted from discharge? Join us and find out.

Join Tim Sloan for an insightful keynote examining the current state of the U.S. commercial real estate market. He will break down the forces shaping today’s environment and highlight emerging trends affecting assets across major sectors. The session will also explore the new opportunities these conditions create for lenders and investors, offering practical perspectives for navigating a rapidly evolving landscape.Learning Objectives:Attendees will learn to:Be able to identify and explain the key economic and market forces currently shaping the U.S. commercial real estate landscape across major asset classes.Gain the ability to evaluate emerging trends in commercial real estate and assess their potential impacts on lenders, investors and market performance.Learn to apply practical strategies for navigating evolving market conditions and recognize new opportunities created by shifts in the commercial real estate environment.

Please join ABI’s International Committee for the next installment in its webinar series on cross-border insolvency topics. This session will focus on key issues and strategies surrounding asset recovery in the Caribbean. Leading practitioners from the Cayman Islands, BVI, Bermuda and the Bahamas will discuss the legal, financial and logistical challenges of recovering assets across jurisdictions, and will share practical insights and tools for navigating those complexities. The panelists also will address industry-specific considerations that arise in insurance and cryptocurrency matters.

This panel will analyze evolving approaches to the characterization of digital assets, focusing on the treatment of crypto in the GENIUS Act and the implications for priority, setoff, and customer vs. estate property rights. The panelists will discuss key recent decisions, including In re Prime Core and Celsius, addressing what constitutes property of the estate, the contours of constructive trusts and tracing, and the allocation of rights among customers, lenders and estate fiduciaries. The panel also will examine the legal status of stablecoins, including whether any super-priority liens can prime lawyers’ retaining or charging liens, and will assess the latest FTX decisions on sanctions, OFAC, and the permissibility of transfers to creditors in restricted jurisdictions such as China and Russia. Collectively, the panelists will present a practical framework for advising clients and litigating crypto-related insolvency issues across jurisdictions.

This panel will provide an in-depth examination of the statutory frameworks governing fraudulent transactions in both the Cayman Islands and the U.S. Through a comparative lens, the discussion will analyze how different jurisdictions approach avoidance actions and fraudulent-transfer claims. The panelists also will explore recent and influential decisions from the U.S., Cayman and English courts — including Bilta and Air Arabia — to illustrate emerging trends and judicial reasoning in cross-border insolvency matters. The session will conclude with a practical discussion of the strategic considerations, procedural hurdles and real-world challenges insolvency practitioners face when investigating and pursuing fraudulent transaction claims across jurisdictions.

This webinar will explore the practical defense strategies defendants are using to quietly end or narrow adversary proceedings in bankruptcy court by leveraging pleading standards, procedural sequencing and judicial preferences — often before discovery begins.

In this session, we will explore the unique stressors facing members of the bench and bar and how these pressures affect professional performance and personal well‑being, with a particular focus on the negative impacts of multitasking and distraction and how they can be managed to improve overall well-being.