Connecticut State Approved Sessions

While financial and economic issues generally dictate whether a restructuring is likely to be successful, the success of a restructuring often will be meaningfully impacted, either positively or negatively, by more intangible factors that are at play. This presentation will examine the ways in which restructuring professionals, rather than the company’s balance sheet and industry outlook, may materially affect the restructuring landscape, including how such professionals approach financial and operational distress, prepare the restructuring game plan, communicate with the client and its stakeholders, and generally manage the restructuring process. Restructuring professionals’ adherence to applicable ethical obligations and professionalism best practices are critical to this process. Learn the essential “dos” and “don’ts” and other “rules of the road” for professionals in restructurings.

This expert panel will discuss different approaches to business development, including lawyer advertising, law firm websites, social media, beauty contests and wining and dining, and factors that may influence the effectiveness of various approaches. Examples will be used to illustrate business-development methods and explain how the Model Rules of Professional Conduct apply to the methods being discussed.

This panel discusses attorney’s duty to uphold the law and how bankruptcy counsel must avoid “crossing the line” while representing his client, the result being not just civil, but criminal, liability.

Judges throughout the Mid-Atlantic region will square off to debate hot topics in insolvency.

This panel will review constitutional issues under § 1115 and the appointment of chapter 11 trustees, as well as debate whether conversion from chapter 7 to chapter 11 violates the 13th Amendment.

This panel will review some of the unique aspects of municipal bankruptcy cases, including the use of mediators, the role of a creditors’ committee and how committee professionals can be compensated, the involvement of state and federal laws and precedent for municipal bankruptcies, and the uncharted territory of Puerto Rico’s insolvency, as well as the potential impact on financially troubled states.

This panel will analyze the impact of recent decisions on investment strategy, including the use of restructuring support agreements and federal and state law remedies, as well as the litigation risk of recoveries absent a bankruptcy filing; the acceleration of debt maturities and redemption/“make whole” premiums; and the scope of § 546(e) “safe harbor” provisions.

Do some provisions of the Bankruptcy Code seem so out of date and maddening that you want to call your congressional representatives? Our panel of “sharks” will evaluate pitches for legislation to remedy nagging issues in the Code, including implementing restrictions on the appointment of creditors’ committees in chapter 11 cases, tax exemptions for asset sales under § 363, increasing statutory compensation for trustees, the creation of bankruptcy appellate panels in every circuit, and the elimination of debt limits for chapter 13. Come see whether any ideas make the cut!

Poker players look for tells. Polygraphs measure physiological indicators. Movies suggest that there is some magic to looking somebody in the eye. In court, though, judges and lawyers are left to their own devices to determine whether a witness is lying. A clinical psychologist and a former attorney general of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will join experienced trial lawyers and judges to discuss lying and the limits of detecting lying, including verbal and nonverbal cues that aid in assessing the credibility of statements.

Does an approved fee application shelter counsel from malpractice claims brought by the client? If it does, how do you advise your client about how the application and its approval affects a client’s future claim against you? Does asking for it to be paid pit you against your client and create an unavoidable conflict of interest? Get the tools to navigate these murky ethical considerations.