The Anatomy of Hidden Assets (Including Valuation) in Consumer Cases: From Pre-Filing Considerations to the Evidentiary Process
The panelists will explore practice pointers professionals should consider when evaluating an individual’s case and assets at the pre-filing and post-filing stages, particularly if there is an inquiry from the case trustee and/or the Office of the U.S. Trustee, and the trial stage if litigation is instituted regarding an asset's value. Participants will learn about typical practice pitfalls when a debtor fails to adequately disclose and value certain assets.
13 or V? Putting Your Debtor in the Right Case
Subchapter V arrived in 2020, offering qualifying individuals a restructuring alternative to standard chapter 11 and chapter 13. So what are consumer bankruptcy lawyers so afraid of?! This panel will review the differences between chapter 13 and subchapter V by looking at eligibility and reporting requirements, estate administration, and the nuanced differences of plan confirmation and discharge in each chapter. The panelists also will compare and contrast chapter 13 and subchapter V trustees, and will use several hypotheticals to highlight how a debtor’s particular circumstances will ultimately determine the choice between a 13 or a V.
The Sharing, Splitting, Unbundling, Factoring, Financing, Bifurcation and Disclosure of Debtors’ Attorneys’ Fees: Ethical Ramifications and What You Need to Know
This panel will discuss the ethical duties and obligations of debtor’s counsel when unbundling legal services in chapter 7 cases. From the marketing of no money/low money down to adequate disclosures, the nuances of fee bifurcation sometimes create a fine ethical line on which to walk. The panelists will provide practical advice on how to comply with ethical concerns, and will discuss how different districts across the country have addressed the issue.