Illinois State Approved Sessions

This panel will focus on state court receiverships, federal court receiverships, involuntary bankruptcies, assignments for the benefit of creditors and other alternatives to traditional workouts, all from a creditor’s perspective.

As artificial intelligence transforms the legal landscape, understanding how to effectively and ethically integrate AI into legal practice is essential. This panel will explore successful strategies for employing AI in legal workflows, offer insights into ethical frameworks and considerations surrounding its use, and provide a comprehensive overview of the current market of AI-powered legal technology solutions. Attendees will leave with practical knowledge to navigate the evolving AI legal ecosystem with confidence and responsibility.

This session will provide a timely and practical overview of the current economic landscape, highlighting key trends shaping markets and industries. Included in the discussion will be the broader economic outlook, an assessment of the implications of the recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act across various sectors, and an analysis of the current state and future trajectory of U.S. tariff policy.

This session will provide a foundational overview of directors and officers (D&O) insurance, with a focus on issues that commonly arise in bankruptcy and distressed scenarios. Attendees will explore the importance of Side A coverage and strategies for supplementing existing policies to protect chief restructuring officers and board members. The panelists also will cover key legal principles and practical litigation strategies related to D&O breach-of-fiduciary-duty claims, providing insights from both plaintiff and defense perspectives.

This panel will provide a focused look at critical developments in subchapter V practice, including fair and equitable treatment in plan confirmation, eligibility to file, and the expanding role of subchapter V trustees. The panelists will also address post-confirmation issues such as asset sales, plan defaults, vesting and drafting strategies to manage risks and improve outcomes. Attendees will gain practical insights for navigating subchapter V cases more effectively from start to finish. 

Clear, concise writing is essential in bankruptcy practice, especially when your audience includes busy judges and practitioners. This interactive workshop will explore why brevity matters and how to achieve it without sacrificing legal precision. Attendees will learn to spot opportunities to tighten briefs and motions, and gain practical strategies for cutting words while preserving meaning. Whether drafting for court or clients, participants will leave with tools to write more effectively and efficiently.

This panel will provide a comprehensive overview of key tax considerations that arise before and during bankruptcy proceedings. Attendees will learn how to preserve and utilize valuable tax attributes prior to filing. The panelists also will explore the complex question of whether certain tax attributes constitute property of the bankruptcy estate, and will address a range of critical tax issues that may emerge during a bankruptcy case. This session is essential for practitioners seeking to effectively navigate the intersection of tax law and bankruptcy.

This panel will break down last year’s Supreme Court bankruptcy cases, notable circuit court of appeals decisions, and growing circuit splits, and will discuss how developments in bankruptcy appellate law have impacted bankruptcy practice.

The health care industry is facing growing financial stress, driving a surge in both chapter 11 filings and out-of-court restructurings. This panel will explore the evolving landscape of health care distress, highlighting the creative solutions being used outside of traditional bankruptcy, such as receiverships, distressed M&A and liability-management transactions. The panelists will examine the influx of private capital into the sector, regulatory and compliance pressures, and how declining reimbursement rates and litigation are accelerating financial challenges. The discussion will also provide practical insights into navigating fiduciary duties, valuation standards, and the broader implications of restructuring in both for-profit and nonprofit health care environments.