Illinois State Approved Sessions

This panel will provide an in-depth examination of the claims-allowance process in bankruptcy, focusing on the latest developments and contentious issues that are shaping this critical area of practice. As bankruptcy courts continue to address complex claims-related disputes, understanding the nuances of standing, timing and calculations has become more important than ever for practitioners.

Everyone knows that estate professionals must be disinterested and able to represent the debtor free of conflicts. But what happens when the professional represents a related nondebtor party — for example, the private-equity sponsor or the sole member/shareholder? What if the professional has relationships with others in the case? The professional may bring significant experience and value to the table, some being derived from its prior representation of the debtor, creditors or others involved in the case. When do these considerations outweigh the interests of the estate and the integrity of the system? Is disclosure of the potential conflicts and relationships enough? This panel will explore these and related issues to help guide professionals and judges alike.

Hosted by Bankruptcy Litigation & Real Estate Committees Fraud is an ever-present concern in bankruptcy cases, manifesting in various forms from False Claims Act violations to Ponzi schemes. This panel will provide practical tips and strategies for identifying, addressing and litigating fraud in the bankruptcy context.

Hosted by International & Asset Sales Committees Several U.S. bankruptcy courts recently have recognized CCAA reverse vesting orders in chapter 15 cases, but not without some reservations as to their breadth and effect. This panel will discuss the use of reverse vesting orders to effect asset sales in cross-border transactions.

With the increasing role of private capital (debt and/or equity) in health care businesses, from hospitals to specialty practices, the financial pressures, challenging payor reimbursement rates and regulatory environment have led to a growing number of restructurings and bankruptcies in this sector. This highly experienced panel of bankruptcy attorneys and financial advisors will discuss the critical issues involved in health care insolvency proceedings, including private-equity ownership and use of private capital on restructuring strategies, regulatory and compliance challenges, patient care considerations, and the role of the courts in balancing financial recovery with public health concerns. The discussion also will cover recent case studies, highlighting the lessons learned and best practices for managing these complex cases.

Hosted by Legislation & Mediation Committees Using the current proposed amendments to Bankruptcy Rule 9031 as an example, this panel will provide an overview on how to add, delete or revise the Bankruptcy Rules from concept to a successful enacted rule change.

It is expected that a significant amount of activity in the next 18 months will consist of out-of-court restructurings, with a smaller proportion being chapter 11 bankruptcies.  Experts in restructuring estimate that out-of-court restructurings will comprise between 70% and 75% of the workout “transactions” made over the next year and a half. This panel will delve into what we can expect to see in the near future.

Presented by INSOL Europe This panel will discuss the European Commission's proposal for a directive harmonising certain aspects of insolvency law from both the U.S. and U.K. perspective.

Hosted by Commercial and Regulatory Law & Secured Credit Committees This panel will discuss various issues arising from the development of a new class of collateral: that which is remotely controllable. The concept of a secured creditor controlling its collateral is of course not a new or novel concept. However, the ability of secured creditors to control their collateral remotely is growing rapidly as new technology and new types of assets are developed. Robots, vehicles and even farm equipment can be directed and controlled remotely to do any number of different tasks, including simply leaving the custody of the borrower and traveling to the custody of a secured creditor. Beyond well-established technology, with the onset of AI and machine learning, collateral (software, vehicles, satellites, etc.) could be programmed to automatically shut down — or phone home — upon the occurrence of particular conditions. This brave new world of valuable assets, which can serve as meaningful collateral for debt, raises new, challenging issues about how these assets are used, regulated and pledged. The panelists will address an array of topics and unanswered questions about how the law is (or is not) suited to addresses the new issues, the risks for creditor and borrower, and the role of the government in finding efficient solutions to potentially unforeseen issues.