Illinois State Approved Sessions

States across the country have enacted so-called “reviver” statutes, allowing otherwise time-barred claims for childhood sexual abuse to proceed. History has shown that bankruptcy filings by targeted institutions are a natural byproduct of reviver statutes and laws tolling the applicable statutes of limitations for sexual abuse claims. Indeed, an increasing number of bankruptcies have been filed in the wake of reviver statutes and new waves of sexual abuse claims. This panel will discuss issues that arise at the crossroads of sexual abuse claims and chapter 11, including the tension caused by using a financial reorganization tool to resolve highly emotional personal-injury claims, the stresses that cases of this ilk place on the Bankruptcy Code (including the uniqueness of claims bar dates in cases of this sort, nonprofit debtors and the absolute priority rule, and the propriety of third-party releases), and the use of mediation to globally resolve these cases.

This panel takes a look at PPP forgiveness issues, the PPP’s effects on M&A transactions and bankruptcy cases, and what comes next.

You’re leaving your firm, but what do you need to know before you go? This panel will discuss what to do and what not to do to make sure you meet your ethical obligations to your clients and your old firm, while avoiding problems for you and your new firm.

Arguably no other industry has been impacted by the pandemic as much as the hospitality and leisure space. Hotels and conference centers face historic vacancy rates while AirBNB’s IPO raises $86 Billion. This panel discusses the unique challenges facing hotel and hospitality owners, operators, investors and brands seeking to ride out the current storm.

Uncle Sam said “Take the money...everything will be OK”. Now, the IRS, SBA and Congress are changing the rules, creating new hurdles for distressed businesses. This panel dives into recent legislation in CARES II and the evolving legal and regulatory landscape governing access to, and repayment of, PPP and EIDL loans.

This session will focus on several of the Model Rules of Professional Conduct, including 4.1 (Truthfulness to Others), 7.1 (Communications Concerning Lawyer’s Services) and 8.4 (Misconduct). The panelists will address compensation and diversity in U.S. law firms and the elimination of bias; the importance of diversity and inclusion regarding creativity and innovation, the correlation with financial performance, and improving the workplace and client relationships; and ways in which law firms can actively combat unconscious bias and make retention of diverse talent a priority. The Neiman Marcus case will be discussed.

The panelists will compare the leniency of bankruptcy courts vs. state courts in regard to real estate, including their flexibility on assumption/rejection and delayed rent payments, and the resulting impact on commercial properties and law firms, as well as adequate protection. The implications of the Fulton decision will also be discussed.

NO CLE Lunch with the judges and faculty from the morning’s panels, with new facilitators leading the discussions. Sponsored by BakerHostetler and Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones Confirmation: Brave New World? Damian S. Schaible Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP; New York Confirmation: The Rest of the Story Dan T. Moss Jones Day; Washington, D.C. The Changing Real Estate Landscape Lorenzo Marinuzzi Morrison & Foerster LLP; New York

This panel will explore the eligibility of small businesses to file under the Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019 (SBRA) and the benefits of doing so, along with recent developments and hot topics in this area of the law. The panelists will also discuss Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and whether these loans count toward debt ceilings (is it debt or a grant?), as well as § 525, which prohibits the Small Business Administration (SBA) from discriminating against debtors.

This panel will cover the ins-and-outs of nondischargeability, discharge injunction violations and how to avoid them and the recent BofA sanctions.