Montana State Approved Sessions

This panel will highlight problems with loan documentation and transfer, escrow issues in proofs of claim and post-petition, proliferation of automatic stay and discharge violation litigation, and the impact of regulatory developments in the treatment and servicing of mortgage loan claims.

The panelists will present a mock hearing during which they will adduce evidence from plaintiff and defense witnesses and make legal arguments on various topical issues that arise in a preference action. Among the matters to be discussed will be timely issues involved in preference actions, including both the new value and ordinary course of business defenses, as well as the use of state law preference actions and safe harbors.

This panel will provide a review and analysis of § 1129(a) and (b) confirmation standards focused on recent and hot topic areas affecting senior and junior secured creditors. Discussed will be Momentive Performance issues, including cramdown interest rates at below-market rates even when market rates exist, the extent of the subordination of senior subordinated noteholders, the enforceability of make-whole payment provisions in chapter 11 plans, and intercreditor and cramdown issues.

This panel is part of our continuing series on drafting skills for bankruptcy and restructuring attorneys. The panel is intended to provide a practical “how to” discussion and analysis of drafting chapter 11 plan documents including the Disclosure Statement, the Chapter 11 Plan, Liquidating Trust Agreements, and related document. The panel will provide form documents and discuss heavily negotiated or scrutinized provisions in these documents.

Lien-stripping, short sales and other contested confirmation issues will be highlighted.

Does an ABC Really save time and money? What about liability; or automatic stay? Can I just lock the door and walk away? This panel will discuss these questions and more including discussing timing, alternatives processes to bankruptcy, forcing an involuntary bankruptcy, tax liens and anti-assignment contract clauses and the professionals role in such processes.

Does a secure creditor engage in inequitable conduct if it acquires debt, or makes a loan with the intent to acquire the debtor rather than collect on the loan? This panel will discuss “Loan-to-Own” and other common and singular Section 363 bidding and acquisition strategies, including the pitfalls and advances of each.

Class action lawsuits in both business and consumer cases are becoming more prevalent. Are you wondering whether your clients’ WARN Act claims would be better pursued against a debtor company in a class action adversary proceeding or in a class proof of claim, or both? If your client has been sued in a debtor’s consumer class action adversary proceeding, do you know the best defenses against class certification? ABI’s panel of experts will explore the potential benefits and pitfalls of class actions by creditors against debtor companies and by debtors/trustees against creditors and others by highlighting recent appellate and bankruptcy court decisions.

This panel of Chapter 9 specialists will discuss the Chapter 9 bankruptcy process including eligibility under Chapter 9, the authority of the bankruptcy court, powers of the municipal debtor, the role of creditors, the automatic stay, issues peculiar to certain types of Chapter 9 debtors such as hospitals and cities and the recent developments in chapter 9.