New Jersey State Approved Sessions

A Preview of upcoming Supreme Court bankruptcy cases, featuring ABI Resident Scholar Kara Bruce talking with Eric Brunstad of Dechert LLP (Hartford, Conn.) to preview the bankruptcy cases that the Supreme Court will consider during its 2013 term. Brunstad, who has argued many cases before the Court and is an expert in bankruptcy appellate practice, discusses in depth Law v. Siegel, which questions whether the court may use its general equitable authority under §105 of the Bankruptcy Code to surcharge a debtor's exempt assets, and Executive Benefits Insurance Agency v. Arkison (In re Bellingham), which will address the bankruptcy court's authority to adjudicate Article III matters. He also provides a candid view of what it is like to argue a case before the Court and an in-depth analysis of the issues involved with the upcoming cases. Here is a short preview:

The issue of "double-dipping", wherein a creditor is able to increase its recovery by multiplying its allowed claim against a particular entity or asserting claims against multiple entities, has been prevalent in a number of recent restructurings, including American Airlines, Lehman Brothers, CIT Group Inc., Smurfit-Stone Container Corp. and AbitibiBowater Inc. This panel will address the concept of "double-dipping", the scenarios under which it arises and their experience in dealing with the issue in various cases.

Are any financial institutions “too big to fail”? Since the financial crisis of 2008, governments, financial institutions, practitioners and academics have debated, proposed and in some instances implemented provisions to reduce the likelihood that a failure by a systemically important financial institution would cause systemic risk. This panel will discuss the failures of U.S. financial institutions and the current and prospective measures to facilitate the resolution of these institutions without transmitting risk to the U.S. financial system.

Careers in professional restructuring services are both challenging and rewarding, and evaluating strategic career moves can be equally as taxing. The panelists will provide their diverse perspectives on career paths in the restructuring world, offer practical advice for assessing potential opportunities in today’s restructuring market, and share their reflections on their own decisions to stay the course or to take on new challenges in their restructuring careers.

The recent liquidations of Lehman, MF Global and Madoff under the Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970 (SIPA) are unprecedented in their size and complexity, and have changed the landscape of broker/dealer liquidations. This panel will discuss the nuts and bolts of liquidations under SIPA, the ways in which they differ from chapter 11 cases, and the impact of recent decisions in this area.

With the economic challenges over the past five years, the lending landscape has changed dramatically. The boundaries for commercial and alternative lenders have changed, and borrowers’ options for financing are continuing to develop. Learn what commercial and alternative lenders can (and cannot) do for a borrower and how financing structures have become more creative to fit the needs of borrowers. Presented by ABI, TMA (Chesapeake), IWIRC (D.C./Maryland) and RMA (Potomac).

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has promulgated pervasive and dramatic new requirements on servicers, effective Jan. 10, 2014, to provide detailed and accurate information regarding a borrower’s mortgage and options to avoid foreclosure. The rules amending both TILA and RESPA are filled with liability traps for the unwary, including several provisions that conflict with bankruptcy law. At a minimum, the rules will require servicers to implement significant new software, compliance training and procedures to limit legal exposure. Learn from insiders what you need to advise clients. Presented by ABI, TMA (Chesapeake), IWIRC (D.C./Maryland) and RMA (Potomac).

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has promulgated pervasive and dramatic new requirements on servicers, effective Jan. 10, 2014, to provide detailed and accurate information regarding a borrower’s mortgage and options to avoid foreclosure. The rules amending both TILA and RESPA are filled with liability traps for the unwary, including several provisions that conflict with bankruptcy law. At a minimum, the rules will require servicers to implement significant new software, compliance training and procedures to limit legal exposure. Learn from insiders what you need to advise clients. Presented by ABI, TMA (Chesapeake), IWIRC (D.C./Maryland) and RMA (Potomac).