Texas State Approved Sessions

This panel will explore the critical intersection of personal-injury claims and consumer bankruptcy practice by guiding attorneys through identifying, disclosing and managing personal-injury actions within a bankruptcy case to ensure compliance and maximize outcomes for clients. The panelists will discuss best practices for client intake, coordination with personal injury counsel, and proper disclosure on bankruptcy schedules. The panelists also will address emerging legal considerations, including a pending Supreme Court decision that could impact disclosure obligations and case strategy. Attendees will leave better equipped to protect their clients from costly missteps and ensure they are not disadvantaged in both arenas.Learning Objectives:Attendees will learn how to effectively identify and question debtors about potential or pending personal injury claims during the client intake process.Attendees will understand proper procedures for disclosing personal injury actions on bankruptcy schedules to ensure compliance and avoid adverse consequences.Attendees will gain practical strategies for coordinating with personal injury counsel and understanding the implications of recent and pending case law developments. 

On Dec. 1, 2025, amendments to Bankruptcy Rule 3002.1 were implemented, creating new forms and enhanced response requirements for mortgage creditors in chapter 13 cases. This panel will provide an overview of the 2025 amendments to Bankruptcy Rule 3002.1, how chapter 13 trustees are handling the additional oversight obligations, and best practices employed by creditors to address certain blind spots and ambiguities. The panelists will discuss the In re Klemkowski decision and its potential impact on the mortgage-servicing landscape. In particular, the panelists will address the benefits (but associated risks) in a debtor’s use of online payment portals during a consumer bankruptcy case.Learning Objectives:Attendees will understand the key amendments to Bankruptcy Rule 3002.1, including new forms and enhanced response requirements for mortgage creditors in Chapter 13 cases.Attendees will gain insight into how Chapter 13 trustees are handling increased oversight responsibilities and the resulting impact on case administration.Attendees will learn practical strategies and best practices for mortgage creditors to ensure compliance, address ambiguities in Rule 3002.1, and evaluate risks associated with online payment portals during bankruptcy cases. 

This session will focus on the unique challenges presented by distressed private investment funds, with an emphasis on identifying fraud risk and managing funds approaching the end of their lifecycle. The panelists will discuss common fraud red flags encountered in distressed fund scenarios and the practical steps professionals can take to investigate, mitigate and respond to those risks. The panel also will explore strategies for handling “end of life” funds, including wind-down considerations, stakeholder communications and regulatory issues. Particular attention will be paid to Cayman Islands’ segregated portfolio company (SPC) structures, highlighting structural complexities and best practices for insolvency, restructuring and recovery efforts.

This panel will examine conflicts of laws in cross‑border insolvency, focusing on U.S. standing rules versus foreign recovery statutes, offshore jurisdictional reach, and choice‑of‑law challenges. It will also provide practical strategies for planning around these issues to mitigate risk and achieve enforceable outcomes.

Commercial real estate remains a sector to watch for restructuring and insolvency professionals, as the market continues to absorb the effects of elevated interest rates, bifurcated asset classes and uneven market performance. This forward-looking program will provide ABI members with a clear and comprehensive assessment of where the CRE economy stands as we begin 2026 — and what the year ahead may signal for distress, opportunity and capital markets activity. Featured will be the insights of Xander Snyder, senior commercial real estate economist at First American Financial Corp., whose research focuses on economic trends impacting commercial real estate, such as demographics, fundraising, investment and commercial lending. He monitors, analyzes and reports on economic data and surveys related to commercial real estate, and develops models and forecasts to better understand the forces that influence commercial real estate markets.

Artificial intelligence has rapidly evolved from a source of concern to an essential tool for legal practice. This interactive session moves beyond warnings to focus on how bankruptcy attorneys and judges can harness AI’s power today. Through real-world examples and live demonstrations, panelists will explore practical applications—from covenant analysis and motion drafting to case preparation and fee applications.Learn how to craft effective AI prompts, understand the differences between public and private AI systems, and discover tools that transform routine legal tasks. Whether representing clients or presiding over cases, attendees will gain actionable strategies to work more efficiently while maintaining accuracy and ethical standards.

A focused discussion on the systemic pressures shaping today’s affordable housing landscape, using the Pinnacle Bankruptcy as a real‑world example. Speakers will highlight key legal, financial, and practical issues from the case, then expand the conversation to broader market trends, fiduciary challenges, and legal considerations affecting affordable housing across regions.Learning Objectives:Attendees will learn to:Apply key legal and financial lessons from the Pinnacle bankruptcy case to identify systemic pressures and fiduciary challenges in affordable housing restructurings.Distinguish between case-specific issues and broader market trends affecting affordable housing operators and financing structures across multiple jurisdictions.Formulate legal strategies to address regulatory compliance and practical considerations unique to distressed affordable housing matters.

In consumer Chapter 13 practice, successful plans are rarely accidental. This panel reframes the most common causes of plan failure into practical strategies for success, focusing on how attorneys can proactively navigate confirmation, compliance, and completion. Designed for consumer attorneys, the program addresses the issues that most often derail plans, and how to avoid them.

Liability management exercises (LMEs) have become an increasingly prominent tool for financially distressed companies seeking to raise new capital, refinance existing obligations, and restructure debt outside of bankruptcy. From uptiers and drop-downs to double-dips and pari-plus transactions, courts are now confronting the enforceability of these transactions and defining their limits. This panel will examine the structural mechanics of LMEs, survey the evolving litigation landscape, and consider the broader implications for borrowers, lenders and the restructuring market.

This session provides a practical roadmap for preparing and trying issues in consumer bankruptcy cases, with a particular focus on common consumer trial issues such as asset valuation and exemption disputes. Moderated by Judge Vaughan, the panel brings together judicial and practitioner perspectives to guide attendees through the critical stages of trial readiness, including pretrial preparation, discovery strategy, subpoena practice, evidentiary considerations, and effective trial presentation. In addition, the session addresses the financial considerations facing consumer practitioners, including strategies for structuring fees, obtaining court approval, and effectively getting paid for litigating consumer matters. The session emphasizes practical tips, best practices, and common pitfalls encountered in consumer trials.