West Virginia State Approved Sessions

As artificial intelligence transforms the legal landscape, understanding how to effectively and ethically integrate AI into legal practice is essential. This panel will explore successful strategies for employing AI in legal workflows, offer insights into ethical frameworks and considerations surrounding its use, and provide a comprehensive overview of the current market of AI-powered legal technology solutions. Attendees will leave with practical knowledge to navigate the evolving AI legal ecosystem with confidence and responsibility.

This session will provide a timely and practical overview of the current economic landscape, highlighting key trends shaping markets and industries. Included in the discussion will be the broader economic outlook, an assessment of the implications of the recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act across various sectors, and an analysis of the current state and future trajectory of U.S. tariff policy.

This panel will delve into myriad emerging issues in bankruptcy cases, specifically ones relating to or likely to affect consumer cases.

Resolved: The doctrine of in pari delicto should bar a trustee from recovering solely for the benefit of creditors.Resolved: The above transaction is an avoidable fraudulent conveyance, and the original lenders may recover more than via a general unsecured claim.A debtor engaged in an LME transaction in which the debtor received substantial liquidity by subordinating a debt secured by a first lien on the debtor’s principal assets to a new, more senior first lien. The debtor received desperately needed liquidity, but the subordination substantially impaired the recoveries received by the original first-lien lenders. A subsequent bankruptcy was filed within 18 months. Unsecured creditor recoveries will be 2%. The court determined that the subordination agreement violated the terms of the original loan agreements.

In the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s Purdue Pharma decision, courts and practitioners are navigating new uncertainties around third-party releases in bankruptcy. This panel will examine how courts are distinguishing estate property from third-party claims, the impact on stay provisions and litigation strategy, and the evolving standards for voting mechanisms and plan confirmation in both chapter 11 and chapter 15 cases.

This panel will provide guidance on identifying and addressing issues relating to personal-injury (PI) causes of action that arise (or are discovered) post-petition in consumer bankruptcy cases. When are they property of the estate? What disclosures are required, and when? How does judicial estoppel apply? In chapter 13 cases, does the debtor need court approval to retain and pay PI counsel? Is bankruptcy court approval required before the debtor settles a cause of action? The panelists will address these questions and more.

This panel will address the most recent developments in preference case law, including with respect to the new value and ordinary course of business defenses, due diligence, evidence, the sale of and liens on preference actions, recent cases at the U.S. Supreme Court, and preference actions in recent mass tort- and crypto-driven bankruptcy cases.

This panel will address a variety of post-confirmation topics, starting with the pre-effective date planning and issues, and post-effective date pitfalls and deadlines. Attendees will also learn about other important topics particular to Subchapter V, post-confirmation jurisdiction, and useful tips for creditors.

Discovery in bankruptcy contested matters can be just as complex and consequential as in traditional litigation, but with its own unique rules, limitations and strategic considerations. This panel will address recent case law, jurisdictional nuances, and the practical challenges of balancing efficiency with due process. Whether you’re initiating discovery or responding to it, this session will provide valuable insights into managing discovery effectively within the procedural framework of the Bankruptcy Code.