Practice and Procedure

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.

In this session, we will explore the unique stressors facing members of the bench and bar and how these pressures affect professional performance and personal well‑being, with a particular focus on the negative impacts of multitasking and distraction and how they can be managed to improve overall well-being.

You are in the late stages of trial preparation — just 60 days before trial. You are past the summary-judgment stage, mediation has been unsuccessful, and discovery is complete. Absent a Hail Mary or surprise settlement, you are going to trial. This session will talk you through, and offer tips and advice for, your final trial preparations.

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. 

What really happens when the Federal Rules of Evidence collide with the practical realities of bankruptcy court? Too often, practitioners raise objections that sound right but fail to move the needle with bankruptcy judges. Others overlook evidentiary opportunities that could have made or broken their client’s position. In this lively and highly practical 75-minute program, seasoned bankruptcy litigators will unpack how evidence is actually admitted, challenged and weighed in contested matters, adversary proceedings and other bankruptcy hearings — and why relying on “trial court instincts” can sometimes cost you the case.This webinar will cut through the myths and focus on what works — and what doesn’t — in the unique procedural and evidentiary environment of bankruptcy litigation. Whether you represent debtors, creditors, trustees or other parties in interest, the panelists will help you sharpen your courtroom instincts and litigate more effectively in bankruptcy court. You’ll gain a stronger understanding of how to use the Rules of Evidence as both a sword and a shield — and how to avoid the common traps that can turn a winning case into a losing one.

This panel will address the expectations for professionalism and civility in the conduct of litigation in and out of court, examining the different perspectives of the U.S., U.K. and Colombia in regards to their respective ethics rules and cultural frameworks.

This high-impact opening plenary will move decisively past the theoretical debate surrounding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and will focus entirely on its practical applications. The panelists will discuss how firms are applying generative AI today to increase efficiency, reduce administrative workload and deliver better client outcomes, and will provide immediate, actionable intelligence on how AI can be used for specialized legal research, document analysis, financial data modeling and workflow automation in restructuring and insolvency cases.

Hosted by the Bankruptcy Litigation and Commercial Fraud Committees. This interactive session will take a practical approach to exploring best practices in bankruptcy litigation, with a particular emphasis on fraud-related claims. Using hypothetical fact patterns, the panelists will guide attendees through key phases of contested litigation — from the initial investigation and assessment of potential claims to courtroom strategy and trial execution. Topics will include evaluating causes of action and defenses, drafting effective complaints, managing motion practice and employing persuasive techniques in the courtroom, including opening statements, witness examinations and evidence presentation. Whether dealing with traditional bankruptcy disputes or complex fraud allegations, attendees will gain valuable insights into prosecuting and defending litigation in the bankruptcy context.

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.