abiLIVE Webinars

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act significantly changed many aspects of business taxation, especially for distressed companies. The way net operating losses work has fundamentally changed. The ability to deduct interest expense is now significantly limited and, as a result, distressed companies may have very different tax profiles than they previously have had. Changes to several rules impact the decision on whether to structure a reorganization as a tax-free transaction or a “Bruno’s” taxable transaction. The international tax regime has been fundamentally altered, both with respect to normal operations and with respect to long-standing issues regarding the appropriate scope of pledges and guarantees that can be provided in connection with DIP financing and cash collateral packages. All of these rules remain subject to an active and very much ongoing regulatory process that places a significant degree of uncertainty around tax outcomes. The panel will highlight and contextualize these key issues so that restructuring specialists can be aware of their potential impact.

Join our panel in exploring the intersection of bankruptcy and IP. Panelists will discuss the rights of a licensee when a licensor files for bankruptcy, the rights of a licensor when a licensee files for bankruptcy, and how such rights can impact secured creditors. Discussions will include copyright licenses, patent licenses and trademark licenses, including the Tempnology case that was recently granted certiorari by the Supreme Court. Where are there areas of litigation that is most likely to arise in bankruptcy? What about sample language for license agreements? Or issues that can arise in the context of distressed M&A? Join us to find out!

Bankruptcy sales differ in many respects from non-bankruptcy sales. This webinar highlights some of the unique provisions in the asset purchase agreement that may vary between a bankruptcy and non-bankruptcy sale that practitioners should be aware of when drafting and negotiating in the context of a bankruptcy sale, including, for example, applicability of covenants, conditions, indemnities and hold-backs.

.video-container {position:relative; padding-bottom:56.25%;padding-top:30px;height:0; overflow:hidden;}.video-container iframe {position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:99%;height:100%;} Although Congress expanded the power of the bankruptcy courts to decide matters that were “related to” bankruptcy cases four decades ago, the United States Supreme Court’s decisions in Stern and Wellness have created uncertainty about bankruptcy court jurisdiction with which lower courts still struggle, and any litigator handling ancillary matters that relate to bankruptcy estates must understand and analyze jurisdictional strategies for the benefit of their clients. The webinar's panelists will discuss key issues regarding the limitations of bankruptcy jurisdiction, which may include frequently litigated issues concerning “related to” jurisdiction, consent for the bankruptcy court to issue final orders, the bankruptcy court’s power to enjoin litigation against nondebtors, the impact of jury demands, standards and strategies in withdrawing the reference of matters from the district court, and issues concerning the appellate process. Recent case of interest will be discussed.

Hosted by the Business Reorganization & Unsecured Trade Creditors Committees This webinar will discuss various issues and recent developments regarding releases of non-debtors under chapter 11 plans. Issues for discussion will include differences among the Circuits regarding the availability of and standards applicable to such releases, potential jurisdictional and constitutional considerations regarding such releases, possible differences between chapter 11 and chapter 9 regarding this issue, the permissibility of using an “opt-out” approach for plan releases, and potential implications of the ever-broader definitional provisions delineating the scope of such releases.

The mediation may be done but the work has just begun. Drafting the settlement agreement in a form that is enforceable and captures the intent of all parties can be a formidable task. Who drafts it? What must be included, at a minimum? Is it a final agreement or just an outline to be later committed to an agreement? Pitfalls are everywhere - let our expert panel of speakers guide you through the process!

Hosted by the Business Reorganization Committee For many chapter 11 debtors, the issuance of new debt and/or equity pursuant to a rights offering is a useful tool to ensure that the reorganized company will have sufficient liquidity upon emergence. In most cases, the ability to subscribe to all or a portion of a rights offering will be awarded to stakeholders on account of their claims or interests. However, a key component of a rights offering is a backstop commitment, which is often open only to a small subset of self-selected stakeholders (the “Backstop Parties”). In exchange for providing the backstop commitment, these Backstop Parties typically receive a separate commitment fee and/or break-up fee, which is often crucial to securing their commitment. The compensation offered to Backstop Parties was at issue in recent decisions in a number of cases, such as Seadrill, Pacific Drilling, Claire’s, Peabody, and CHC Helicopters. Non-backstopping stakeholders have challenged the compensation offered to Backstop Parties on a variety of grounds, including that the proposed fees are unreasonable or unnecessary to the reorganization, or give rise to disparate treatment among creditors in violation of the Bankruptcy Code. This webinar will review the recent decisions, the factors considered by courts in approving compensation for Backstop Parties, and potential alternative ways of structuring rights offerings and the compensation for Backstop Parties. View Materials

The panel will discuss the different types of cyber fraud threats facing bankruptcy and non-bankruptcy fiduciaries and the need for advance preparation, including consideration of types of insurance available. The panel will provide general insight on fiduciaries preparation for, dealing with, and recovering from, cyber threats, and the impact of insurance coverage on these steps. This webinar is hosted by the Commercial Fraud Committee.

.video-container { position:relative; padding-bottom:56.25%; padding-top:30px; height:0; overflow:hidden; } .video-container iframe { position:absolute; top:0; left:0; width:99%; height:100%; } Courts wrestle with applying Husky to except from an individual’s discharge creditor claims involving fraud or fraudulent transfers. Some courts carve a narrow path, while others take the opinion at its fullest meaning, suggesting a broad new cause of action for nondischargeability. This is especially true for directors and officers who use their control of nondebtor entities to benefit from fraudulent activity, including actual and constructive fraudulent transfers. Such actions also give rise to related breach of fiduciary duty claims and aiding-and-abetting liability that likewise could prove to be nondischargeable. The panelists will debate claims and defenses based on the evolving case law, and share their views on what lies next.

Join authors of the newly published second edition of ABI’s Quick Evidence Handbook as they discuss best practices and inside tips for gathering and presenting evidence in bankruptcy court. The panel will explore common evidentiary issues encountered in a bankruptcy case and provide practical information for how to navigate those issues in a hearing or at trial. The webinar promises to be an interesting and valuable discussion for anyone participating in a bankruptcy litigation, from the novice lawyer approaching his or her first hearing or trial, to an experienced bankruptcy practitioner needing a refresher or new tips before heading into a contested hearing. This webinar is hosted by the Bankruptcy Litigation Committee.