Wisconsin State Approved Sessions

BAPCPA contained a number of provisions meant to assist the debtor in the art of valuation. The valuation process is more important than ever given recent Supreme Court rulings on exemption limits. This panel will revisit the statutory provisions of the Code and discuss recent cases dealing with the appropriate methodology to be employed by the debtor when completing the bankruptcy schedules — and how that valuation impacts the ultimate administration of the case by the trustee.

Reaffirmations of both secured and unsecured obligations remain a major component of consumer bankruptcy practice. This panel will discuss the ins and outs of the reaffirmation process from the debtor’s, creditor’s and debtor’s attorney’s perspectives.

This session will include a discussion of coverage, the need for coverage, covered and non-covered conduct. The panel will provide insight into common and esoteric issues in bankruptcy cases involving D&O and E&O policies, and trends that arise during a claim for D&O and E&O liability insurance coverage.

Does an ABC Really save time and money? What about liability; or automatic stay? Can I just lock the door and walk away? This panel will discuss these questions and more including discussing timing, alternatives processes to bankruptcy, forcing an involuntary bankruptcy, tax liens and anti-assignment contract clauses and the professionals role in such processes.

Does a secure creditor engage in inequitable conduct if it acquires debt, or makes a loan with the intent to acquire the debtor rather than collect on the loan? This panel will discuss “Loan-to-Own” and other common and singular Section 363 bidding and acquisition strategies, including the pitfalls and advances of each.

Oscar Wilde said that “experience is simply the name we give our mistakes”. This panel of Judges will address mistakes that attorneys make during litigation seen from the perspective of the bench.

This panel will explore key chapter 11 plan confirmation issues by way of a live demonstration of a confirmation hearing. The demonstration will address the most commonly litigated legal issues with respect to plan confirmation, the evidence required to satisfy those requirements, and in particular, how to present and cross-examine experts in connection with feasibility. How would you rule?

Class action lawsuits in both business and consumer cases are becoming more prevalent. Are you wondering whether your clients’ WARN Act claims would be better pursued against a debtor company in a class action adversary proceeding or in a class proof of claim, or both? If your client has been sued in a debtor’s consumer class action adversary proceeding, do you know the best defenses against class certification? ABI’s panel of experts will explore the potential benefits and pitfalls of class actions by creditors against debtor companies and by debtors/trustees against creditors and others by highlighting recent appellate and bankruptcy court decisions.

This panel of Chapter 9 specialists will discuss the Chapter 9 bankruptcy process including eligibility under Chapter 9, the authority of the bankruptcy court, powers of the municipal debtor, the role of creditors, the automatic stay, issues peculiar to certain types of Chapter 9 debtors such as hospitals and cities and the recent developments in chapter 9.