Fraudulent Transfers

Practitioners are constantly looking for ways to expand, or limit, the ability of estate fiduciaries and creditors to avoid transfers. This panel will explore several cutting-edge issues with respect to fraudulent-transfer actions currently playing out in bankruptcy courts, including whether trustees may recover tuition payments by debtor-parents for the benefit of their adult children and the meaning of “reasonably equivalent value” under Section 548(A)(1)(b). The panel will explore opportunities to expand a trustee’s avoidance powers, including a trustee’s ability to stand in the shoes of the IRS and benefit from the 10-year look-back period, Ponzi scheme issues, and applying avoidance powers to foreign defendants. The speakers will also discuss whether silence is still golden in light of Husky International v. Ritz.

Practitioners are constantly looking for ways to expand, or limit, the ability of estate fiduciaries and creditors to avoid transfers. This panel will explore several cutting-edge issues with respect to fraudulent-transfer actions currently playing out in bankruptcy courts, including whether trustees may recover tuition payments by debtor-parents for the benefit of their adult children and the meaning of “reasonably equivalent value” under Section 548(A)(1)(b). The panel will explore opportunities to expand a trustee’s avoidance powers, including a trustee’s ability to stand in the shoes of the IRS and benefit from the 10-year look-back period, Ponzi scheme issues, and applying avoidance powers to foreign defendants. The speakers will also discuss whether silence is still golden in light of Husky International v. Ritz.

A group of trustees, receivers and professionals tell their most interesting stories about uncovered rip-offs and how the perpetrators pulled them off — almost. The panel then discusses how the cases were dealt with in bankruptcy court and how funds were recovered — or not.

This panel will cover the effects of the recent Supreme Court decision under § 546(e) of the Bankruptcy Code, valuation of avoidance actions, pre-bankruptcy planning, creditor intervention, and conflicts preventing individual debtors from pursuing claims.

This panel will discuss a number of valuation issues that frequently arise in assessing and litigating fraudulent transfer actions, including (1) valuing contingent assets and liabilities (e.g., environmental liabilities, pending litigation, guarantees, tax attributes, subrogation, contribution and reimbursement claims), (2) avoiding the use of hindsight in assessing solvency and adequate capital, and (3) the use of market-based evidence, including debt and equity trading prices, as well as contemporaneous investments of capital. The panel will also discuss Merit Management Group LP v. FTI Consulting Inc., which is pending before the U.S. Supreme Court, regarding the applicability of the § 546(e) safe-harbor defense.

The Supreme Court’s opinion in Jevic limited the options available to effectuate settlements, particularly over the objection of impacted parties. This panel will discuss creative approaches to implementing settlements and disposing of cases, with a special focus on cases where objecting parties are seeking to prevent settlement.

A look at the Supreme Court and bankruptcy law, with a focus on recent and pending cases.

This session will highlight particularly interesting case law developments to date in 2017 and their impact on bankruptcy law and practice.

Great Debates Resolved: Passively holding an asset of the estate in the face of a demand for turn-over violates the stay. (I swear, Your Honor, I didn’t do anything!) Resolved: Gift plans violate the Bankruptcy Code and are outlawed by Jevic. (Is it really a birthday without the gifts?) Resolved: A trustee should be permitted to avoid transfers occurring many years prior to the petition date by stepping into the shoes of “special” creditors such as the IRS or the FDIC pursuant to § 544(b). (I’m Baaaack!!!)