Alabama State Approved Sessions

"Past President's Debate: Resolved: The chapter 11 model is no longer viable for middle-market businesses. Consumer Debate: Resolved: Section 523(a)(8) should be repealed or amended to allow for the discharge of all student loan debts. Judicial Debate: Resolved: Section 546(e) does not apply to each and every link in a chain of transactions resulting in a ""settlement payment"" that is protected by the safe harbor provisions."

Real Estate Short Sales and Carve-Outs

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has promulgated pervasive and dramatic new requirements on servicers, effective Jan. 10, 2014, to provide detailed and accurate information regarding a borrower’s mortgage and options to avoid foreclosure. The rules amending both TILA and RESPA are filled with liability traps for the unwary, including several provisions that conflict with bankruptcy law. At a minimum, the rules will require servicers to implement significant new software, compliance training and procedures to limit legal exposure. Learn from insiders what you need to advise clients. Presented by ABI, TMA (Chesapeake), IWIRC (D.C./Maryland) and RMA (Potomac).

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has promulgated pervasive and dramatic new requirements on servicers, effective Jan. 10, 2014, to provide detailed and accurate information regarding a borrower’s mortgage and options to avoid foreclosure. The rules amending both TILA and RESPA are filled with liability traps for the unwary, including several provisions that conflict with bankruptcy law. At a minimum, the rules will require servicers to implement significant new software, compliance training and procedures to limit legal exposure. Learn from insiders what you need to advise clients. Presented by ABI, TMA (Chesapeake), IWIRC (D.C./Maryland) and RMA (Potomac).

With the economic challenges over the past five years, the lending landscape has changed dramatically. The boundaries for commercial and alternative lenders have changed, and borrowers’ options for financing are continuing to develop. Learn what commercial and alternative lenders can (and cannot) do for a borrower and how financing structures have become more creative to fit the needs of borrowers. Presented by ABI, TMA (Chesapeake), IWIRC (D.C./Maryland) and RMA (Potomac).

IP experts will shed light on the mysteries of understanding IP law and navigating the often-puzzling sales processes, drawing from their experiences in Nortel, Kodak and other important cases.

The new U.S. Trustee Fee Guidelines will affect all attorneys and firms who work on larger chapter 11 cases filed on or after November 1st. ABI's panel of experts, including the Director of the EOUST, will discuss some of the ways the new guidelines may change day-to-day operations in firms, issues relating to the new market rate benchmarks, and how these changes might alter insolvency practice. Register today to hear government, attorney and academic perspectives on this important and timely topic.

Being a debtor isn’t a crime, but some debtors are criminals. This panel will discuss various ethical, civil and criminal issues that can arise in a bankruptcy case, including an attorney's duties following the discovery of possible criminal acts by a current/prospective client, how to get paid and not go to prison, the scope of the Fifth Amendment privilege, and obligations arising from a criminal subpoena.

This year’s installment of the Boris Badenough ethics play centers primarily around Boris’s romantic problems, rather than his traditional financial woes. Boris’s latest wife, Sophia “Sting” Shire, an up-and-coming photo artist, has just filed for divorce and is seeking to void her prenuptial agreement with Boris so she can get the $100,000 per week in support she believes she is entitled to. Boris isn’t distressed about the loss of his sixth (or is it seventh?) wife, but the fact she wants money and half of his massive snowglobe collection enrages him. However, Boris has a plan to put Sting into an involuntary bankruptcy with two other creditors, have a trustee appointed (Boris does know how to dig up dirt!) and settle any claims that Sting may have with her trustee for a small amount of his hoard. Unfortunately for Boris, Sting and her counsel, Bill “Bo” Baggins, have a few tricks of their own up their sleeves, including the discovery of Boris’s deepest and perhaps most profitable secrets in Hidden Hoard LLC, a company Sting owns 1% of (through Boris’s attempt to make her a minority contractor). Will Baggins and Sting be able to discover the secret Hidden Hoard, or will Boris’s counsel, Tom “Bomber” Dill, prevail and save his client’s “preeciousss”?

You'll have to join us to find out what this one is about. Have lunch with several of the judges at the conference; have your questions and comments ready. If you would like to include a boxed lunch ($50/person), please check the appropriate box on the registration form. You may also bring your own lunch, but don't be late!!!!