2025 Northeast Bankruptcy Conference & Northeast Consumer Forum

This panel will focus on state court receiverships, federal court receiverships, involuntary bankruptcies, assignments for the benefit of creditors and other alternatives to traditional workouts, all from a creditor’s perspective.

This panel will break down last year’s Supreme Court bankruptcy cases, notable circuit court of appeals decisions, and growing circuit splits, and will discuss how developments in bankruptcy appellate law have impacted bankruptcy practice.

In today’s volatile commercial real estate market, the intersection of lease law and bankruptcy is more complex than ever. This panel dives into the real-world challenges landlords and tenants face when bankruptcy hits, using recent high-profile cases — including WeWork and a wave of "Chapter 22" retail filings — to examine the growing tensions among market realities, restructuring costs and the Bankruptcy Code.

This panel canvasses practical tax-related considerations for consumer attorneys to help you avoid common pitfalls, including the impact of tax issues on the timing of filing, dischargeability, asset administration and exemptions; a survey of trust fund taxes, what they are, how they differ across the states, and what they mean for individual liability; the responsibilities of chapter 13 debtors from a tax perspective; and negotiating with taxing authorities.

Understanding and calculating income can be challenging when it isn't consistent. This panel will explore strategies for assessing income for individuals with variable earnings, including seasonal employees, gig workers, self-employed individuals, and those receiving overtime or bonuses. The panelists also will discuss best practices, tools and policy considerations to ensure accurate and fair income determination in complex financial situations.

This engaging panel brings together experts from the judiciary, legal practice, academia and legal technology to explore how generative AI is transforming the legal landscape — highlighting opportunities, risks and strategies for responsible adoption across sectors.

This panel discusses recent regulatory changes that are affecting consumers or consumer bankruptcy across a wide swath of financial concerns, including cryptocurrency, changes at and to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, discharge and repayment of student loans, and changes to mortgage modification practices.

Navigating the intersection of ethics and practice management is critical for consumer bankruptcy attorneys. This session will explore the ethical obligations that arise in everyday practice, including client communication, case oversight, fee disclosures and managing high-volume dockets. The panelists will address common pitfalls and real-world scenarios that challenge compliance with the ABA Model Rules and local court requirements. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for maintaining ethical integrity while operating an efficient and sustainable consumer bankruptcy practice.

This panel explores various topics including litigation issues and obligations specific to creditors committees, the role of financial experts in litigation, and evidentiary issues that practitioners are likely to encounter. The panel also provides practical tips on preparation and best practices.

This panel discusses the history and evolution of liability-management transactions, including uptiers, drop-downs and double-dips, while providing insights from company, lender and creditor perspectives. The panelists also discuss recent developments and trends following the Serta and Mitel decisions, as well as their perspectives on how these types of transactions will be utilized going forward — and whether they are tools for success or invitations for trouble.