2014

This panel will explore the tension between the fundamental tenets of disclosure and due process in bankruptcy cases and the increasing trend toward confidentiality, whether legitimate or not.

Two litigants will argue before a judge panel whether an intellectual property license is executory and assignable. And if it is not assignable, and for business reasons the debtor decides to reject the license agreement, what amounts to rejection of that license agreement and what rights, if any, the licensee has if a rejection occurs.

Section 363 transactions have a dominating presence in today’s chapter 11 practice. This panel will focus on the nuts and bolts of the asset-purchase agreement and related ancillary documents, including sale procedures orders, sale orders and other sale-related pleadings.

Organized labor has been at the forefront of many significant chapter 11 cases over the past several years. This panel will address a variety of topics (CBAs, WARN Act, Legacy Costs) that are critical to restructuring cases involving labor unions.

Industry leaders will address hot topics arising in Municipal Bankruptcies including eligibility and confirmation issues, challenges facing financial advisors to Chapter 9 debtors, the latest and greatest on the extent of Bankruptcy Court power under sections 903 and 904, special revenues and appellate procedural hurdles. The panel will also discuss the future of Chapter 9.

The Judicial Conference Advisory Committees on Bankruptcy and Civil Rules have proposed amendments to their respective rules. This panel will discuss the proposed rule changes and the impact they will have on bankruptcy case administration.

A panel of judges will discuss best practices in oral and written advocacy.

ABI Past-Presidents Panel on Current Developments in the News

Luncheon Keynote at the Annual Spring Meeting