2014

Any Midwest attorney is likely to represent a client in Delaware or the S.D.N.Y. at some point. For example, you're likely to have clients facing claims litigation, trying to preserve executory contact or lease rights, or facing a preference complaint. Would you like a crash course in representing your clients in these districts and practice like you have years of experience in front of these courts? If so, please join us for a program that will cover the most common situations a Midwest attorney might encounter. You’ll learn practice pointers, traps for the unwary and other rules (both black-letter and unwritten practices). This program will give you an edge when representing your clients in S.D.N.Y./Delaware cases and will assist you in delivering value, bringing home good results — and keeping your clients happy.

A panel of judges will discuss recent bankruptcy cases that impact consumer practitioners.

What happens when there is a failure of disclosure in consumer cases? This panel will cover current disclosure requirements, client intake tips regarding disclosure, and the ramifications of failing to disclose (i.e., denial of discharge, bad-faith dismissal, judicial estoppel, criminal prosecution, etc.).

This panel will discuss the variety of issues that can arise in an individual chapter 11 case.

On the Internet, no one knows you’re an attorney (unless you have a website, blog, LinkedIn profile, Twitter account and/or other social media outlet). This panel will discuss the use of the Internet and social media in your practice.

Consumer Debate Resolved: Limited-scope representation should be allowed in consumer bankruptcy cases. Brian T. Fenimore 102536, Moderator Lathrop & Gage LLP; Kansas City PRO: Theresa V. Brown-Edwards 211813 DARBY | BROWN-EDWARDS LLC; Wilmington, Del. CON: Hon. Robert D. Berger 185770 U.S. Bankruptcy Court (D. Kan.); Kansas City Business Debate Resolved: Bankruptcy judges are authorized to do structured dismissals in chapter 11 bankruptcies. Brian T. Fenimore 102536, Moderator Lathrop & Gage LLP; Kansas City PRO: G. David Dean, II 222886 Cole, Schotz, Meisel, Forman & Leonard, PA; Baltimore CON: T. Patrick Tinker 545420 Office of the U.S. Trustee; Wilmington, Del. Judicial Debate Resolved: A debtor can force a secured creditor to accept title to its collateral pursuant to a plan that provides for its surrender or vesting in that creditor. Brian T. Fenimore, Moderator Lathrop & Gage LLP; Kansas City PRO: Hon. Robert E. Nugent 105973 U.S. Bankruptcy Court (D. Kan.); Wichita CON: Hon. Arthur B. Federman 102540 U.S. Bankruptcy Court (W.D. Mo.); Kansas City

This panel will feature a roundtable discussion with bankruptcy judges from the Ninth Circuit and across the country. The judges will share their thoughts and perspectives, as well as take questions from the audience, on topics of current interest in both business and consumer cases.

Attorney professionalism is dedication to service to clients and a commitment to promoting respect for the legal system in pursuit of justice and the public good, characterized by ethical conduct, competence, good judgment, integrity and civility. This first-of-its-kind course explores the challenges and goals of professionalism among bankruptcy attorneys and other professionals.

The panel will survey recent cases in areas such as stay litigation, lien-stripping, exemptions, family issues and student loans.

This session will be a fast-paced tour of advanced topics on a broad range of bankruptcy issues. While many U.S. Supreme Court decisions seek to address circuit splits and resolve issues of differing interpretation, the decisions often create additional diversity in interpretation and practice. This panel will address the last decade of Supreme Court decisions and their aftermath, and will take a look at pending and potential cases that may soon be decided.