2025

Corporate restructuring has recently experienced a significant transformation. Traditional business “rehabilitations” (sweeping and lengthy chapter 11 proceedings) have become truncated, and “pre-arranged” cases often follow a strategic liability-management exercise (LME). Jurisprudence that had long constrained debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing (e.g., the sub rosa plan doctrine) has seemingly lost its importance. In many cases, the creditors' committee — as well as the bankruptcy court — are boxed into restructuring support agreement (RSA) terms that are, in turn, embedded into DIP covenants, and those covenants often compel a particular (rightful or wrongful) case outcome. This panel will evaluate whether chapter 11 still reliably delivers on its legislative purpose.

This panel will discuss the scope and impact of the Purdue decision on third-party releases, recent standards and approaches bankruptcy courts have used when considering consent, emerging mechanisms for (and alternatives to) third-party releases in chapter 11 plans, and shifts in attitude and strategies in the post-Purdue landscape, including the use of chapter 15 recognition.

This panel will explore key bankruptcy litigation issues that are currently the subject of significant interest and debate, including (1) how bankruptcy courts address gerrymandering in the classification context, and how such concerns may arise in connection with liability-management transactions; (2) how debtors may attempt to effect "backdoor" estate releases through sale transactions whereby the buyer of the assets acquires estate claims and causes of action, and whether such attempts invoke concerns of a sub rosa plan; and (3) how the standard of adequate protection should be interpreted when a debtor is using cash collateral to maintain operations as a going concern where the alternative is a potentially value-destructive chapter 7. The panelists also plan to address the jurisdictional split regarding whether the confirmation requirement of an impaired accepting class requires a "per plan" or a "per debtor" approach for multi-debtor plans.

This panel will discuss the features that make chapter 11 world-renowned, and will analyze the similar features that have been incorporated into the (often newly enacted) restructuring regimes of foreign countries. The panelists will then examine certain of these regimes to explain why some regimes have used these similar features more successfully than others. Will chapter 11 continue to be the leading restructuring format in the world? Join us and find out!

This panel will provide an update on mass torts and will discuss insurer issues and equitable mootness (Serta), including the exculpation and unequal treatment of creditors under § 1123(a)(4).

This panel will examine the latest pressure points in bankruptcy financing at both conceptual and granular levels, including pre-petition bridge loans, stalking-horse financings, roll-ups, intercreditor and intralender disputes and protections, DIP sizing and budgeting issues, and the overall effect of DIP and cash-collateral orders on case trajectory.

Join ABI Editor-at-Large Bill Rochelle for this fun and informative session as he and six judges address recent Second Circuit cases, and predict how the circuit will rule on tough questions on the way up. An attendee favorite!

Join us for a special session honoring our retiring regional judges as they reflect on their careers, share insights into the evolution of bankruptcy law, and offer valuable perspectives gained from years on the bench. This candid conversation celebrates their service and provides attendees with a unique opportunity to learn from their experiences and legacy.

Do you know your ABCs? Who’s that receiver? What do you do if there is THC involved? When bankruptcy isn’t the answer (or even when it is), this panel will discuss some alternatives to employ in unique situations.

Mentorship is a cornerstone of professional development and plays a critical role in shaping the future of the bankruptcy bar. This conversational panel will explore how intentional, well-structured mentorships can foster talent, promote inclusion, and build a strong foundation for the next generation of bankruptcy professionals. The panelists will share practical strategies for cultivating meaningful mentor/mentee relationships in both formal and informal settings, including within law firms and financial institutions. Special attention will be paid to the unique opportunities judicial clerkships provide in mentoring early-career attorneys, and how experienced professionals can actively guide aspiring lawyers toward careers in bankruptcy law. The discussion also will highlight the benefits of reverse mentorship, wherein junior professionals offer fresh perspectives and insights that help senior professionals and leaders adapt to emerging trends, technologies and cultural shifts. Attendees can expect an engaging, experience-driven conversation with actionable takeaways.