ABI's 26th Annual Spring Meeting Schedule
Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday

Thursday April 3, 2008

9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

American Board of Certification Exams

11:00 a.m.– 2:00 p.m.

IWIRC Luncheon and Founders Awards

Guest Speaker:  Presidential historian and author Michael R. Beschloss

Sponsored by IWIRC

5:00 – 6:00 p.m.

ABI Ambassador/Young & New Members Reception

Sponsored by CRG Partners

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Opening Reception

Sponsored by CIT National Restructuring Group; Deloitte Financial Advisory Services LLP; The Hilco Organization; Invotex Group; Mesirow Financial Consulting, LLC; Provtiviti, Inc.; Tranzon LLC; Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP

Friday, April 4, 2008

7:30 – 8:30 a.m.

Continental Breakfast

Sponsored by Jenner & Block LLP

8:30 – 10:00 a.m.

Twelfth Annual ABI Great Debates                  

Robert J. Keach, Moderator                                 

Bernstein Shur, Portland, Maine

ABI Vice President - Education


 Resolved:  Congress Should Amend the Bankruptcy Code to Eliminate All Forms of Incentive, Bonus or Similar Compensation for Senior Executives and Other Insiders

Pro: Babette Ceccotti

Cohen, Weiss & Simon LLP; New York

Con: Michael L. Bernstein

Arnold & Porter LLP; Washington, D.C.

 
Resolved: Congress Should Amend the Bankruptcy Code to Allow Modification Via a Chapter 13 Plan of the First Mortgage on the Consumer Debtor’s Primary Residence

Pro: John Rao

National Consumer Law Center; Boston

Con: Prof. G. Marcus Cole

Stanford Law School; Calif.

 
Resolved: Professional Fees in Chapter 11 Cases are Excessive and, in Part, Result from Courts Unwilling to Rein in Fees for Fear of Losing Cases

Pro: Prof. Lynn M. LoPucki

University of California at Los Angeles, School of Law; Los Angeles

Con: Prof. Stephen J. Lubben

Seton Hall Law School; Newark, N.J.

10:00 – 10:15 a.m.

Coffee Break

Sponsored by BDO Consulting

10:15 – 11:45 a.m.

Plenary Session

CRO Roundtable: The Evolution and Challenges of Professional Management of the Reorganization Process

Anthony H.N. Schnelling, Moderator

Bridge Associates LLC; New York

John S. Dubel

Gradient Partners LP; White Plains, N.Y.

Michael H. Epstein

CRG Partners; Boston & New York

William H. Henrich

Getzler Henrich & Associates LLC; New York

John K. Suckow

Alvarez & Marsal; New York

Rebecca A. Roof

AlixPartners LLP; New York

12:00 noon – 2:00 p.m.

Luncheon Program Keynote Featuring Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr.

Sponsored by Foley & Lardner LLP and Jefferies & Company, Inc.

2:15 – 3:45 p.m.

Opening Remarks

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.,

Senate Judiciary Committee

 

Plenary Session

Bankruptcy Reform Redux: Mortgage and Consumer Credit, Labor, Executive Compensation and Other Legislation in the Democratic Congress

Jack F. Williams

Georgia State University / BDO Seidman LLP and ABI Scholar in Residence; Washington, D.C.

Elise J. Bean

Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations; Washington, D.C.

Cindy Hayden

Senate Judiciary Committee; Washington, D.C.

Susan Jensen-Lachmann

House Judiciary Committee; Washington, D.C.

John D. McMickle

Winston & Strawn, LLP; Washington, D.C.

3:45 – 4:00 p.m.

Refreshment Break

Sponsored by Loeb & Loeb LLP

4:00 – 5:30 p.m.

Committee Educational Sessions

Business Reorganization and Commercial Fraud Task Force (joint)

Court Administration

"Future Changes to the Courts' Electronic Filing System and How It Will Affect Your Practice"

Hon. Cecelia G. Morris

United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Southern District of New York, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Gary Bockweg

Project Director of Information Technology of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.

Finance and Banking and Young and New Members(joint)

Technology and Telecommunications, Investment Banking, Financial Advisors and Asset Sales (joint)

Legislation

Mass Torts

Professional Compensation

6:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Women’s Networking Reception

Sponsored by Bridge Associates LLC

7:00 – 10:00 pm

ABI Endowment Fund Dinner at the National Museum of the American Indian (invitation only)

Sponsored by Bridge Associates LLC

7:30-9:30 p.m.

Optional Event:  The Capitol Steps at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center

8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Optional Event: National Symphony Orchestra - Ivαn Fischer, conductor/Mahler's Second Symphony at the Kennedy Center

Saturday, April 5, 2008

7:30 – 8:00 a.m.

Continental Breakfast

Sponsored by eCAST Settlement Corporation

8:00 – 9:30 a.m.

Committee Educational Sessions

Alternative Dispute Resolution

Bankruptcy Litigation and Unsecured Trade Creditors (joint)

Uniform Commercial Code

Real Estate / Ethics

9:30 – 11:00 a.m.

Concurrent Sessions

A.  The Bankruptcy Sale Process, Part I: The "Pre-Auction", Bidding Procedures, Break-up and Topping Fees and Expense Reimbursement

Jonathan P. Friedland, Moderator

Schiff Hardin LLP; Chicago

Roberta A. DeAngelis

Executive Office for U.S. Trustees; Washington, D.C.

Sean D. Malloy

McDonald Hopkins LLC; Cleveland

David S. Miller

Macquarie Securities (USA) Inc.; Atlanta

Benjamin L. Nortman

Hilco Trading Company, Inc.; Northbrook, Ill.

Andrea B. Schwartz

Fulbright & Jaworski LLP; New York

B.  Ad Hoc Committees and Other (Unofficial) Creditor Groups: Management, Disclosure and Ethical Issues

Robert J. Rosenberg, Moderator

Latham & Watkins LLP; New York

Martin J. Bienstock

Dewey Ballantine LLP; New York

Hon. Robert D. Drain

U.S. Bankruptcy Court; New York

Ramona D. Elliott

Executive Office for U.S. Trustees; Washington, D.C.

Jeffrey L. Jonas

Brown Rudnick Berlack Israels LLP; Boston

C.  Consumer Debtor Class Actions: One More Windmill or the Ultimate Remedy for the Subprime Mess?

Rudy J. Cerone, Moderator

McGlinchey Stafford, PLLC; New Orleans

Leonard J. DePasquale

U.S. Department of Justice; Washington, D.C.

Thomas M. Hefferon

Goodwin Proctor LLP; Washington, D.C.

Hon. David W. Houston, III

U.S. Bankruptcy Court; Aberdeen, Miss.

Karen L. Kellett

The Kellett Law Firm; Dallas

11:00 – 11:15 a.m.

Coffee Break

Sponsored by Loeb & Loeb LLP

11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Concurrent Sessions

A.  The Bankruptcy Sale Process, Part II: Conducting the Auction, Post-Auction Challenges and Bids, and the Sale Confirmation Hearing and Order

Jonathan P. Friedland, Moderator

Schiff Hardin LLP; Chicago

Peter J. Antoszyk

Proskauer Rose LLP; Boston

Lorie R. Beers

KPMG Corporate Finance LLC; New York

Robert J. Dehney

Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP; Wilmington

William Q. Derrough

Jefferies & Co.; New York

Timothy Noonan

Oryx Capital International, Inc.; Lake Forest, Ill.

B.  Drafting Around the Stay: Swaps, Forward Contracts, Repurchase Agreements and the Future of Prepetition Agreements in Bankruptcy

John J. Monaghan, Moderator

Holland & Knight LLP; Boston

Hon. Robert E. Gerber

U.S. Bankruptcy Court; New York

Ben H. Logan

O'Melveny & Myers LLP; Los Angeles

Edwin E. Smith

Bingham McCutchen LLP; Boston

Shmuel Vasser

Nixon Peabody LLP; New York

C. Confirmation, Modification and Consummation of Chapter 13 Plans in the post-BAPCPA World

Hon. Steven W. Rhodes

U.S. Bankruptcy Court; Detroit

Richard J. Hayden

Richard J. Hayden, PS; Spokane, Wash.

Debra Miller

Standing Chapter 13 Trustee; South Bend, Ind.

Doreen Solomon

Assistant Director for Review & Oversight EOUST; Washington, D.C.

David S. Yen

Legal Assistance Foundation of Chicago; Chicago

12:30 – 2:00 p.m.

Luncheon Program (optional event)

Guest Speaker:  James Carville and Mary Matalin

Sponsored by IWIRC

2:15 – 3:45 p.m.

Concurrent Sessions

A.  The Church in Chapter 11: The Lessons of the Catholic Diocese Cases

James I. Stang, Moderator

Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones LLP; Los Angeles

Ford Elsaesser

Elsaesser, Jarzabek, Anderson, Marks, Elliott & McHugh, Chtd.; Sandpoint, Id.

Prof. Marci Hamilton

Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University; New York

Hon. Patricia C. Williams

U.S. Bankruptcy Court; Spokane, Wash.

Susan G. Boswell

Quarles & Brady LLP; Tucson, Ariz.

Victor A. Vilaplana

Foley & Lardner LLP; San Diego

B.  Liquidation and Litigating Trusts: Formation, Management, Jurisdictional and Other Issues

Geoffrey L. Berman, Moderator

Development Specialists, Inc.; Los Angeles

Allan B. Diamond

Diamond McCarthy LLP; Houston

Susan M. Freeman

Lewis and Roca LLP; Phoenix

Ronald F. Greenspan

FTI Consulting, Inc.; Los Angeles

Robbin L. Itkin

Steptoe & Johnson LLP; Los Angeles

C.  Finding the Center: The Insolvency of Hedge Funds and Other Off-Shore Entities

Daniel M. Glosband, Moderator

Goodwin Procter LLP; Boston

Karen B. Dine

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP; New York

Hon. Arthur J. Gonzalez

U.S. Bankruptcy Court; New York

Robin F. Phelan

Haynes and Boone LLP; Dallas

Stuart Sybersma

Deloitte; Cayman Islands

3:45 – 4:00 p.m.

Refreshment Break

Sponsored by MorrisAnderson & Associates, Ltd.

4:00 – 5:30 p.m.

Committee Educational Sessions

Bankruptcy Taxation

Consumer Bankruptcy

Mortgage Servicing Issues In Chapter 13 Cases - Mortgage Foreclosures And Chapter 13 - A View From All Sides

The mortgage foreclosure crisis has caused many homeowners to seek relief in Chapter 13 cases.  The panel will discuss recent steps consumer debtors, trustees and creditors have taken to address mortgage servicing issues in bankruptcy and to improve the chances of successful plan completion.  Topics will include the use of provisions in the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act to identify the proper party for filing a proof of claim in a mortgage case and to determine the accuracy of the claim.  It will also include discussion of plan provisions and local rules intended to enforce the new remedy provided in section 524(i) by BAPCPA, and efforts by the NACTT and industry representatives to finalize a set of “best practices” for servicing mortgages in Chapter 13.  

Dennis LeVine, Moderator

Co-Chair, Dennis LeVine & Associates, Florida

John Rao, Co-Chair

National Consumer Law Center, Boston

Debra Miller

Standing Chapter 13 Trustee, South Bend, Ind.

Edward Russell, Esq.,

Nashville, Tenn.

Employee Benefits in Bankruptcy

Health Care

International

Public Companies

7:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Final Night Gala Dinner & Concert with Performance by Five-time Grammy Winner Al Jarreau

Sponsored by Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP; Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP; NachmanHaysBrownstein, Inc.; NRC Realty Advisors, LLC; Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP; Proskauer Rose LLP; RSM McGladrey; Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease LLP (ticketed event)

Sunday, April 6, 2008

8:00 – 8:30 a.m.

Continental Breakfast

Sponsored by Macquarie Capital (USA) Inc. and Ocean Tomo

8:30 – 10:00 a.m.

Plenary Session

Beyond Ethics: The Coexistence of Zealousness, Professionalism and Civility in the Insolvency Community

Prof. Nancy B. Rapoport

William S. Boyd School of Law University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Las Vegas

Prof. Paula Franzese

Seton Hall Law School; Newark, N.J.

Melissa Kibler Knoll

Mesirow Financial Consulting, LLC; Chicago

Richard M. Meth, Moderator

Day Pitney LLP; Morristown, N.J.

Hon. Linda B. Riegle

U.S. Bankruptcy Court; Las Vegas

10:00 – 10:15 a.m.

Coffee Break

Sponsored by Development Specialists, Inc.

10:15 – 11:15 a.m.

Plenary Session

Judges’ Roundtable: Current Cases, Hot Topics and Other Developments

Prof. Margaret Howard

Washington & Lee Law School; Lexington, Va.

Hon. Dennis R. Dow

U.S. Bankruptcy; Kansas City, Mo.

Hon. Joan N. Feeney

U.S. Bankruptcy Court; Boston

Hon. Judith K. Fitzgerald

U.S. Bankruptcy Court; Pittsburgh

Hon. Gregg W. Zive

U.S. Bankruptcy Court; Reno

Hon. Eugene R. Wedoff

U.S. Bankruptcy Court; Chicago

 

 

Pre-registration for this conference is now closed.

Walk-up registrations will be accepted on site. The ABI registration desk will be located at the Congressional Registration area of the Renaissance, Washington DC located at 999 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001 beginning at 12:00pm, Thursday, April 3.
Copyright 2007 - The American Bankruptcy Institute