10th Annual Northeast Consumer Forum

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10th Annual Northeast Consumer Forum

July 9-11, 2015 Sea Crest Beach Hotel, North Falmouth, MA

On behalf of our distinguished faculty and Advisory Board, we are pleased to invite you to attend the 22nd Annual Northeast Bankruptcy Conference and 10th Annual Northeast Consumer Forum at the Sea Crest Beach Hotel in North Falmouth, Massachusetts! The Northeast Advisory Board has assembled a roster of great speakers on a wide variety of timely topics that offer something for everyone. In this ever-changing industry, you can’t afford to miss this popular conference geared toward the Northeast insolvency practitioner!

Just minutes over the Bourne or Sagamore Bridges, the Sea Crest Beach Hotel in North Falmouth provides the perfect backdrop for the Northeast Conference. Discover a location of pristine white sand beaches at Old Silver Beach, iconic cottage-lined streets, barefoot luxury and a casual, welcoming vibe just about anywhere you go. Enjoy Cape Cod living at the best choice in Cape Cod beachfront hotels. This hotel will sell out, so don’t delay!

To return to the Northeast Bankruptcy Conference page, click here. 22nd Annual Northeast Bankruptcy Conference

Sessions

Event Information 228092

Thursday, July 9

9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

ABC Exams

2:00 p.m

ABI Registration Desk and Exhibit Hall Open

5:00-6:00 p.m.

Emerging Leaders and Judges Roundtable (invite only)

Private roundtable for up-and-coming insolvency professionals and the judges in attendance.

6:00-8:00 p.m.

Opening Reception

Sponsored by Duane Morris LLP, Greenberg Traurig, LLP and Murphy & King

Friday, July 10

7:00-7:35 a.m.

Continental Breakfast

Sponsored by Gavin/Solmonese LLC

7:35-9:15 a.m.

Plenary Session

ABI Northeast Conference Trial Symposium 2015: Early and Expeditious Litigation Exits — from Deposition to Disposition

The trial team in this session will explore strategies to quickly discover essential facts relating to substantive and procedural legal defenses by discussing the use of discovery, the proper use of and best practices for motions for summary judgment and developing the summary judgment record, and strategies for opposing summary judgment in a contested matter to which Part VII of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure apply. The context will be an objection to a proof of claim asserting legal defenses, including improper interest charges, based on a hypothetical case. The panelists will conduct several mock strategy sessions and a mock summary judgment hearing, and offer commentary from the trial team members.

Hon. Joan N. Feeney, Moderator

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (D. Mass.); Boston

Hon. Frank J. Bailey

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (D. Mass.); Boston

Patrick P. Dinardo

Sullivan & Worcester; Boston

Julia Frost-Davies

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius; Boston

Frederic D. Grant, Jr.

Law Office of Frederic Grant, Jr.; Boston

Hon. Louis H. Kornreich

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (D. Me.); Bangor

Peter B. McGlynn

Bernkopf Goodman LLP; Boston

Patrick J. O'Toole, Jr.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP; Boston

9:15-9:30 a.m.

Coffee Break

Sponsored by Bernstein Shur

9:30-10:45 a.m.

Consumer Forum Session

Mortgage Regulation Update: New “Qualified Mortgage” and Ability-to-Pay Regulations, and Loan Servicing/Loss-Mitigation Regulations

Practitioners can get up to speed on the new “Qualified Mortgage Rule” (the “QM”) and the ability-to-pay regulations to prepare for future mortgage claim disputes. This panel will discuss the changes to TILA and RESPA, as well as the new Consumer Financial Protection Board (CFPB) regulations on mortgage servicing.

Patricia Antonelli, Moderator

Partridge, Snow & Hahn, LLP; Providence, R.I.

Amy N. Azza

Orlans Moran, PLLC; Waltham, Mass.

Hon. Diane Finkle

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (D. R.I.); Providence

Christopher M. Lefebvre

Claude Lefebvre, Christopher Lefebvre, P.C.; Pawtucket, R.I.

10:45-11:00 a.m.

Coffee Break

Sponsored by Nixon Peabody LLP

11:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Consumer Forum Session

Ethics: What Can the “Real Housewives of New Jersey” Teach Us About Professional Responsibility?

Disclosing assets and verifying a debtor’s information is the calling card of any conscientious debtor’s counsel. But how do the rules governing professional responsibility interplay with debtor’s counsel’s obligations under the Code? A real housewife in New Jersey recently blamed her attorney for her prison sentence following her guilty plea for bankruptcy fraud. Did her attorney commit an ethical violation? This panel will examine the record behind this headline-making case, as well as other recent bankruptcy court decisions that examine the ethical conduct and obligations of debtor’s counsel.

William J. McLeod, Moderator

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (D. Mass.); Boston

Hon. Frank J. Bailey

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (D. Mass.); Boston

Andrea M. O’Connor

Hendel & Collins, P.C.; Springfield, Mass.

Jennifer H. Pincus

Office of the U.S. Trustee; Portland, Maine

1:00 p.m.

Optional Events

Golf Tournament & ABI Golf Tour

Sponsored by Goodwin Procter LLP

Tennis Tournament

Sponsored by Mesirow Financial Consulting, LLC

Tour de ABI

Sponsored by Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP and Sheehan Phinney Bass + Green

1:00-3:00 p.m.

Optional Event

Beach Olympics

Sponsored by Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP

6:30-8:30 p.m.

Friday Reception

Sponsored by BlumShapiro, Finn Dixon & Herling LLP, Neubert, Pepe & Monteith, P.C., Pullman & Comley LLC, Reid and Riege, P.C., Updike, Kelly & Spellacy, P.C. and Zeisler & Zeisler, P.C.
Kids’ Entertainment sponsored by Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
Beach Bonfire sponsored by Paul E. Saperstein Co., Inc.

Saturday, July 11

7:30-7:55 a.m.

Continental Breakfast

Sponsored by Brown Rudnick LLP and Murtha Cullina LLP

7:55-9:00 a.m.

Plenary Session

Where the Fugawi, and How Did We Get Here?

Young lawyers frequently learn that they will be working on a new chapter 11 case when they are directed to start drafting pleadings. This session, spearheaded by members of ABI’s Young & New Members Committee, is geared toward gaining an understanding of what precedes that moment by (1) advising and educating the new(er) generation of bankruptcy professionals on the background and “big picture” of a chapter 11 case, and (2) advising and educating the newest generation of bankruptcy professionals on pre-filing strategies. The panel will explore and help identify operational, financing and litigation problems that may be faced by distressed companies, then will explore both short-term and longer-term strategies that can be pursued before a petition is filed.

Hon. Bruce A. Harwood

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (D. N.H.); Manchester

Stephen S. Gray

Deloitte CRG; Boston

Harold B. Murphy

Murphy & King, PC; Boston

Shannon L. Nagle

CIT Group Inc.; New York

9:00-9:15 a.m.

Coffee Break

Sponsored by CapitalSource

 

Consumer Forum Session

Exemption Strategies after Law v. Siegel

This panel will explore the question of whether exemptions may be denied for bad faith and whether debtors may amend their claimed exemptions to assert a different statutory basis after an exemption has been denied, including the impact of potential res judicata and collateral estoppel claims. Case law developments since Law v. Siegel will be reviewed, as well as important strategic considerations for debtors, trustees and creditors.

Jessica A. Lewis, Moderator

Molleur Law Office; Biddeford, Maine

Hon. J. Michael Deasy (ret.)

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (D. N.H.); Manchester

Nathaniel R. Hull

Verrill Dana LLP; Portland, Maine

Alex F. Mattera

Demeo, LLP; Boston

10:30-10:45 a.m.

Coffee Break

Sponsored by Pepper Hamilton LLP

 

Consumer Forum Session

Chapter 13: Developing Issues and the Challenges for Debtors, Creditors and Trustees

May a trustee make a distribution to a secured creditor that has not filed a proof of claim? Should trustees or debtors file surrogate claims if secured creditors have not? Does a debtor’s failure to make post‐petition payments to a creditor defeat the debtor’s eligibility for a discharge? This panel will address the emerging case law on whether direct post‐petition payments as required by the plan are considered “payments under the plan” as contemplated by § 1328(a), the growing complications that may arise from a secured creditor’s not filing proofs of claim, and the impact of proposed rule changes on these hot issues.

Randy J. Creswell, Moderator

Perkins Thompson; Portland, Maine

Peter C. Fessenden

Standing Chapter 13 Trustee (D. Me.); Brunswick

Hon. Enrique S. Lamoutte

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (D. P.R.); San Juan

Marques C. Lipton

Law Office of Nicholas F. Ortiz, P.C.; Boston

1:00-3:00 p.m.

Optional Event

Beach Volleyball

Sponsored by Phoenix Management Services

1:00-5:30 p.m.

Optional Event

Sport Fishing

Sponsored by Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP

4:00-5:15 p.m.

Seaside Chat

6:00-7:00 p.m.

Sponsor Reception (invite only)

Sponsored by Foley Hoag LLP and Verdolino & Lowey, P.C.

7:00-10:00 p.m.

Saturday Beach Party (optional)

Sponsored by Deloitte CRG, Choate Hall & Stewart LLP and Ropes & Gray LLP
Kids’ Entertainment Sponsored by Goulston & Storrs PC

 

Northeast Bankruptcy Conference Co-Chairs

Hon. Bruce A. Harwood

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (D. N.H.); Manchester

John J. Monaghan

Holland & Knight LLP; Boston

Elisa M. Sartori

Mesirow Financial Consulting

Northeast Consumer Forum Co-Chairs

William J. McLeod

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (D. Mass.); Boston

James F. Molleur

Molleur Law Office; Biddeford, Maine

Advisory Board

Warren E. Agin

Swiggart & Agin, LLC

Patricia Antonelli

Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP

Henry P. Baer

Finn Dixon & Herling LLP

Janet E. Bostwick

Janet E. Bostwick, PC

Christopher M. Candon

Sheehan, Phinney, Bass + Green PA

Paul W. Carey

Mirick, O’Connell, De Maille & Lougee, LLP

Roger A. Clement, Jr.

Verrill Dana LLP

Shawn L. Doil

Perkins Thomson, Attorneys & Counselors at Law

Michael J. Epstein

Deloitte CRG

Jacob (Jack) Aaron Esher

MWI

Michael A. Fagone

U.S. Bankruptcy Court-Designate (D. Me.); Portland

Meg M. Feist

Sling TV L.L.C

Michael J. Fencer

Jager Smith P.C.

Jeremy R. Fischer

Drummond Woodsum

Jay S. Geller

Law Office of Jay S. Geller

Michael J. Goldberg

Casner & Edwards, LLP

Douglas R. Gooding

Choate Hall & Stewart LLP

William J. Hanlon

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Eric A. Henzy

Reid and Riege, P.C.

D. Ethan Jeffery

Murphy & King

Jeffrey L. Jonas

Brown Rudnick LLP

Gregory O. Kaden

Goulston & Storrs PC

Robert E. Kaelin

Murtha Cullina LLP

Marjorie E. Kaufman

Getzler Henrich & Associates LLC

Donald R. Lassman

Law Office of Donald R. Lassman

Benjamin W. Loveland

WilmerHale

David B. Madoff

Madoff & Khoury LLP

George J. Marcus

Marcus, Clegg & Mistretta

Richard E. Mikels

Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.

Paul D. Moore

Duane Morris LLP

William R. Moorman

Craig and Macauley PC

Guy B. Moss

Riemer & Braunstein LLP

Michael J. Pappone

Goodwin Procter LLP

Nina M. Parker

Parker & Associates

David Rychalsky

Capstone Partners

Natalie B. Sawyer

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (D. Mass.)

Andrew Z. Schwartz

Foley Hoag LLP

Mackenzie L. Shea

K&L Gates LLP

Denise M. Shear

Ostrander Law Office

Douglas S. Skalka

Neubert, Pepe & Monteith, P.C.

Daniel W. Sklar

Nixon Peabody LLP

Mark F. Stickney

Spinglass Management Group, LLC

Kevin J. Walsh

Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.

Mark F. Stickney

Spinglass Management Group, LLC

Robert P. Wexler

The Tron Group

James M. Wilton

Ropes & Gray LLP

Conference Information

Hotel Accommodations

Just minutes over the Bourne or Sagamore Bridges, the Sea Crest Beach Hotel in North Falmouth provides the perfect backdrop for the Northeast Conference. You’ll be greeted by pristine white sand beaches at Old Silver Beach, iconic cottage-lined streets, barefoot luxury and a casual, welcoming vibe. Enjoy Cape Cod living at the best in Cape Cod beachfront hotels.

 

ABI has arranged for a special conference rate of $339 per night. To secure the special rate, hotel reservations must be made by June 1, 2015. Reservations may only be made once you have registered with ABI. Upon payment of the conference registration fees, you will receive a hotel reservation link to reserve your room. Rooms are held on a first-come, first-served basis. ABI cannot guarantee anyone a room after the specially rated ABI block is filled. This hotel will sell out, so don’t delay!

Transportation

The resort is located about 70 miles from Boston’s Logan International Airport and Providence, R.I.’s T.F. Green International Airport.

Cancellation Policy

All fees, except a $75 handling fee, will be refunded if written notice of cancellation is received by June 18, 2015. No refunds will be made if notice is received after June 18, although substitutions will be allowed. After June 18, upon written request, a coupon for 20% off the registration fee (not including optional events) will be issued, which can be used (by the cancelling registrant only) for any ABI educational program up to one year after this conference, or for this same conference next year.

Continuing Education

Northeast Bankruptcy Conference: Approval for approximately 11 hours of CLE credit, including 1.25 hours of ethics, is pending in states calculating CLE on a 60-minute hour, and 13 hours of CLE credit, including 1.5 hours of ethics, are pending in 50-minute-hour states. Credit hours granted are subject to approval from each state. California MCLE: ABI certifies that this activity has been approved for MCLE credit by the State Bar of California in the amount of 11 hours, of which 1.25 hours will apply to legal ethics. NY MCLE: This traditional program has been approved in accordance with the requirements of the CLE Board for a maximum of 13 credit hours, of which 1.5 hours of credit can be applied toward the ethics professionalism requirement. 13 hours of CPE credit, including 1.5 hours of ethics, are also available.

 

Northeast Consumer Forum: Approval for approximately 9 hours of CLE credit, including 1.25 hours of ethics, is pending in states calculating CLE on a 60-minute hour, and 10.5 hours of CLE credit, including 1.5 hours of ethics, are pending in 50-minute-hour states. Credit hours granted are subject to approval from each state. California MCLE: ABI certifies that this activity has been approved for MCLE credit by the State Bar of California in the amount of 9 hours, of which 1.25 hours will apply to legal ethics. NY MCLE: This traditional program has been approved in accordance with the requirements of the CLE Board for a maximum of 10.5 credit hours, of which 1.5 hours of credit can be applied toward the ethics professionalism requirement. 10.5 hours of CPE credit, including 1.5 hours of ethics, are also available.

 

*ABI offers intermediate-level courses, which assume that attendees will have at least some detailed knowledge of insolvency matters (pursuant to the “Statement on Standards for CPE Programs” established by AICPA and NASBA). ABI is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE sponsors. State boards of accountancy have the final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be addressed to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors, 150 Fourth Ave. North, Suite 700, Nashville, TN 37219-2417, or www.nasba.org. For more information regarding administrative policies such as complaint and refund, please contact the American Bankruptcy Institute at (703) 739-0800.

 

ABI acknowledges that in some instances there will be persons who need to attend an educational seminar for CLE credit who are not able to pay full registration fees. ABI will handle such instances on a case-by-case basis and will work with the individual on alternative solutions. For persons who cannot meet the full registration rate, ABI will offer a reduced rate based on what the individual can reasonably afford to cover the cost of meals and materials. For persons unable to pay a reduced rate, we may allow the individual to work at our registration area for a few hours during attendee check-in, or assist in conference set-up. ABI also has reduced rates for government employees, professors, law clerks and students. Illinois Attorneys: If registration fees are more than $500, attorneys who qualify will receive a reduction of at least 50% off the registration fee. For information on tuition assistance, send an e-mail to [email protected].

ABI Northeast Scholarship Program

Scholarship funds are available for those who cannot afford to attend the program. Please send your request for approval to Jennifer Guirguis at [email protected]. Space is limited.

Attorney Specialist Certification

The American Board of Certification (ABC) will offer its business bankruptcy, consumer bankruptcy and creditors’ rights exams at the Sea Crest Beach Hotel on Thursday, July 9, from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Details on the certification process, exam composition and a sample exam can be obtained by calling ABC at (319) 365-2222, by e-mailing [email protected] or by visiting the ABC website at www.abcworld.org. The ABC certification programs are sponsored by the American Bankruptcy Institute and the Commercial Law League of America, and all three programs are accredited by the American Bar Association.

American Board of Certification Exams

Thursday, July 9, 2015, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at the Sea Crest Beach Hotel
Call (319) 365-2222 or e-mail [email protected]

Benefactor

BlumShapiro

Brown Rudnick LLP
CapitalSource
CRS Capstone LLC
Choate Hall & Stewart LLP
Deloitte CRG
Duane Morris, LLP
Finn Dixon & Herling LLP
Foley Hoag LLP
Gavin/Solmonese LLC
Getzler Henrich & Associates LLC
Goodwin Procter LLP
Gordon Brothers Group LLC
Goulston & Storrs PC
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Hinckley Allen & Snyder
Mesirow Financial Consulting, LLC

Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo PC

Murphy & King
Murtha Cullina LLP
Neubert Pepe & Monteith PC
Nixon Peabody LLP
Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP
Pepper Hamilton LLP
Preti Flaherty Beliveau & Pachios, LLP
Pullman & Comley LLC
Reid and Reige PC
Ropes & Gray LLP
Salus Capital Partners
Sullivan & Worcester LLP
Updike Kelly Spellacy PC
Verdolino & Lowey PC
Wilmer Hale
Zeisler & Zeisler PC

Patron

Argus Management Company
Bernstein Shur
Devine Millimet & Branch PA
Mirick O'Connell
Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP
Paul E. Saperstein Company
Phoenix Management Services
Posternak Blankstein & Lund LLP
Riemer & Braunstein LLP
Ruberto Israel & Weiner PC
Sheehan Phinney Bass + Green PA

Sponsors

Aframe & Barnhill
Azarian Law Office, PLLC
Baker, Newman & Noyes
Bartlett Hackett Feinberg PC
Berry Dunn McNeil & Parker (Portland, Me)
Bowditch & Dewey LLP
Casner & Edwards
Drummond Woodsum
Eaton Peabody
Holland & Knight
Jager Smith PC
Janet E. Bostwick, PC
Law Office of Gary W. Cruickshank
Marcus Clegg & Mistretta, PA

Morgan Lewis
Morrissey, Wilson & Zafiropoulos, LLP

MWI
Pearce & Dow, LLC
Perkins Thompson, P.A.
Pierce Atwood LLP
Robinson & Cole
Salter McGowan Sylvia & Leonard Inc.
Seder & Chandler
Seyfarth Shaw
Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C.
Squire Patton Boggs
Swiggart & Agin LLC
The Tron Group
Verrill Dana LLP
William S. Gannon PLLC

Scholarship Fund Donors

Foley Hoag LLP
Mirick O'Connell
Murtha Cullina LLP
Nixon Peabody LLP
The Tron Group
Verdolino & Lowey PC

Special Thanks

We extend our special thanks to Bloomberg BRIEF for the media partnership, Conway MacKenzie for the conference thumb drives, Donlin, Recano & Company, Inc. for the conference app, Sherwood Partners, LLC/agencyIP for sponsoring the exhibit hall, Thomson Reuters for providing the printed educational materials and Wilmington Trust for the conference tote bags.

Rates

Registration Rates Early
(postmarked by 4/24/15)
Regular
(4/25/15-6/5/15)
Late
(after 6/5/15)

ABI Member
$295
$345
$395
New ABI Member*
$545
$595
$645

Please click here to register for the Northeast Bankruptcy Conference