23rd Annual Central States Bankruptcy Workshop

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23rd Annual Central States Bankruptcy Workshop

June 16-19, 2016. Grand Geneva Resort and Spa, Lake Geneva, WI

Sessions

Event Information 237923

Thursday, June 16

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

American Board of Certification Exams

4:00-6:00 p.m.

Optional Event: Young & New Members Beer Tasting at Sprecher’s Restaurant & Pub

Sponsored by Factor Law

6:00-8:00 p.m.

Opening Reception

Sponsored by Godfrey & Kahn, S.C. and McGuireWoods LLP

8:00-10:30 p.m.

Optional Event: Yerkes Observatory Tour

Sponsored by Fishman Miller PC

Friday, June 17

 

Shuttle to Downtown Lake Geneva

Sponsored by Murphy Desmond S.C.

7:15-8:15 a.m.

Breakfast

Sponsored by MorrisAnderson

7:30-7:45 a.m.

Welcome by Central States Bankruptcy Workshop Program Chairs

7:45-9:00 a.m.

From Conception Through Birth and Now an Adolescent: Views from Those Who Saw It All

Our panel was there at the beginning with the National Bankruptcy Review Commission (Brady Williamson Chair) through the drafting of the law, its passage and, of course, the implementation of the final product in 2005. The panel will discuss the history of the process, what might have been intended by the proponents, and what unintended consequences were created in the process. We expect a lively discussion of this seminal law and the implications for future reform.

Lawrence A. Friedman

Friedman Partners; Grayling, Mich.

James J. Haller

The Bankruptcy Center; Belleville, Ill.

Richardo I. Kilpatrick

Kilpatrick & Associates, PC; Auburn Hills, Mich.

Brady C. Williamson

Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.; Madison, Wis.

9:15-10:30 a.m.

Concurrent Sessions (7)

 

Business Track

The Who, What, How, and Why of Bankruptcy Appeals

An outstanding group of general and bankruptcy appellate practice advocates will address best practices, as well as developments from a bankruptcy perspective on such issues as finality, stays pending appeal and equitable mootness.

Hon. Beth E. Hanan, Moderator

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (E.D. Wis.); Wauwatosa

G. Eric Brunstad

Dechert LLP; Hartford, Conn.

Gregory E. Ostfeld

Greenberg Traurig LLP; Chicago

E. King Poor

Quarles & Brady LLP; Chicago

The Intersection of Limited Liability Companies and Bankruptcy

This panel will examine the collision of state corporation law and the Code on such issues as bankruptcy poison pill provisions in operating agreements, whether operating agreements are executory contracts, rights of bankruptcy estates holding membership interests, and reaching LLC assets and LLC member assets.

Ronald S. Barliant

Goldberg Kohn; Chicago

Joshua M. Gadharf

McDonald Hopkins LLC; Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

Ronald R. Peterson

Jenner & Block LLP; Chicago

Scott A. Wolfson

Wolfson Bolton PLLC; Troy, Mich.

Individual Chapter 11 Cases: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

This panel will be involved in an advanced discussion of the problems and opportunities that can arise in an individual chapter 11 case. The panel will discuss issues involving post-petition earnings, including voluntary assignments of future wages, and the effect of conversion to a chapter 7 proceeding; the “disposable income test”; §§ 1129(a)(15), 1129(b)(2)(B)(ii) and 1115(b); and the “absolute priority rule,” among other topics.

Hon. Susan V. Kelley, Moderator

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (E.D. Wis.); Milwaukee

John R. Burns

Faegre Baker Daniels; Fort Wayne, Ind.

Matthew T. Gensburg

Dale & Gensburg, P.C.; Chicago

Geoffrey T. Pavlic

Steinberg Shapiro & Clark; Southfield, Mich.

 

Consumer Track

Death and Taxes

The impact of a bankruptcy filing on a consumer debtor’s tax liabilities requires a reconciling of hazy IRC provisions with Title 11. Topics will include the impact on the debtor’s discharge for late-filed income tax returns, 1099s ((A) and (C)), 26 U.S.C. § 108, tax liens and their treatment under the Code (§ 724), and the pros and cons of filing a “stub” year tax return.

Hon. Philip Klingeberger, Moderator

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (N.D. Ind.); Hammond

Ethan Dunn

Maxwell Dunn, PLC; Huntington Woods, Mich.

Robert A. Goering, Sr.

Goering & Goering, LLC; Cincinnati

Richard D. Liebman

Grant Thornton LLP; Chicago

Discovery: It’s a Whole New Ballgame

Recent changes to the Federal Rules of Evidence and their impact on bankruptcy proceedings, from 2004 examinations to contested matters to adversary proceedings, will be the subject of this discussion, along with the treatment of electronically stored evidence.

Hon. Mary Ann Whipple, Moderator

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (N.D. Ohio); Toledo

Sherry D. Coley

Davis & Kuelthau, s.c.; Green Bay, Wis.

William J. Factor

FactorLaw; Northbrook, Ill.

Julie Beth Teicher

Erman, Teicher, Zucker & Freedman, P.C.

The Intersection of Bankruptcy and Divorce: When Worlds Collide

This panel will discuss various sections of the Bankruptcy Code as they impact or are impacted by divorce proceedings. The panel will discuss the § 101(14A) definition of “domestic support obligations,” the rights of a representative appointed for the debtor’s children, post-nuptial agreements, the standing of an estranged spouse under §§ 523 and 727, §§ 523(a)(5) and (a)(15), equitable distribution awards and § 541, fraudulent conveyances and divorce decrees, and much, much more.

Hon. Margaret Dee McGarity, Moderator

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (E.D. Wis.); Milwaukee

Lisa Sommers Gretchko

Howard & Howard; Royal Oak, Mich.

E. Philip Groben

Dale & Gensburg, P.C.; Chicago

Susan L. Rhiel

Rhiel & Associates Co., LPA; Columbus, Ohio

Headaches, Relief and Other Remedies: Let’s Look in That Medicine Cabinet Again

This discussion will keep attendees informed about the most recent developments on the most powerful procedural remedy in bankruptcy: the automatic stay. Learn the latest strategies and nuances in the still-developing case law concerning the stay.

Hon. Phillip J. Shefferly, Moderator

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (E.D. Mich.); Detroit

Jeffrey C. Dan

Crane, Heyman, Simon, Welch & Clar; Chicago

Rebecca R. DeMarb

Sweet DeMarb LLC; Madison, Wis.

Victoria E. Powers

Ice Miller LLP; Columbus, Ohio

10:30-10:45 a.m.

Refreshment Break

Sponsored by Wolfson Bolton PLLC 

10:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Concurrent Sessions (7)

 

Business Track

Disclosure, Conflicts and Other Ethical Problems in Commercial Bankruptcy Cases: Avoiding Litigation, Disgorgement and Malpractice

This panel will address emerging professional responsibility issues in commercial cases, including a recent Seventh Circuit decision involving the duty to advise of alternative transactional structures and other competency issues that affect fee awards and liability, standards for fee awards, disclosure and disinterestedness problems, and conflict problems in retention and the curative limits of use of conflicts and special counsel.

Judith Greenstone Miller, Moderator

Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss; Southfield, Mich.

Michael B. Fisco

Faegre Baker Daniels; Minneapolis

Robert M. Fishman

Shaw Fishman Glantz & Towbin LLC; Chicago

Patricia Brown Fugée

Roetzel & Andress, LPA; Toledo, Ohio

Getting to Confirmation: Why Do They Keep Moving the Finish Line On Me?

We all know how hard it is to confirm a chapter 11 plan. This panel will discuss cutting-edge issues related to confirming your chapter 11 plan so that you can arm yourselves for the inevitable battle — or negotiate confirmation with superior knowledge of the likely outcome.

Hon. Catherine J. Furay, Moderator

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (W.D. Wis.); Eau Claire

James A. Lodoen

Lindquist & Vennum LLP; Minneapolis

Michael K. McCrory

Barnes & Thornburg LLP; Indianapolis

Jane F. (Ginger) Zimmerman

Murphy Desmond S.C.; Madison, Wis.

Substantial Contribution Claims

This panel will explore claims for substantial contribution claims in connection with asset sales, involuntary petitions and other contexts in light of the expansive reading given to 11 U.S.C. 503(b)(3) by the Sixth Circuit in [Connolly title]. The panel will also address other hot topics in commercial bankruptcy cases related to claims.

Hon. John T. Gregg, Moderator

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (W.D. Mich.); Grand Rapids

Susan M. Cook

Lambert Leser, P.C.; Bay City, Mich.

Frank W. DiCastri

Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C.; Milwaukee

Anne B. Miller

Fishman Miller PC; Lake in the Hills, Ill.

 

Consumer Track

You Don’t Always Get What You Want, but if You Do It Right, You Might Get What You Deserve

Creditors seemingly rarely get paid in full in a bankruptcy, and without allowed claims, they can pretty much forget about getting anything at all. This panel will discuss the recent developments in claims litigation and strategies employed to maximize returns in bankruptcy cases for creditors (and possibly debtors).

Hon. A. Benjamin Goldgar, Moderator

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (N.D. Ill.); Chicago

Kim Morden Rattet

Trott Law; Farmington Hills, Mich.

Glenn B. Stearns

Chapter 13 Trustee; Lisle, Ill.

Craig E. Stevenson

DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C.; Madison, Wis.

I Surrender: Getting Rid of Unwanted Encumbered Property in a Consumer Bankruptcy Case

A debtor’s real property is worth less than the debt it secures. Taxes, HOA fees, fines and liability for accidents can pile up on property that a debtor can’t afford and no longer wants. This panel will examine whether a debtor can get rid of the property and these problems in bankruptcy.

Hon. John P. Gustafson, Moderator

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (N.D. Ohio); Toledo

Paul M. Bach

Paul M Bach Law Office; Northbrook, Ill.

Leslie B. Griffith

Standing Chapter 13 and 12 Trustee (W.D. Wis.); Madison

Richardo I. Kilpatrick

Kilpatrick & Associates, P.C.; Auburn Hills, Mich.

Professional Responsibility of Counsel in Consumer Cases: It Isn’t Just Filling Out Forms

Efficient and effective preparation of petitions is a core competency for debtors’ lawyers. To that end, this panel will examine such issues as counsel’s duty to investigate a debtor’s financial affairs, best practices for doing so, appropriate use of staff, avoiding ECF misuse, and the consequences of failing to discharge these duties.

Hon. Donald R. Cassling, Moderator

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (N.D. Ill.); Chicago

Adam Brief

Office of the U.S. Trustee; Chicago

Dean R. Nelson, Jr.

The Taunt Law Firm; Birmingham, Mich.

William E. Wallo

Weld Riley, S.C.; Eau Claire, Wis.

 

Repeat Concurrent Session

The Who, What, How, and Why of Bankruptcy Appeals

12:00-2:00 p.m.

Optional Event: Family Picnic

Sponsored by Development Specialists, Inc. and Shaw Fishman Glantz & Towbin LLC

Entertainment Sponsored by Freeborn & Peters LLP

1:00 p.m.

Optional Event: Golf Tournament and ABI Golf Tour

Golf Hole Sponsored by High Ridge Partners, Kerkman & Dunn, O'Keefe LLC, and Varnum LLP
Beverage Cart Sponsored by Faegre Baker Daniels LLP

1:00-5:00 p.m.

Optional Event: Wine Tour

Sponsored by Gold, Lange & Majoros, P.C

2:30-4:45 p.m.

Optional Event: Lake Geneva Private Boat Cruise

2:30-5:30 p.m.

Optional Event: Black Point Estate Tour

7:00-9:00 p.m.

Optional Event: Lake Geneva Dine-Around

Sponsored by McDonald Hopkins PLC

8:00-10:00 p.m.

Dessert Reception

Sponsored by Jenner & Block LLP
Dessert Reception Entertainment Sponsored by Barnes & Thornburg LLP

Saturday, June 18

 

Shuttle to Downtown Lake Geneva

Sponsored by Meltzer Purtill & Stelle LLC

7:15-8:00 a.m.

Breakfast

Sponsored by Greenberg Traurig, LLP and Perkins Coie LLP

7:45-8:00 a.m.

Morning Announcements

8:00-9:30 a.m.

Chapter 9: Coming to a City Near You?

As the financial health of many of our municipalities continues to deteriorate, this very timely discussion, with experts experienced in the largest cases, will provide the pros and cons of a chapter 9 filing.

Robert M. Fishman, Moderator

Shaw Fishman Glantz & Towbin LLC; Chicago

Hon. Thomas B. Bennett (ret.)

Bailey Glasser LLP; Washington, D.C.

Hon. Elizabeth L. Perris (ret.)

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (D. Ore.); Portland

Hon. Alan C. Stout

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (W.D. Ky.); Louisville

9:30-10:45 a.m.

Concurrent Session (7)

 

Business Track

Sales, Sales and More Sales

Topics will include § 363 sale best practices to avoid Family Christian pitfalls, notice issues in light of Motors Liquidation Co., finding creditor consent, identifying highest and best offers, reopening an auction, and post-sale issues such as structured dismissals without a plan.

Carrianne Basler

AlixPartners, LLP; Chicago

Richard S. Lauter

Freeborn & Peters LLP; Chicago

Michael P. O’Neil

Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP; Indianapolis

Nancy A. Peterman

Greenberg Traurig, LLP; Chicago

 

Disclosure, Conflicts and Other Ethical Problems in Commercial Bankruptcy Cases: Avoiding Litigation, Disgorgement and Malpractice

Getting to Confirmation: Why Do They Keep Moving the Finish Line On Me?

Substantial Contribution Claims

 

Consumer Track

You Don’t Always Get What You Want, but if You Do It Right, You Might Get What You Deserve

I Surrender: Getting Rid of Unwanted Encumbered Property in a Consumer Bankruptcy Case

Professional Responsibility of Counsel in Consumer Cases: It Isn’t Just Filling Out Forms

10:45-11:00 a.m.

Refreshment Break

Sponsored by Ice Miller LLP

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

Repeat Concurrent Sessions (7)

 

Business Track

Sales, Sales and More Sales

The Intersection of Limited Liability Companies and Bankruptcy

Individual Chapter 11 Cases: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

 

Consumer Track

Death and Taxes

Discovery: It’s a Whole New Ballgame

The Intersection of Bankruptcy and Divorce: When Worlds Collide

Headaches, Relief and Other Remedies: Let’s Look in That Medicine Cabinet Again

2:00-3:00 p.m.

Optional Event: Horseback Riding at Dan Patch Stables

2:00-5:00 p.m.

3rd Annual Tour de ABI Bicycling Outing

Sponsored by Commercial Recovery Associates, LLC and Law Office of Deborah Kanner Ebner

5:30-9:00 p.m.

Optional Event: Kids’ Night Out

7:00-9:00 p.m.

Optional Event: Lake Geneva Dine-Around

7:00-9:00 p.m.

Speaker/Sponsor Reception (by invitation only)

Sponsored by Godfrey & Kahn SC

8:30-10:00 p.m.

Bonfire and S’mores Social

Sponsored by Lakelaw

Sunday, June 19

8:30-10:00 a.m.

Breakfast with a Judge

Sponsored by Krieg DeVault

Pick a table, topic and a judge for an informal conversation over a hot breakfast.

Hon. Thomas B. Bennett (ret.)

Bailey Glasser LLP; Washington, D.C.

Hon. Donald R. Cassling

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (N.D. Ill.); Chicago

Hon. Catherine J. Furay

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (W.D. Wis.); Eau Claire

Hon. A. Benjamin Goldgar

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (N.D. Ill.); Chicago

Hon. John P. Gustafson

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (N.D. Ohio); Toledo

Hon. Philip Klingeberger

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (N.D. Ind.); Hammond

Hon. Margaret Dee McGarity

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (E.D. Wis.); Milwaukee

Hon. Elizabeth L. Perris (ret.)

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (D. Ore.); Portland

Hon. Phillip J. Shefferly

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (E.D. Mich.); Detroit

Hon. Alan C. Stout

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (W.D. Ky.); Louisville

10:00 a.m.

Adjourn

 

2016 Workshop Chairs

Hon. Mary Ann Whipple, Judicial Chair

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (N.D. Ohio); Toledo

Paul G. Swanson, Program Chair

Steinhilber, Mares, Resop & Sipsma

Hon. Donald R. Cassling, Judicial Board Chair

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (N.D. Ill.); Chicago

Stuart A. Gold, Advisory Board Chair

Gold Lange & Majoros, P.C.; Southfield, Mich.

2016 Advisory Board

A. Todd Almassian

Keller & Almassian, PLC; Grand Rapids, MI

Carla O. Andres

Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.; Green Bay, Wis.

Bernadette M. Barron

Barron Business Consulting, Inc.; Chicago

Chris L. Blacker

AlixPartners, LLP; Chicago

Winnifred P. Boylan

Lambert Leser, Attorneys at Law; Bay City, Mich.

Jonathan T. Brand

Transworld Systems, Inc.; Lake Forest, Ill.

Tracy M. Clark

Steinberg Shapiro & Clark; Southfield, Mich.

Karen E. Evangelista

Karen E. Evangelista, PC; Rochester, Mich.

Matthew T. Gensburg

Dale & Gensburg, P.C.; Chicago

Stephen M. Gross

McDonald Hopkins LLC; Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

Terry E. Hall

Faegre Baker Daniels; Indianapolis

Richard E. Kruger

Jaffe Raitt Heuer Weiss; Southfield, Mich.

Richard S. Lauter

Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP; Chicago, IL

Barry P. Lefkowitz

BL Consultants; Birmingham, Mich.

Jim A. Lodoen

Lindquist & Vennum LLP; Minneapolis

Laura Marcero

Huron Consulting Group Inc.; Troy, Mich.

Alex D. Moglia

Moglia Advisors; Schaumburg, Ill.

C. Daniel Motsinger

Krieg DeVault; Indianapolis

Richard D. Nelson

Cohen, Todd, Kite & Stanford, LLC; Cincinnati

David M. Powlen

Barnes & Thornburg LLP; Wilmington, Del.

Mark L. Radtke

Shaw Fishman Glantz & Towbin LLC; Chicago

Shawn M. Riley

McDonald Hopkins LLC; Cleveland

Melissa M. Root

Jenner & Block; Chicago

Hon. John H. Squires (ret.)

Springer Brown LLC; Wheaton, Ill.

Eric. E. Walker

Perkins Coie LLP; Chicago

Thomas G. Wallrich

Cozen O’Connor; Minneapolis

Robert A. Weisberg

Carson Fischer, P.L.C.; Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

Scott A. Wolfson

Wolfson Bolton PLLC; Troy, Mich.

Craig E. Zucker

Erman, Teicher, Zucker & Freedman, P.C.; Southfield, Mich.

 

Optional Events

Young & New Members Beer Tasting at Sprecher’s Restaurant & Pub

Thursday, June 16, 4:00-6:00 p.m.

Take part in Milwaukee’s great brewing tradition at Sprecher’s! The $60 fee includes transportation and tasting. Please check the appropriate box on the registration form.

Yerkes Observatory Tour

Sponsored by Fishman Miller PC

Thursday, June 16, 8:00-10:30 p.m.

From the dark confines of Yerkes Observatory, one may get superb views of planets, constellations, hundreds of stars, occasional sporadic meteor streaks, the Milky Way, and, occasionally, the moving, bright International Space Station or other artificial satellite visible to the unaided eye. You might wish to bring a pair of binoculars to enhance your stargazing experience. Participants should bring a light jacket or sweatshirt, as we will be spending time outside and within an unheated dome, and even summer nights could be chilly! Sensible shoes are highly encouraged; no high heels or flip-flops, please. The $30 fee includes transportation and tour. Please check the appropriate box on the registration form. This event requires a minimum number of attendees. If this minimum is not met, the event will not be held, and you will be refunded any fees and notified two weeks prior.

Golf Tournament

Golf Hole Sponsored by High Ridge Partners
Beverage Cart Sponsored by Faegre Baker Daniels LLP

Friday, June 17, 1:00 p.m.

The annual Golf Tournament will be held at the Highlands Course. Originally designed by Jack Nicklaus and Pete Dye, this Scottish-style course was transformed in 1996 by Bob Cupp and was recently updated in 2006 by Bob Lohmann, with major renovations completed on holes 9, 12 and 15. The $150 fee for golf includes green fee and cart, box lunch and beverage, and prizes. Please check the appropriate box on the registration form to play, and indicate your handicap. For those participating in the 2016 ABI Golf Tour, this will be the second stop on the tour. Please check the ABI Golf Tour box on the registration form, and indicate your handicap.

Wine Tour

Sponsored by Gold, Lange & Majoros, P.C.

Friday, June 17, 1:00-5:00 p.m.

Enjoy an afternoon at Staller Estate Vineyard and Winery. Located near Delavan and Lake Geneva, the Staller Estate Winery is the perfect place to enjoy some of the best wine in Wisconsin while taking in the beautiful and relaxing scenery. The cost of the tour is $50 per person and includes transportation, tour, tastings and a charcuterie picnic platter. Please check the appropriate box on the registration form.

Lake Geneva Private Boat Cruise

Friday, June 17, 2:30-4:45 p.m.

Relax and enjoy all the scenic beauty of lovely Geneva Lake. The cost is $65 per person and includes transportation, tour and gratuities. Please check the appropriate box on the registration form. This event requires a minimum number of attendees. If this minimum is not met, the event will not be held, and you will be refunded any fees and notified by May 12.

Black Point Estate Private Tour

Friday, June 17, 2:30-5:30 p.m.

Explore Black Point Estate and tour one of the finest examples of Queen Anne architecture while viewing one of the most intact collections of Victorian furnishings in the Midwest. The $35-per-person fee includes transportation, tour and gratuities. Please check the appropriate box on the registration form. This event requires a minimum number of attendees. If this minimum is not met, the event will not be held, and you will be refunded any fees and notified two weeks prior.

Lake Geneva Dine-Around

Friday, June 17, 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Saturday, June 18, 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Get out and sample two of the area’s most popular restaurants! Space is limited to 10 participants per restaurant. The cost for dinner is $60 per person and includes transportation, dinner and gratuity.

Paisanos

Enjoy delectable authentic Italian cuisine in a beautifully decorated bistro.

Medusas

Featuring a blend of Mediterranean and American cuisine, all dishes are prepared from fresh ingredients that arrive in the kitchen on a daily basis. Medusa offers “fine dining” flavors in a more casual setting.

Horseback Riding at Dan Patch Stables

Saturday, June 18, 2:00-3:00 p.m.

Dan Patch Stables offers experienced guides that are very familiar with the horses and will help you choose just the right horse. The 50-minute guided trail rides offer a scenic view of hundreds of acres of beautiful Grand Geneva property. The cost for this event is $40 per person, which includes guided ride and gratuities. Please check the appropriate box on the registration form. This event requires a minimum number of attendees. If this minimum is not met, the event will not be held, and you will be refunded any fees and notified two weeks prior.

Tour de ABI Bicycling Outing

Saturday, June 18, 2:00-5:00 p.m.

Sponsored by Commercial Recovery Associates, LLC and Law Office of Deborah Kanner Ebner

The $20-per-person fee includes guide, t-shirt, water bottle and gratuities. Please check the appropriate box on the registration form.

Kids’ Night Out

Saturday, June 18, 5:30-9:30 p.m.

Date Night! Kids 6 years and older will enjoy dinner and a movie while you enjoy a night out on the town or a peaceful night at the resort. The cost is $25 per child and includes dinner and a movie. Please check the appropriate box on the registration form. This event requires a minimum number of attendees. If this minimum is not met, the event will not be held, and you will be refunded any fees and notified two weeks prior.

“Kids Are Grand” Child Care Program

A daily program just for kids! The Grand Geneva Resort & Spa offers its Kids Are Grand program, which provides daily junior escapades designed to inspire children to be creative and innovative. From its Culinary Junior Escapade to its Quick as a Fox Nature Adventure Game, kids are continually learning and discovering their very own sense of creativity and innovation! While parents enjoy golfing, a spa treatment or a romantic dinner, they can have peace of mind knowing that their little ones are having fun and learning with our high-energy Kids Are Grand team members! The cost for children 4 year of age and older is $10 per hour for the first child. Each additional child in the same family is $5 per hour. Children under the age of 4 are always $10. Reservations are required with at least 24 hours’ notice, or call for availability on the day of the event. Kids Are Grand is located on the lower level of the WELL Spa + Fitness Center. To make reservations, please call Kids Are Grand at (262) 249-4560, extension 3830, or email [email protected].

 

Conference Information

Hotel

Grand Geneva Resort, conveniently located in Lake Geneva, Wis., near Chicago and Milwaukee, is a AAA Four-Diamond resort offering superb guest accommodations. ABI has arranged a special conference rate of $229 single/double (Deluxe Rooms) per night. A group rate is also available for 1- and 2-bedroom suites at Timber Ridge Lodge & Waterpark ($229 for one-bedroom and $329 for two-bedroom). Contact ABI for Timber Ridge availability. Make your reservations by May 16, 2016, to reserve the special rate. ABI cannot guarantee anyone a room after the May 16 cutoff or after the specially rated ABI block has been filled. You will receive a special room reservation link after you have registered with ABI.

 

Spa Discount: The Grand Geneva Resort & Spa has graciously extended attendees a 10% discount off spa treatments (60 minutes or longer). As the spa sells out on a daily basis, please contact them in advance at (262) 248-8811 and ask for Spa Reservations. To receive the 10% group discount, please let a spa concierge know that you are with the American Bankruptcy Institute 2016 Central States Bankruptcy Workshop.

Air and Ground Transportation

Air: Grand Geneva Resort is just an hour’s drive from Milwaukee’s General Mitchell Airport (MKE) and less than 90 minutes from Chicago’s O’Hare Airport (ORD).

 

Ground: Rental car discounts are available with the following companies: Avis Worldwide: www.avis.com, discount number (AWD) T312900; Budget: www.budget.com, discount number (BCD) Z823091; and Enterprise: www.enterprise.com, account number 16RH314 and pin AME.

Continuing Education Credit

9.25 hours of CLE credit, including 1.25 hours of ethics, are pending in states calculating CLE on a 60-minute hour, and 11 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. NY MCLE: This transitional and non-transitional program has been approved in accordance with the requirements of the CLE Board for a maximum of 11 credit hours, of which 1.5 hours of credit can be applied toward the ethics professionalism requirement. California MCLE: ABI certifies that this activity has been approved for MCLE credit in the amount of 9.25 hours, of which 1.25 hours will apply to ethics. 11 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 in 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, ABI may allow the individual to work at the 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. Financial assistance is available for this program. For more information, please contact the American Bankruptcy Institute at (703) 739-0800 or send an e-mail to [email protected].

Cancellation Policy

All fees, except a $75 handling fee, will be refunded if written notice of cancellation is received by May 26, 2016. No refunds will be granted after May 26, but substitutions will be allowed. After May 26, upon written request, a coupon for 20% off the registration fee (not including optional events) will be issued, which can be used (by the canceling registrant only) for any ABI educational program up to one year after this conference, or for this same conference next year.

Attorney Specialist Certification

The American Board of Certification (ABC) will offer its business bankruptcy, consumer bankruptcy and creditors’ rights exam at Grand Geneva Resort and Spa on June 16, 2016, from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Details on the certification process, exam composition and 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

June 16, 2016, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. • Grand Geneva Resort and Spa

Call (319) 365-2222 or e-mail [email protected]

___Consumer Bankruptcy Exam

___Business Bankruptcy Exam

___Creditors’ Rights Exam ($125 exam fee)

 

Make check payable to: American Board of Certification and return with this clipping to: American Board of Certification, The American Building, 4403 1st Avenue SE, Ste. 113, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402.

 

___ Credit Card (Charge to acct. no. provided for conference)

 

A short form application and fee ($495) are also required prior to the exam. Please go to www.abcworld.org if you have not submitted the application.

 

Platinum Sponsors

Adelman & Gettleman, Ltd.
AlixPartners LLP
Carlson Dash, LLC
Clark Hill PLC
Development Specialists, Inc.
Dickinson Wright PLLC
Faegre Baker Daniels LLP
Freeborn & Peters LLP
Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Ice Miller LLP
Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss, P.C.
Jenner & Block
Krieg DeVault LLP
Lindquist & Vennum LLP
McGuireWoods LLP
MorrisAnderson
Perkins Coie LLP
Shaw Fishman Glantz & Towbin LLC
Steinhilber, Swanson Resop & Sipsma
Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C.
Wolfson Bolton PLLC

Gold Sponsors

Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Factor Law
Lakelaw
McDonald Hopkins PLC
von Briesen & Roper, s.c.
Warner Norcross & Judd LLP

Silver Sponsors

Commercial Recovery Associates, LLC
Fishman Miller PC
Gold, Lange & Majoros, P.C.
High Ridge Partners
Howard & Howard Attorneys, PLLC

Kerkman & Dunn
Law Office of Deborah Kanner Ebner
Meltzer Purtill & Stelle LLC
Murphy Desmond S.C.

O'Keefe LLC
Steinberg, Shapiro & Clark
Sweet DeMarb, LLC
Varnum LLP

Special Thanks

We extend our special thanks to AlixPartners, LLP for the conference materials on USB drives, Bloomberg BRIEF for the media partnership, Donlin, Recano & Company, Inc. for the conference app, KCC for the conference wi-fi, Sherwood Partners, LLC for sponsoring the exhibit hall, Steinberg, Shapiro & Clark and Sweet DeMarb, LLC for the cell phone charging stations, Steinhilber Swanson Resop & Sipsma for the daily e-newsletter, Thomson Reuters for the electronic educational materials, Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C. for the conference lanyards and Wilmington Trust for the conference tote bags.

 

Conference Rates

Registration Rates Early
(postmarked by 4/15/16) 		Regular
(4/16/16- 5/13/16)		 Late
(after 5/13/16)
ABI Member
$595
$645
$695
Govt./Academic/Nonprofit ABI Member
$375
$425
$475
New ABI Member*
$870
$920
$970
Govt./Academic/Nonprofit New ABI Member*
$470
$520
$570

There will be a $50 fee added to all on-site registrations.

* Includes a one-year ABI membership for first-time members — a $295 value! You must be an ABI member to attend. Membership is individual and nonrefundable. If your membership has expired, select the member rate and add in your membership renewal fee (see below).

Exhibitor Rates

ABI Member Exhibitor Registration**
$1,200
New ABI Member Exhibitor Registration***
$1,495
Additional Booth Representative
$300

** Includes one 6’ table and full registration for one booth representative.

*** Includes one 6’table, full registration for one booth representative AND one-year ABI membership.

Optional Events

 

 
Rate

Young & New Members Beer Tasting
$40
Opening Reception
Opening Reception Guest

Opening Reception Child (13 and under)
$0
$40
$20
Yerkes Observatory Tour
$30
Family Picnic
$0
Golf Tournament
Handicap ____
$150
ABI Golf Tour
Handicap ____
$150
Wine Tour
$50
Lake Geneva Private Boat Cruise
$65
Black Point Estate Tour
$35

Lake Geneva Dine-Around (Friday)

Paisanos
Medusa

 

$60

$60

Dessert Reception

Dessert Reception Guest

$0

$15
Dessert Reception Child

$10
Horseback Riding
$40
Tour de ABI Bicycling Outing
$20
Kids’ Night Out
$25

Lake Geneva Dine-Around (Saturday)

Paisanos
Medusa

 

$60

$60

Bonfire and S’mores Social

S’mores Guest
S’mores Child

$0

$10

$10

ABI DEFINES A “GUEST” AS A SPOUSE, CHILD OR COMPANION — NOT A PROFESSIONAL COLLEAGUE. A professional colleague is defined as someone who consults with or is employed by an organization whose members are eligible for ABI membership. If a professional colleague is found to be registered as a guest, ABI reserves the right to cancel his or her event registration. Any person not meeting the criteria of “guest” who wishes to participate in any ABI function at the conference is required to register separately at the full conference rate.

 

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