23rd Annual Northeast Bankruptcy Conference

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23rd Annual Northeast Bankruptcy Conference

July 14-17, 2016 Omni Mount Washington Resort, Bretton Woods, N.H.

Please join us for the 23rd Annual Northeast Bankruptcy Conference and 11th Annual Northeast Consumer Forum, back at the Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire! 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 top-notch conference with networking opportunities galore!

An oldie but a goodie, the Mt. Washington resort has been brought back to its glory days by the Omni group. The Omni Mount Washington has a gracious ambiance and generous amenities that are as grand as its history. Set amid nearly 800,000 acres of White Mountain National Forest, the resort offers numerous recreational activities, including mountain biking, horseback riding, disc golf, hiking/walking, fly-fishing, rock climbing and just plain exploring! Is the great outdoors not for you? Introduce — or reintroduce — yourself to the resort’s luxurious spa or outdoor pool. There truly is something for everyone here!

NOTICE: For information on the Northeast Consumer Forum, click here. 11th Annual Northeast Consumer Forum

Sessions

Event Information 238537

Thursday, July 14

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.

6:00-7:30 p.m.

Opening Reception

Sponsored by Choate Hall & Stewart LLP, Duane Morris LLP and Nixon Peabody LLP
Bar sponsored by Sullivan & Worcester

Friday, July 15

6:30-7:30 a.m.

Breakfast

Sponsored by Murtha Cullina LLP and WilmerHale

7:30-9:05 a.m.

Plenary Session

Practicing in the Limelight: The Challenges Faced in Cases Involving High-Profile Debtors

Representing public figures whose livelihoods depend on their public image and in remaining in the public eye, or individuals thrust into the public eye by perceived scandal, presents particular challenges to their bankruptcy lawyers. Flamboyance tends to catch the eye of judges and creditors, as well as fans and entertainment reporters. Scandal is a national pastime, so high-profile debtors catch the eyes of everybody. Representing creditors in those cases, and managing their expectations when outward appearances suggest no shortage of resources either because fame is equated with fortune or preservation of ill-gotten gains is presumed, also presents its own set of challenges. This multimedia session will be presented by lawyers who have lived through some of the highest-profile cases of recent years, and includes counsel in cases involving those who sought out the limelight, such as 50 Cent, Mike Tyson and Bob Guccione, and those who were thrust into it, such as David Drumm of Anglo-Irish Bank.

Robert J. Feinstein, Moderator

Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones LLP; New York

James Berman

Zeisler & Zeisler, P.C.; Bridgeport, Conn.

Hon. Hannah L. Blumenstiel

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (N.D. Cal.); San Francisco

Kristin B. Mayhew

McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter, LLP; Southport, Conn.

Francis C. Morrissey

Morrissey, Wilson & Zafiropoulos LLP; Braintree, Mass.

9:15-9:30 a.m.

Coffee Break

Sponsored by Murphy & King, PC

9:30-10:45 a.m.

Business Track Sessions (4)

“Sub Rosa Plans”: Their Impact in, and Provision of a Potential Alternate Exit Strategy from, Chapter 11

This program will explore the boundaries of the sub rosa plan doctrine in a variety of contexts potentially arising in chapter 11 cases. The focus will be on efforts to resolve the relationship of the debtor to all or many of its creditor constituencies and equity-holders that arguably deviate from the priority and procedural schemes of the Bankruptcy Code. Included among the areas examined will be (1) secured creditor/acquirer carve-out and/or gifting agreements, (2) structured dismissals following § 363 sales, (3) settlements of significant or global controversies, (4) lock-up and plan-support agreements, and (5) significant distribution or settlement arrangements made in the context of DIP financing or asset sales made jointly with nondebtor parties.

Adrienne K. Walker, Moderator

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

Christopher M. Candon

Sheehan Phinney Bass + Green PA; Manchester, N.H.

Hon. Edward A. Godoy

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

William R. Moorman, Jr.

Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP; Boston

Financial Advisory Panel: Curing the Cause and Not Just Treating the Symptoms — How to Fix the Business Issues and Not Just Adjust the Balance Sheet

The Bankruptcy Code offers a variety of means for addressing balance-sheet issues. Its provisions for dealing with the operational issues that caused those balance-sheet problems are more limited, however. This session will discuss the diagnostic tools available to identify operational problems, with a particular focus on the primary methodology generally used by financial professionals: the “operational review.” Rather than just addressing the symptoms, an operational review primarily focuses on the root causes of a distressed/insolvent company, and provides an outline for action plans that management and the turnaround team can execute in the recovery process. The session will also address the legal and financial issues that should be considered and resolved in dealing with some of the most often-seen problems, which frequently include stale management, poor strategy, a lack of productivity focus, and deficient information infrastructure. The panel will discuss such implementation-process issues as severance and other employment issues presented in offloading stale management, as well as board fiduciary duty issues arising from receiving the results of the operational review and addressing, or not addressing, the issues identified. The panel seeks to discuss the best ways to effectively restore companies and enhance cash flow beyond the traditional and common expense-cutting methods.

Mark F. Stickney, Moderator

Spinglass Management Group, LLC; Portland, Maine

Leslie Ann Berkoff

Moritt Hock & Hamroff LLP; Garden City, N.Y.

William H. Henrich

Getzler Henrich & Associates LLC; New York

Hon. Julie A. Manning

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (D. Conn.); New Haven

Walter P. Schuppe

CapitalSource Finance LLC; Farmington, Conn.

Small Commercial Chapter 11 Panel: A Decent Burial — Winding Up the Small Business Debtor

In the Massachusetts economy of the 21st century, insolvency professionals are increasingly called upon after it is too late to save a small business. Thus, our practice is increasingly liquidation-focused, requiring the professional to seek to engage in a process that both tightly controls cost and maximizes value. This panel will explore some of the challenges faced in this area, and will focus on such topics as developments in out-of court liquidations (ABCs, self-managed liquidations and other possible structures), setting up a sale process and the prospects for a viable auction, disposition of intellectual property (particularly where the IP portfolio is of limited value) and other unique assets such as liquor licenses, the liquidation of nonprofit debtors, and the possible use of chapter 7 as an effective disposition tool.

Hon. Diane Finkle

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

Michael J. Goldberg

Casner & Edwards, LLP; Boston

John G. Loughnane

Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP; Boston

David Peress

Hilco Streambank, LLC; Dedham, Mass

Robert P. Wexler

The Tron Group; Boston

Emerging Professionals Panel: Show Me the Money — Understanding, Structuring and Getting Approval for Debtor-in-Possession Financing

This panel will explore DIP issues in a chapter 11 case and is intended to provide both fundamental information and an overview of emerging issues, including: What is the primary analysis that needs to be undertaken? How do you assess a 13-week cash flow? Who are your potential lenders, and what are the potential terms? What are the pitfalls and areas of concern for other parties in interest, the U.S. Trustee and the court?

Natalie B. Sawyer, Moderator

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

Eric A.W. Danner

Deloitte CRG; Boston

Julia Frost-Davies

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP; Boston

Anne Marie Dirsa

Office of the U.S. Trustee; New York

D. Ethan Jeffery

Murphy & King, PC; Boston

Hon. Elizabeth S. Stong

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (E.D.N.Y.); Brooklyn

 

Consumer Track

A Collision Between Two Worlds: Estate Planning vs. Bankruptcy

This panel will explore the conflicts of law between estate planning and bankruptcy. Debtor’s counsel, beware: Life estate, remainder interest, trust or power of attorney may not be safe in bankruptcy. The panel will examine recent bankruptcy cases addressing the validity of estate-planning techniques designed to protect assets that then wreak havoc on pre-bankruptcy planning, timing and chapter selection and that can have significant implications on debtors and their nonfiling family members.

Donald R. Lassman, Moderator

Law Office of Donald R. Lassman; Needham, Mass.

Nadine Champagne

Law Office of Nadine Champagne; Roslindale, Mass.

Hon. Michael A. Fagone

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

Nancy H. Michels

Parnell, Michels & McKay, PLLC; Londonderry, N.H.

10:45-11:00 a.m.

Coffee Break

Sponsored by Goulston & Storrs PC

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

Business Track Sessions (4)

Current Issues in Oil and Gas Bankruptcies

Oil, gas and energy are the hottest areas in bankruptcy right now. As this is an industry that suffers from volatile market conditions, with its earnings linked to ever-depleting reserves, companies involved in or dependent on the exploration, development and production of oil and gas present unique issues for the bankruptcy practitioner. This panel will include the viewpoints of legal professionals from both the debtor and the creditor sides, an economist focused on the oil and gas sector, and a trust administrator with a large energy portfolio under management. The presentation will start with an introduction to oil and gas chapter 11 cases, identifying the players, the lexicon and the deal documents. The focus will then turn to the impact of the Bankruptcy Code on title to oil and gas interests, liens that can interfere with the estate’s rights, determination about whether oil and gas industry contracts are executory contracts (including assumption or rejection of midstream gathering agreements and oil and gas leases), the impact of § 541(b)(4) provisions that exclude from property of the estate certain rights of holders of farmed-out agreements and production payments, and plugging and abandonment obligations. Finally, the panel will discuss how the industry got to its present state, its outlook going forward, and how market turmoil has impacted related sectors such as power generation.

Richard C. Pedone, Moderator

Nixon Peabody LLP; Boston

Erica J. Goodstein

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC; Brooklyn, N.Y.

Kenneth W. Grant II

Compass Lexecon; Boston

Robert W. Jones

Holland & Knight LLP; Dallas

Claims Litigation in Bankruptcy

This session will cover a variety of topics related to litigating claims in bankruptcy. It will explore both strategic considerations behind and the mechanics of asserting and contesting claims. Starting with the necessity and wisdom, or lack thereof, of filing proofs of claim, the program will go on to discuss the need for and sufficiency of supporting documentation, the mechanics of objecting to claims, the initial and shifting burdens of proof when a claim is contested, and the best practices in litigating contested claims from both the claimant and the estate representatives’ perspectives. The program will also cover issues regarding limitations on a bankruptcy court’s authority to adjudicate claims, estimation of claims and/or temporary allowance of claims, and late-filed claims, including the overlay of other nonbankruptcy statutes on such claims, most notably the recent case law relating to the impact of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act on late or expired claims.

Keri L. Wintle, Moderator

Duane Morris LLP; Boston

Hon. Frank J. Bailey

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

William S. Gannon

William S. Gannon, PLLC; Manchester

Kenneth S. Leonetti

Foley Hoag LLP; Boston

Jessica A. Lewis

Bernstein Shur; Portland

Cutting-Edge Chapter 11 Plan Issues

This program will explore current hot-button topics relating to the drafting and confirmation of chapter 11 plans. The issues discussed will including drafting to accommodate, as well as to either encourage or discourage § 1111(b) elections, and the strategy of holders of secured claims in either making or not making that election. It will also include a discussion of third-party releases and injunctions, using recent cases in the First Circuit to illustrate when such releases are, and are not, appropriate. Finally, the panel will explore the tension between class-skipping carve-outs or “gifts” and the requirements of confirmation, how to deal with corporate debt defined by § 1141(d)(6) as being not dischargeable, compensation of committee members and the role of existing equity.

Benjamin W. Loveland, Moderator

WilmerHale; Boston

Hon. Christopher J. Panos

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

William P. Weintraub

Goodwin Procter LLP; New York

Amy A. Zuccarello

Sullivan & Worcester; Boston

International Aspects of U.S. Bankruptcy Cases: Is a U.S. Bankruptcy Court the Proverbial Roaring Deaf Lion in the International Forest?

This panel will explore the breadth and limitations of U.S. Bankruptcy Code and U.S. bankruptcy court reach in the international community. There will be no discussion of chapter 15; rather, the panel will cover such issues as whether it is possible for a debtor to create jurisdiction in the U.S., and if so, whether it can and should maintain that jurisdiction. The panel will use recent cases in the maritime industry, such as Excel Maritime, General Maritime and TMT Procurement, as well as in the hospitality industry, such as Baha Mar and Scrub Island, to explore the reach of U.S. jurisdiction and the practical limitations imposed on a debtor and a court when a subset of the creditors do not care, and have little reason to be concerned about, what the Bankruptcy Code or a U.S. bankruptcy court order says. The panel will also consider the practical limitations imposed by cross-border issues in cases where there is undeniably U.S. jurisdiction, including what “critical foreign vendor” relief might be available even in U.S. courts that reject the critical-vendor doctrine, whether it is possible for a chapter 7 trustee to realize value from offshore assets, and whether the automatic stay, avoidance powers and free-and-clear orders have any practical impact in the international arena.

Daniel J. Saval, Moderator

Brown Rudnick LLP; New York

Lisa G. Beckerman

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP; New York

Robert G. Burns

Bracewell LLP; New York

Hon. Bruce A. Harwood

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

Grant Lyon

KRyS Global; New York

 

Consumer Track

Many Unhappy Returns: Another Hanging Paragraph Creates a Trap for Consumer Bankruptcy Lawyers

When is a tax return not a tax return? Bankruptcy can be very useful when seeking to discharge personal income tax obligations, but if the return has not been filed on time, dischargeability may be in jeopardy. Many courts have addressed this issue and have issued widely divergent views, including the First Circuit’s strict interpretation of what constitutes a tax return as announced by the majority in In re Fahey. This panel will focus on the development of the case law in the First Circuit, the information you must obtain from the taxing authority to determine when a tax return has been filed, what constitutes a return, and strategies to employ in the event that the tax return your client filed is defective and the taxes reported on that return are nondischargeable.

Anthony J. Manhart, Moderator

PretiFlaherty; Portland, Maine

Carl D. Aframe

Aframe & Barnhill, P.A.; Worcester, Mass.

Hon. Mildred Caban

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

Celine E. de la Foscade-Condon

Department of Revenue (D. Mass.); Boston

1:00 p.m.

Optional Events

Golf Tournament

Tennis Tournament

Sponsored by Huron Consulting Group

Tour de ABI

Sponsored by Goodwin Procter LLP

2:00 p.m.

Optional Event

Horseback Riding

Sponsored by Phoenix Management Services

5:00-6:00 p.m.

New Addition: Judicial And Legislative Responses To Puerto Rico’s Struggle To Allocate Scarce Financial Resources Between Bond Debt And Governmental Services

Puerto Rico is burdened by over $70 billion in debt, as well as approximately $35 billion in pension underfunding. Once the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 5278, the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA), in early June and the Senate passed it on June 29, 2016, President Obama signed the bill immediately — and just in time to address a $1.9 billion payment that was due on July 1, 2016. PROMESA offers relief to Puerto Rico, its municipalities and municipal agencies following a 10-year economic recession. This panel will describe the circumstances that led to the financial crisis, the failed effort of the Puerto Rican government to offer relief through a "state" statute that was found to be unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, and the details of how PROMESA is designed to work. The session will provide an opportunity to discuss these issues in a casual setting, including the way forward for Puerto Rico, and features a panelist who served as Hon. Steven Rhodes' expert on feasibility issues in the City of Detroit chapter 9 case.

Hon. Frank J. Bailey, Moderator

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge, (D. Mass.); Boston

Hon. Mildred Caban

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

Marti E.M. Kopacz

Phoenix Management Services, Boston

7:00-9:30 p.m.

Friday Dinner

Dinner and Entertainment sponsored by Posternak Blankstein & Lund LLP; Neubert Pepe& Monteith PC; Pullman & Comley LLC; Reid and Reige PC; Updike Kelly Spellacy PC; Zeisler & Zeisler PC
Bar sponsored by Verdolino & Lowey, P.C.

9:00 p.m.

Mountainside Bonfire

Sponsored by Devine Millimet

Saturday, July 16

6:30-7:50 a.m.

Breakfast

Sponsored by Bernstein Shur and Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.

7:50-8:50 a.m.

Plenary Session

How to Attract Clients and Referrals in a Down Market: Advice from a Law Firm Marketing Expert

Commercial chapter 11 has suffered double-digit percentage decreases in in the number of filings in each of the past three years. This plenary session will be conducted by a law firm marketing expert, who will provide advice on obtaining market share in a down market. Jim Durham, chief marketing and business development officer at Littler Mendelson and author of The Essential Little Book of Great Lawyering and The Law Firm Marketer’s Guide to Survival, will provide marketing advice, including getting known, getting referrals, maximizing client satisfaction and increasing profit.

James Durham

Littler Mendelson P.C.; Boston

9:00-9:15 a.m.

Coffee Break

Sponsored by Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP

9:15-10:30 a.m.

Business Track Repeat Sessions (4)

Current Issues in Oil and Gas Bankruptcies

Claims Litigation in Bankruptcy

Cutting-Edge Chapter 11 Plan Issues

International Aspects of U.S. Bankruptcy Cases: Is a U.S. Bankruptcy Court the Proverbial Roaring Deaf Lion in the International Forest?

 

Consumer Track

The Ethics Trifecta: How to Avoid Sanctionable Lawyer Behavior, Crossing the Line in Pre-Petition Planning, and Dangerous Conflicts of Interest

Join us as we explore three complicated areas of ethics that all attorneys should be wary of. First, we will discuss examples of sanctionable lawyer behavior and when that behavior can result in a law firm being sanctioned. Second, some pre-petition planning is necessary, obvious and required in order to advance your clients’ interests, but some planning can cross the line between permissible advocacy and fraud. How do you know where the line is so that you can represent your client to the best of your abilities and avoid trouble? Lastly, some conflicts are clear, while others are more nuanced. This panel delves into the duties regarding perilous conflicts, and steps you can take to make sure you comply with the appropriate rules of professional responsibility while still representing the best interests of the client.

Tanya Sambatakos, Moderator

Molleur Law Office; Biddeford, Maine

Hon. Peter G. Cary

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

Jonathan R. Goldsmith

Goldsmith, Katz & Argenio, P.C.; Springfield, Mass.

William K. Harrington

Office of the U.S. Trustee; New York

10:30-10:45 a.m.

Coffee Break

Sponsored by Hinckley Allen

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

Business Track Repeat Sessions (4)

“Sub Rosa Plans”: Their Impact in, and Provision of a Potential Alternate Exit Strategy from, Chapter 11

Financial Advisory Panel: Curing the Cause and Not Just Treating the Symptoms — How to Fix the Business Issues and Not Just Adjust the Balance Sheet

Small Commercial Chapter 11 Panel: A Decent Burial — Winding Up the Small Business Debtor

Emerging Professionals Panel: Show Me the Money — Understanding, Structuring and Getting Approval of Debtor-in-Possession Financing

 

Consumer Track

Keeping that Simple No-Asset Case a No-Asset Case: Recent Areas of Chapter 7 Trustee Activity

Debtors and their counsel want a smooth, quick chapter 7 experience and discharge: a simple no-asset case that will proceed promptly through a short, uneventful first meeting of creditors, to discharge and case closing in a matter of a few months. The chapter 7 trustee stands in the way, though, as he/she looks for discharges to deny and assets to pay creditors. Forewarned is forearmed: This seminar will explore recent skirmishes in the struggle between the impecunious and their trustees, including the important areas of homestead exemption and mortgage-lien avoidance, avoidance of large pre-filing family expense payments, and nondisclosure issues.

Janet J. Goldman, Moderator

Janet J. Goldman, Attorney at Law; Warwick, R.I.

Joseph H. Baldiga

Mirick O’Connell; Westborough, Mass.

Hon. J. Michael Deasy (ret.)

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

Edmond J. Ford

Ford & McPartlin, P.A.; Portsmouth, N.H.

12:30 p.m.

Optional Event

Mt. Washington Cog Railway Ride

Sponsored by Ruberto, Israel & Weiner, P.C.

1:00 p.m.

Optional Event

Canopy Tour/Zip-Line Adventure

Sponsored by Brown Rudnick LLP

2:00 p.m.

Optional Event

Horseback Riding

Sponsored by Phoenix Management Services and Sheehan Phinney Bass + Green PA

4:00-5:15 p.m.

Mountainside Chat

The Ethics of Getting Hired

This year’s mountainside chat will address recent developments in the requirements for employment of disinterestedness, disclosure and disqualification. It will focus on two recent decisions relating to the extent to which a lack of disinterestedness or the presence of an ethical conflict of one firm member is, or is not, imputed on others within the same firm, and whether there is a difference between the two. The discussion will also address different views expressed by courts on the impact of receipt of a retainer, outstanding obligations for pre-petition services, and the potential for avoidance of pre-petition payments.

Roger A. Clement, Moderator

Verrill Dana LLP; Portland, Maine

Hon. J. Michael Deasy (ret.)

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

Prof. Ingrid Michelsen Hillinger

Boston College Law School; Newton, Mass.

6:00-7:00 p.m.

Sponsor Reception (invite only)

Sponsored by Foley Hoag LLP and Spinglass Management Group, LLC

7:00-10:00 p.m.

Saturday BBQ

Sponsored by Deloitte CRG and Ropes & Gray LLP
Entertainment sponsored by Moritt Hock & Hamroff LLP

Sunday, July 17

7:00-8:30 a.m.

Breakfast

Sponsored by Gavin/Solmonese LLC

8:30-10:00 a.m.

Plenary Session

Appealing Propositions: Everything You Need to Know About Bankruptcy Appeals

This plenary session will be conducted by appellate judges, appellate clerks and appellate practitioners. It will start by exploring the types of bankruptcy court orders that can be appealed, those that cannot, and — no matter which category your order falls into — how to obtain appellate court review, and win once you do. The panel will start with a discussion of the final-order rule and a review of interlocutory orders, including the effect of the Supreme Court’s decision in Bullard. It will then address mechanics, such as ways to obtain leave to appeal, who can appeal from bankruptcy court orders, appellate standing, and where appeals go. Next, the discussion will turn to appellate options, including the differences between the district court and the BAP, and procedures for direct appeals to the circuit. Finally the panel will turn to strategic considerations, including whether and how to obtain a stay pending appeal, standards of review and procedures, and — most importantly — how to win your appeal. The appellate judges and practitioners will offer their views on best practices for brief writing and conducting persuasive oral arguments in both intermediate appellate courts and the courts of appeals for appellants, appellees, and amicus curiae, as well as common errors to avoid in oral argument. Finally, the panel will discuss procedures for petitions for certiorari to the Supreme Court and, if you ever get there, what to expect.

Hon. Joan N. Feeney, Moderator

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

Hon. Jeffrey R. Howard

First Circuit Court of Appeals; Boston

Mary P. Sharon

First Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel; Boston

James M. Wilton

Ropes & Gray LLP; Boston

10:00 a.m.

Adjourn

 

Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Contact Jennifer Guirguis at [email protected]

Optional Events

Golf Tournament

Friday, July 15, 1:00 p.m.

Take your game to a higher level at the 18-hole, par 71, Donald Ross-designed Mount Washington Course. Participants of all skill levels are encouraged to join in the tournament. The $150-per-person fee includes boxed lunch, green fee and prizes. Please check the appropriate box on the registration form to play, and indicate your handicap. For those participating in the ABI Golf Tour, this is the third stop in the 2016 Tour. Please check the ABI Golf Tour box on the registration form to participate, and indicate your handicap.

Tennis Tournament

Friday, July 15, 1:00 p.m.

Sponsored by Huron Consulting Group

Participants of all skill levels are encouraged to play in the Tennis Tournament. The $35-per-person fee includes boxed lunch, court fee and prizes. Please check the appropriate box on the registration form to play.

Tour de ABI

Friday, July 15, 1:00 p.m.

Sponsored by Goodwin Procter LLP

Join us for the annual Tour de ABI bike ride as an expert biker, or opt to enjoy a guided bike ride around the area. The ride will begin after lunch. The $35-per-person fee includes a boxed lunch; the guided option is $50 per person, which includes guide, bike rental (if you need it) and boxed lunch. Please select the appropriate box(es) on the registration form.

Mt. Washington Cog Railway Ride

Saturday, July 16, 12:30 p.m.

Sponsored by Ruberto, Israel & Weiner, P.C.

Come take a ride on The Little Train that Could! Enjoy a three-hour round-trip ride up Mt. Washington on the world’s first mountain-climbing railway. Enjoy ever-changing surroundings, magnificent views, and some of the steepest railroad tracks in existence on one of the best railway journeys. Tickets are $60 for each adult and $30 for each child, and include a boxed lunch. Please check the appropriate box on the registration form.

Canopy Tour/Zip-Line Adventure

Saturday, July 16, 1:00 p.m.

Sponsored by Brown Rudnick LLP

This thrilling adventure will give you a bird’s eye view of scenic Rosebrook Canyon. The 3.5-hour tour consists of 10 cable zip-lines and two adventure sky bridges suspended 50 feet above the forest floor. Each zip-line varies in length, with a maximum span of 830 feet. The final thrill consists of a dual zip-line cable so you can race your friends or family members to the finish line! The $100-per-person fee includes a boxed lunch. Please check the appropriate box on the registration form.

Horseback Riding

Friday, July 15, 2:00 p.m. and Saturday, July 16, 2:00 p.m.

Sponsored by Phoenix Management Services and Sheehan Phinney Bass + Green PA

Take the reins and go for a ride through one of the most scenic areas you’ll ever visit. Riders must be at least 8 years old, unless given special permission by the stablemaster. The trail ride is one hour and limited to eight people. The cost for this event is $35 per rider. Please check the appropriate box on the registration form.

 

Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Contact Jennifer Guirguis at [email protected]

Northeast Bankruptcy Conference Co-Chairs

Hon. Bruce A. Harwood

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

John J. Monaghan

Holland & Knight LLP

Elisa M. Sartori

Greenridge Financial Services LLC

Northeast Consumer Forum Co-Chairs

Shawn L. Doil

Perkins Thompson, P.A.

Donald R. Lassman

Law Office of Donald R. Lassman

Advisory Board

Patricia Antonelli

Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP

Janet E. Bostwick

Janet E. Bostwick, PC

Christopher M. Candon

Sheehan Phinney, Bass + Green PA

Paul W. Carey

Mirick O’Connell

Hon. Peter G. Cary

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (D. Maine)

Roger A. Clement

Verrill Dana LLP

Roma N. Desai

Bernstein Shur

Michael J. Epstein

Deloitte CRG

Michael J. Fencer

Jager Smith P.C.

Jeremy R. Fischer

Drummond Woodsum

Matthew R. Flynn

Verdolino & Lowey, P.C.

Julia Frost-Davies

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

Jay S. Geller

Law Office of Jay S. Geller

Michael J. Goldberg

Casner & Edwards, LLP

Douglas R. Gooding

Choate Hall & Stewart LLP

Eric A. Henzy

Reid and Riege, P.C.

D. Ethan Jeffery

Murphy & King, PC

Jeffrey L. Jonas

Brown Rudnick LLP

Gregory O. Kaden

Goulston & Storrs PC

Robert E. Kaelin

Murtha Cullina LLP

Marjorie Kaufman

Getzler Henrich & Associates LLC

Benjamin W. Loveland

WilmerHale

George J. Marcus

Marcus, Clegg & Mistretta, P.A.

Timothy J. Martin

Huron Consulting Group

William J. McLeod

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

Richard Mikels

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

James F. Molleur

Molleur Law Office

Paul D. Moore

Duane Morris LLP

William R. Moorman, Jr.

Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP

Guy B. Moss

Riemer & Braunstein LLP

Michael R. Nowlan

FTI Consulting, Inc.

Michael J. Pappone

Goodwin Procter LLP

Nina M. Parker

Parker & Associates

David T. Plastino

The Michel-Shaked Group

David Rychalsky

Capstone Partners LLC

Natalie B. Sawyer

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

Andrew Z. Schwartz

Foley Hoag LLP

Mackenzie L. Shea

K&L Gates LLP

Douglas S. Skalka

Neubert, Pepe & Monteith, P.C.

Daniel W. Sklar

Nixon Peabody LLP

Mark F. Stickney

Spinglass Management Group, LLC

Robert P. Wexler

The Tron Group

James M. Wilton

Ropes & Gray LLP

 

Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Contact Jennifer Guirguis at [email protected]

Conference Information

Hotel Accommodations

ABI has arranged for special conference rates of $382 single/$491 double per night at the Omni Mount Washington Resort; additional fees apply for additional room guests. All rates include full breakfast and dinner each night. To secure the special rates, hotel reservations must be made by June 6, 2016. 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.

 

Hotel Meal Plans/ABI Events: If you are staying at the Omni Mount Washington Resort, please remember that you are on a meal plan, which includes full breakfast and dinner each day in your room fees. Most ABI events are included in those fees. If you are not staying at any of the hotel’s properties, please let ABI know so we can arrange for you to eat at the ABI meal functions without being charged by the hotel. Please note: The Thursday night Opening Reception is not part of your meal plan, so you will need to arrange for dinner at the resort. Guest fees are additional for this reception.

Transportation

Auto: Bretton Woods is an easy drive from Portland, Manchester and Boston and is 5 hours from New York.

 

Air: The resort is located 95 miles from the Portland International Airport and about 110 miles from Manchester-Boston Regional Airport.

Cancellation Policy

All fees, except a $75 handling fee, will be refunded if notice of cancellation is received in writing by June 23, 2016. No refunds will be made if notice is received after June 23, although substitutions will be allowed. After June 23, 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 10.25 hours of CLE credit, including 1.25 hours of ethics, is pending in states calculating CLE on a 60-minute hour, and 12 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 10.25 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 12 credit hours, of which 1.5 hours of credit can be applied toward the ethics professionalism requirement. 12 hours of CPE credit, including 1.5 hours of ethics, are also available.

 

Northeast Consumer Forum: Approval for approximately 7.5 hours of CLE credit, including 2.5 hours of ethics, is pending in states calculating CLE on a 60-minute hour, and 9 hours of CLE credit, including 3 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 7.5 hours, of which 2.5 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 9 credit hours, of which 3 hours of credit can be applied toward the ethics professionalism requirement. 9 hours of CPE credit, including 3 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 the full registration fee. 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 at least 50% reduction in the registration fee. For information on tuition assistance, send an e-mail to [email protected].

ABI Northeast Scholarship Program

Limited 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 Omni Mount Washington Resort on Thursday, July 14, 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.

 

Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Contact Jennifer Guirguis at [email protected]

Benefactor

Bernstein Shur
BMS, Inc. (CA)
Brown Rudnick Berlack Israels LLP
Capstone
Casner & Edwards
Choate Hall & Stewart LLP
Deloitte CRG
Duane Morris, LLP
Foley Hoag LLP
Getzler Henrich & Associates LLC
Goodwin Procter
Goulston & Storrs PC
Hinckley Allen & Snyder
Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo PC
Moritt Hock & Hamroff LLP
Murphy & King, PC

Murtha Cullina LLP
Neubert Pepe & Monteith PC
Nixon Peabody LLP
Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP
Posternak Blankstein & Lund LLP
Polsinelli
Preti Flaherty
Pullman & Comley LLC
Reid and Reige PC
Ropes & Gray LLP
Spinglass Mgmt. Group (Portland, ME)
Sullivan & Worcester LLP
Updike Kelly Spellacy PC
Verdolino & Lowey PC
Wilmer Hale
Zeisler & Zeisler PC

Patron

Devine Millimet & Branch PA
Gavin/Solmonese
Greenridge Financial Services LLC
Holland & Knight
Mirick O'Connell
Phoenix Management Services
Riemer & Braunstein LLP
Ruberto Israel & Weiner PC
Sheehan Phinney Bass + Green PA

Sponsors

Baker Newman Noyes
Bartlett Hackett Feinberg PC
Bowditch & Dewey LLP
Drummond Woodsum
Eaton Peabody
Gary W. Cruickshank, Law Office of
Marcus Clegg & Mistretta, PA
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Morrissey, Wilson & Zafiropoulos LLP
Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP
Paul E. Sapperstein & Co.
Pearce & Dow LLC
Perkins Thompson, P.A.
Pierce Atwood LLP
Shatz, Schwartz & Fentin
Sternklar Law
Swiggart & Agin LLC
The Tron Group
Verrill Dana LLP
William S. Gannon, PLLC

Scholarship Fund Donors

Foley Hoag LLP
Mirick O'Connell
The Tron Group
Sternklar Law

Special Thanks

Media Partnership: Bloomberg Brief
Conference App Sponsor: Donlin, Recano & Company, Inc.
“At-a-Glance” Sponsor: Getzler Henrich & Associates LLC
“Live at ABI” Sponsor: Getzler Henrich & Associates LLC
Cell Phone Charging Stations: Greenridge Financial Services LLC and Mirick O'Connell
Thumb Drives: Polsinelli
Conference Wifi: Preti Flaherty
Exhibit Hall Sponsor: Sherwood Partners, Inc. / agencyIP
Conference Educational Materials Sponsor: Thomson Reuters
Conference Tote Bags: Wilmington Trust

 

Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Contact Jennifer Guirguis at [email protected]

Rates

Registration Rates Early
(postmarked by 4/29/16)
Regular
(4/30/16-6/10/16)
Late
(after 6/10/16)

ABI Member
$650
$700
$795
ABI Govt./Nonprofit ABI Member
$425
$450
$475
New ABI Member*
$925
$975
$1,070
Govt./Nonprofit New ABI Member**
$520
$545
$570

* 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.

* Registration includes meals, refreshment breaks, the Opening Reception, the Friday Dinner, the Saturday BBQ and the written materials.

Exhibitor Rates

ABI Member Exhibitor Registration***
$1,600
New ABI Member Exhibitor Registration****
$1,895
Additional Booth Representative
$375

*** 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.

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.

If you are interested in exhibiting, please contact Jennifer Guirguis at [email protected]