7th Annual Mid-Level Professional Development Program

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ABI’s Mid-Level Professional Development program is returning again to Chicago! Join us in the Windy City for this unique program geared specifically toward mid-level insolvency and restructuring professionals, lawyers and financial advisors. Featuring both technical and career-advancement sessions, the conference offers attendees an opportunity to learn critical skills from some of the country’s top judges, attorneys, financial advisors, investment bankers, restructuring professionals and clients. Space is limited, so register today and don't miss this one-of-a-kind event!

Approval for approximately 7.5/9 hours of CLE/CPE is pending.

Sessions

Wednesday, October 28

8:00-8:45 a.m.

Continental Breakfast and Registration

8:45-9:00 a.m.

Welcome Address

9:00-10:00 a.m.

Momentive: Revisiting Till and Secured Creditor Cramdown

The Momentive decision is one of the most momentous decisions concerning secured creditor cramdown in recent years. This panel will review the Supreme Court’s Till decision and post-Till developments and explore the Momentive decision, focusing on the decision’s impact on and importance for future restructurings.

Andrew Scruton, Moderator

FTI Consulting, Inc.; New York

William Q. Derrough

Moelis & Company; New York

Dennis F. Dunne

Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP; New York

Matthew A. Feldman

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP; New York

David Hilty

Houlihan Lokey; New York

10:00-10:15 a.m.

Coffee Break

10:15-11:25 a.m.

Oil and Gas Restructurings: Unique and Complex Capital Structures and Challenges

This panel will explore the oil and gas industry from a restructuring perspective. The panel will also examine the unique and complex capital structures that are frequently present in oil and gas companies, which present challenges for the restructuring practitioner. Finally, the panel will review the basic features of pertinent legal documentation, including the rights and remedies of the players in this space, that must be accounted for in devising restructuring solutions.

Michael O'Hara, Moderator

The Blackstone Group; New York

Jeff Huddleston

Conway MacKenzie; Houston, TX

Duston K. McFaul

Sidley Austin; Houston, TX

Karim Rashid

Intrepid Financial Partners; Houston, TX

Joshua Alexander Sussberg

Kirkland & Ellis LLP; New York

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Business Development: From Developing a Watch List to Making the Pitch

From developing a watch list to distinguishing your firm in a pitch setting, our panel of experienced business generators will share their best practices and tips.

Roger G. Schwartz, Moderator

Latham & Watkins LLP; New York

Lisa B. Neimark

Duff & Phelps, LLC; Chicago

Neil Luria

SOLIC Capital Advisors, LLC; Evanston, IL

Ron E. Meisler

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP; Chicago

Nancy A. Peterman

Greenberg Traurig, LLP; Chicago

12:30-1:45 p.m.

Keynote Presentation

Kurt Summers

City of Chicago Treasurer and head of the City and Board of Education Pension Funds

1:45-3:00 p.m.

Coal Mining

2015 marks an unprecedented year of distress for the entire coal mining industry. During this session, the panel will provide the audience with a complete picture of the major operational, financial, legal, and regulatory issues that have led to the present state of the industry and offer a glimpse into how these issues might impact restructurings in the industry and the overall health of the industry for years to come.

Ray Dombrowski, Moderator

Alvarez & Marsal; New York

Tyler Cowan

Lazard; Chicago

Brad B. Erens

Jones Day; Chicago

Brian M. Resnick

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP; New York

3:05-4:15 p.m.

Judges’ Panel

Hon. C. Ray Mullins, Moderator

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (N.D. Ga.); Atlanta

Hon. Pamela Pepper

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

Hon. John T. Gregg

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

4:15-4:30 p.m.

Refreshment Break

4:30-5:30 p.m.

Supreme Court Update: Review of Recent Bankruptcy-Related Decisions

From issues of consent and matters of constitutional authority, to the all-important topic of professionals’ fees, the Supreme Court considered a number of issues critical to restructuring attorneys and advisors in 2015. Our panel of Supreme Court advocates and bankruptcy scholars will weigh in on the Court’s most recent term and provide expert analysis of the Court’s opinions and their applicability to everyday practice.

Hon. Eugene R. Wedoff, Moderator

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

David M. Neff

Perkins Coie LLP; Chicago

Prof. John A.E. Pottow

University of Michigan Law School; Ann Arbor, MI

Catherine L. Steege

Jenner & Block LLP; Chicago

Prof. Charles Jordan Tabb

University of Illinois College of Law; Champaign, IL

5:30-6:30 p.m.

Networking Reception

Judicial Chairs

Hon. C. Ray Mullins

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (N.D. Ga.); Atlanta

Co-Chairs

Jessica C.K. Boelter

Sidley Austin LLP; Chicago

Matthew J. Hart

Intrepid Financial Partners; New York

Melissa M. Root

Jenner & Block LLP; Chicago

Justin Schmaltz

Alvarez & Marsal; Chicago

Advisory Board

James Baird

Blackstone; New York

Michael C. Buenzow

FTI Consulting, Inc.; Chicago

Kevin M. Carmody

McKinsey & Company; Chicago

John A. Dischner

AlixPartners LLP; Chicago

Will Guerrieri

Kirkland & Ellis LLP; Chicago

Timothy Hoffman

Jones Day; Chicago

Paul J. Keenan

Greenberg Traurig, LLP; Miami

Robert J. Lemons

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP; New York

Jennifer McConnell

Mesirow Financial Consulting, LLC; Chicago

Michelle M. McGreal

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP; New York

Ron E. Meisler

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP; Chicago

Mark L. Radtke

Shaw Fishman Glantz & Towbin LLC; Chicago

Caroline A. Reckler

Latham & Watkins LLP; Chicago

Nathan Q. Rugg

Adelman & Gettleman, Ltd.; Chicago

Ryan Sandahl

Houlihan Lokey; Chicago

Conference Information

Location

The conference will be held at the Jenner & Block LLP Conference Center, located at 353 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654

Continuing Education Credit

7.5 hours of general CLE credit are pending in states calculating CLE on a 60-minute hour, and 9 hours of general CLE credit 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 9 credit hours. California MCLE: ABI certifies that this activity has been approved for MCLE credit in the amount of 7.5 hours. 9 hours of CPE credit 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.

Financial Hardship Statement

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. Financial assistance is available for this program; all applications for financial assistance must be submitted by October 9, 2015. 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. 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 more information or to request an application, please contact the American Bankruptcy Institute at (703) 739-0800 or send an email to [email protected].

Cancellation Policy

All fees, except a $75 handling fee, will be refunded if written notice of cancellation is received by October 9, 2015. No refunds will be granted after October 9, but substitutions will be allowed. After October 9, 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.

Gold Sponsors

Adelman & Gettleman, Ltd.
Development Specialists, Inc
FTI Consulting, Inc.
Jenner & Block
Sidley Austin LLP

Silver Sponsors

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
Shaw Fishman Glantz & Towbin LLC

Special Thanks

We extend our special thanks to Bloomberg BRIEF for the media partnership, Conway MacKenzie/Variant Capital Advisors LLC for the educational materials on thumb drives, West, a Thomson Reuters business for the educational materials and Wilmington Trust for the tote bags.

Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Conatct Jennifer Guirguis at [email protected] for more information.

Rates

Registration Rates*	Early (until 9/18/15)	Regular (after9/18/15)

ABI Member	$295	$345
Gov’t./Aca./Nonprofit Member	$245	$295
New ABI Member*	$570	$620
Govt./Aca./Nonprofit New ABI Member**	$340	$390

*Includes a one-year ABI membership for first-time members — a $295 value! Expired members should select the member rate and add in the membership renewal fee. You must be an ABI member to attend the conference. Membership is individual and nonrefundable.

Sending more than three people? Ask us about group discounts! Contact Jennifer Guirguis at [email protected] for more information.