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EIGHTEEN BANKRUPTCY JUDGES FEATURED AT ABI’S “BANKRUPTCY 2007: VIEWS FROM THE BENCH” CONFERENCE

June 13, 2007, Alexandria, Va. — Eighteen bankruptcy judges will participate at the American Bankruptcy Institute’s “Bankruptcy 2007: Views from the Bench” on Oct. 5 at The Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. David R. Kuney of Sidley Austin LLP (Washington, D.C.) is the program chair for the conference. Attendees will have the opportunity to earn 7.0 CLE credits, including 1.0 hour of ethics, at the conference. Those who cannot attend the program in person can participate via live Webcast.

Panel sessions include:

“Distressed Debt and Related Issues: Disclosure of purchase price; rights offerings; make-whole provisions; pension, health and medical claims” will be moderated by Jay M. Goffman of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP (New York) and facilitated by Dierdre A. Martini of CIT Group, Inc. (New York). Session panelists include Bankruptcy Judges Kevin J. Carey (D. Del.), Robert D. Drain (S.D.N.Y.) and Gregg W. Zive (D. Nev.).

Sam J. Alberts of White & Case LLP (Washington, D.C.) will moderate the “Trade Creditor Issues: Reclamation; Critical Vendors, §503(b)(9) administrative expenses; how interest of trade creditors may be affected by increased debt tranching and rise of nontraditional bankruptcy participants” session with facilitator Michael L. Bernstein of Arnold & Porter LLP (Washington, D.C.) and panelists Bankruptcy Judges Nancy V. Alquist (D. Md.), Michael J. Kaplan (W.D.N.Y.) and Robert G. Mayer (E.D. Va.).

Bankruptcy Judges Carla E. Craig (E.D.N.Y.), Mary F. Walrath (D. Del.) and Judith H. Wizmur (D. N.J.) will participate as panelists in the “Sales and Executory Contracts: Bidding procedures; use of findings; carve-outs; sales free and clear of successor liability claims” session moderated by Melanie L. Cyganowski of Greenberg Traurig (New York) and facilitated by Mary Joanne Dowd of Arent Fox LLP (Washington, D.C.).

Marc Abrams of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP (New York) will moderate “Inter-debtor and Inter-creditor Issues: Inter-company claims; substantive consolidation; conflicts; settlement and dispute-resolution techniques; role of ad hoc committees” with facilitator Kristin K. Going of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (Washington, D.C.). Featured panelists for the session include Bankruptcy Judges Judith K. Fitzgerald (W.D. Pa.), Arthur J. Gonzalez (S.D.N.Y.) and Kevin R. Huennekens (E.D. Va.).

“Ethics: Disclosure and disinterestedness; carve-outs; disgorgement of professional fees; rules of professional conduct” will be moderated by Richard M. Meth of Day Pitney LLP (Morristown, N.J.) with facilitator Jeffrey L. Tarkenton of Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice PLLC (Washington, D.C.). Bankruptcy judges participating on the panel session include Wendelin I. Lipp (D. Md.), S. Martin Teel (D. D.C.) and Michael G. Williamson (M.D. Fla.).

A panel featuring Bankruptcy Judges Leif M. Clark (W.D. Texas), Rosemary Gambardella (D. N.J.) and Robert E. Gerber (S.D.N.Y.) will participate on the “Confirmation and Plan Issues: ‘Gift’ plans and carve-outs; rights offerings; subordination provisions; disguised substantive consolidation; §1123 settlements in the plan; voting issues and motions to designate” session. It will be moderated by Robert J. Rosenberg of Latham & Watkins, LLP (New York) and facilitated by William P. Bowden, Jr. of Ashby & Geddes PA (Wilmington, Del.).

This year’s program also features four break-out lunch sessions. The first three will be conducted with the judges and faculty from the first three panel sessions to follow up on the topics in small-group formats. The fourth break-out lunch session is titled “Early Case Motions: First-day orders; KERPs; critical vendors” and will be moderated by Marcia L. Goldstein of Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP (New York), who will be joined by facilitator Edward C. Dolan of Hogan & Hartson LLP (Washington, D.C.) and panelists Bankruptcy Judges Arthur J. Gonzalez (S.D.N.Y.) and Gregg W. Zive (D. Nev.).

Those who register by June 30 can save $50. For more information on the “Views from the Bench” conference, please be sure to visit http://www.abiworld.org/GT07.

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ABI is the largest multi-disciplinary, nonpartisan organization dedicated to research and education on matters related to insolvency. ABI was founded in 1982 to provide Congress and the public with unbiased analysis of bankruptcy issues. The ABI membership includes nearly 11,500 attorneys, accountants, bankers, judges, professors, lenders, turnaround specialists and other bankruptcy professionals providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and information. For additional information on ABI, visit www.abiworld.org. For additional conference information, visit http://www.abiworld.org/conferences.html.