Consumer Bankruptcy

REPORT: ASSETS, LIABILITIES DECREASE WITH DROP IN 2011 CONSUMER FILINGS

Liabilities and assets of debtors decreased along with overall personal bankruptcy filing numbers, according to a report released yesterday by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AOUSC). The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (BAPCPA) requires the annual compilation of statistics by the AOUSC on debtors who are individuals with primarily consumer debts seeking relief under chapters 7, 11, and 13. Compared to 2010 data, the AOUSC found the following decreases among debtors filing for personal bankruptcy in 2011:

• 11 percent decrease in overall filings
• 23 percent decrease in filer assets
• 25 percent decrease in filer liabilities
• 28 percent incidence of repeat filers

To read the AOUSC's full 2011 BAPCPA Report, please click here.

REGULATORS SAY LOAN QUALITY IMPROVING

The credit quality of large loan commitments owned by financial institutions regulated in the U.S. improved in 2012 for the third consecutive year, according to a review by the Federal Reserve and two other regulators, MarketWatch.com reported yesterday. However, the review also added that, despite the progress, poorly originated large loans in 2006 and 2007 "with weak underwriting standard" continued to hurt the portfolio of institutions reviewed. The agencies reviewed loan commitments of $20 million or more in real estate, stocks, notes or bonds extended by American and foreign financial institutions regulated in the U.S. The study noted that so-called nonbank firms, such as hedge funds insurance companies and pension funds, held the smallest share of large loan commitments but the largest share of credits rated "substandard or doubtful" or considered uncollectible and of little value. According to the report, institutions held roughly $2.8 trillion of large loans, with roughly 8,700 credit facilities going to roughly 5,600 borrowers. That number is up from about $2.5 trillion in 2011. Read more.

FSOC MAY HAVE TO MOVE SLOWLY ON MONEY FUNDS

Though the Securities and Exchange Commission said on Wednesday that it would have to drop its proposed overhaul of the money market mutual fund industry, regulators are contemplating pursuing money fund overhaul through the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC), the New York Times DealBook blog reported on Saturday. The FSOC was set up by the Dodd-Frank legislation to identify systemic risks and then set in motion plans to remove those risks. The council, which is led by Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner, has said that money funds are a concern, and backed the reforms scuttled at the SEC. While the FSOC certainly has the freedom and power to take up the issue of money market funds, some experts question whether the council will officially designate money funds as a risk, especially in the last few months before the presidential election. Read more.

CONSOLIDATION OF SMALL BANKS ON THE RISE

A growing number of small- and medium-sized banks are merging as shrinking profit margins, tepid loan demand and low interest rates place pressure on their operations, the Washington Post reported today. Community banks also are contending with the added cost of complying with new regulations stemming from the Dodd-Frank financial reform law. Industry watchers say all of these factors will spur buying activity in the coming quarters. M&T Bank, with $81 billion in assets, became the latest bank buyer, with a $3.7 billion deal yesterday to acquire Hudson City Bancorp, a $43.6 billion community bank in Paramus, N.J. Banking analyst Bert Ely said that the Dodd-Frank Act places the heaviest burden on banks with less than $500 million in assets, which will likely be the primary source of deal activity. Small banks, he said, will be especially taxed by new requirements to keep 5 percent of the loans they issue through mortgage-backed securities on their books. He also thinks smaller banks will be discouraged by higher and stricter capital requirements. Read more.

U.S. HOME PRICES CONTINUE UPWARD MOVE IN JUNE

The S&P/Case-Shiller 20-city composite index showed that U.S. home prices bounced higher for a second month in June, MarketWatch.com reported today. The S&P/Case-Shiller index registered a 2.3 percent advance in June, matching upwardly revised gains in May. Prices in the second quarter of 2012 gained 6.9 percent compared to the first quarter.All 20 cities in the index managed monthly gains, including a 6 percent surge in hard-hit Detroit and a 4.8 percent advance in Minneapolis. Read more.

For a historic look at housing prices, be sure to check out ABI’s Chart of the Day to browse house price data since 1976.

ABI IN-DEPTH

ABI MEMBERS WELCOME TO ATTEND ACB'S FREE HALF-DAY "BANKRUPTCY: BACK TO THE FUTURE" PROGRAM IN SEPTEMBER

The American College of Bankruptcy invites you to attend a free half-day program on Sept. 28 in Chicago for a discussion of many of the challenging topics facing current bankruptcy and reorganization professionals. Topics to be addressed include recent decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, important work of the Advisory Committee on Bankruptcy Rules, and developments in the field of bankruptcy ethics. The nation’s leading judges, academics and bankruptcy professionals are among the speakers for the program. While there is no cost to attend, seating is limited, so early reservation is suggested. For more information and to register, please click here.

LATEST CASE SUMMARY ON VOLO: IN RE DAHLGREN (3D. CIR.)

Summarized by Emil Khatchatourian of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of California

Affirming the district court ruling, the Third Circuit held that a debtor's plan, as submitted by his counsel, would have voided the state court's sale order issued prior to the bankruptcy filing. Without deciding whether the Rooker-Feldman doctrine actually applied, the debtor's attempt to confirm a plan that contemplated a forced sale was improper.

There are more than 600 appellate opinions summarized on Volo, and summaries typically appear within 24 hours of the ruling. Click here regularly to view the latest case summaries on ABI’s Volo website.

NEW ON ABI’S BANKRUPTCY BLOG EXCHANGE: SIXTH CIRCUIT RULES THAT TORTIOUS USE OF PROPERTY IS NOT PROTECTED BY THE AUTOMATIC STAY

The Bankruptcy Blog Exchange is a free ABI service that tracks 35 bankruptcy-related blogs. Noting that the “commission of a tort is not protected by the Bankruptcy Code,” a recent blog post examined the ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit that found that the automatic stay imposed by section 362(a) of the Bankruptcy Code did not apply to a contempt proceeding against a debtor for violation of an injunction. The injunction related to, among other things, a suit for trademark infringement and trademark dilution.

Be sure to check the site several times each day; any time a contributing blog posts a new story, a link to the story will appear on the top. If you have a blog that deals with bankruptcy, or know of a good blog that should be part of the Bankruptcy Exchange, please contact the ABI Web team.

ABI Quick Poll

Client matters left unfinished at a firm when it files for bankruptcy are the property of the defunct firm.

Click here to vote on this week's Quick Poll. Click here to view the results of previous Quick Polls.

HAVE YOU TUNED IN TO BLOOMBERG LAW'S VIDEO PODCASTS?

Bloomberg Law's video podcasts feature top experts speaking about current bankruptcy topics. The podcasts are available via Bloomberg Law's YouTube channel so that you can access the programs from your computer or device of your choice! Click here to view the Bloomberg Law video podcasts.

INSOL INTERNATIONAL

INSOL International is a worldwide federation of national associations for accountants and lawyers who specialize in turnaround and insolvency. There are currently 37 member associations worldwide with more than 9,000 professionals participating as members of INSOL International. As a member association of INSOL, ABI's members receive a discounted subscription rate. See ABI's enrollment page for details.

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September
- 7th Annual Golf and Tennis Outing
     September 11, 2012 | Maplewood, N.J.
- Complex Financial Restructuring Program
     September 13-14, 2012 | Las Vegas, Nev.
- Southwest Bankruptcy Conference
     September 13-15, 2012 | Las Vegas, Nev.
- 38th Annual Lawrence P. King and Charles Seligson Workshop on Bankruptcy & Business Reorganization
     September 19-20, 2012 | New York, N.Y.
- "When Is an Individual Chapter 11 the Best Fit?" Live Webinar
     September 27, 2012
- American College of Bankruptcy's "Bankruptcy: Back to the Future" Program
     September 28, 2012 | Chicago, Ill.

October
- Nuts & Bolts for Young and New Practitioners - KC
     October 4, 2012 | Kansas City, Mo.
- Midwestern Bankruptcy Institute Program, Midwestern Consumer Forum
     October 5, 2012 | Kansas City, Mo.

- Bankruptcy 2012: Views from the Bench
     October 5, 2012 | Washington, D.C.
- Chicago Consumer Bankruptcy Conference
     October 8, 2012 | Chicago, Ill.
- "Trending Issues: Examiners and Select Plan Confirmation Issues" Webinar
     October 15, 2012
- International Insolvency and Restructuring Symposium
     October 18, 2012 | Rome, Italy

November
- U.S./Mexico Restructuring Symposium
     November 7, 2012 | Mexico City, Mexico
- Professional Development Program
     November 9, 2012 | New York, N.Y.
- Detroit Consumer Bankruptcy Conference
     November 12, 2012 | Detroit, Mich.
- Winter Leadership Conference
     November 29 - December 1, 2012 | Tucson, Ariz.

REPORT: CREDIT CARD DELINQUENCIES REACH 18-YEAR LOW

The American Bankers Association reported today that delinquencies on bank-issued credit cards sank to 2.47 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012 – the lowest level since 1994, CNNMoney.com reported today. The percentage of credit card accounts that were 30 days or more overdue during the quarter was roughly half the record high of 5.01 percent set in 2009 and well below the 15-year average of 3.87 percent. It was also down significantly from the previous quarter when 2.75 percent of credit card customers were delinquent on payments. Delinquencies in all three home-related categories – home equity loans, home equity lines of credit and property improvement loans – also fell during the fourth quarter. Read more.

COMMENTARY: PENSIONS NEED TO SHARE FINANCIAL PAIN WHEN CITIES GO BROKE

Stockton, Calif., wants bondholders to pay for its financial woes while leaving retirement benefits intact, but that approach undermines the law's power to rein in runaway pension costs, according to a Reuters commentary on Friday. The housing boom filled Stockton's coffers with tax revenue that officials squandered through poor management, pay raises and downtown renovations, according to the commentary. With the economic bust came $90 million in cuts over three years and, last summer, its chapter 9 filing. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Klein yesterday approved Stockton's chapter 9 filing petition to move forward. The city's plan to right itself includes a bond-principal haircut that could be the first for a major municipality since the 1930s, according to the commentary. Some bonds could be cut as much as 83 percent, but officials would continue to pay out about $30 million a year to the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS), which manages the city's pensions. Wells Fargo and other bondholders owed more than $300 million have understandably cried foul. Legally, the securities they own merit the same treatment in bankruptcy as payments to CalPERS, according to the commentary. Central Falls, R.I., which exited bankruptcy last September, showed that a municipality can slash retirement benefits without a political or legal firestorm. Read more.

FORECLOSURE INVENTORY BALLOONED IN FIRST QUARTER OF 2013

RealtyTrac reported yesterday that nearly 1.5 million U.S. properties were actively in the foreclosure process or bank-owned in the first quarter of 2013, up 9 percent from the first quarter of 2012, but still down 32 percent from the peak of 2.2 million in December 2010, UPI.com reported yesterday. Though overall inventories are up, completed foreclosure inventories are still declining. CoreLogic reported yesterday that there were 54,000 completed foreclosures in the U.S. in February 2013, down from 67,000 in February 2012, a year-over-year decrease of 19 percent. On a month-over-month basis, completed foreclosures fell from 58,000 in January 2013 to the February level of 54,000, a decrease of 7 percent. Read more.

COMMENTARIES SHARE CONCERN OF RISK-TAKING BY BIG BANKS

Financial firms can borrow money more cheaply and with less market scrutiny when they have access to government guarantees of deposit insurance, loans from the Federal Reserve and, ultimately, taxpayer support such as what was seen with the Troubled Assets Relief Program in 2008, according to a commentary by Thomas M. Hoenig, the vice chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., in Friday's Washington Post. Hoenig said that this safety net was intended to stabilize the financial system by protecting the payments system that transfers money around the country and the world, as well as the essential lending that commercial banks provide. But these protections also assure those who lend to banks that they will be repaid regardless of the condition of the bank. Under such circumstances, creditors give the firms a discount on the cost of the funds they borrow. Things are made more difficult, according to Hoenig, by the fact that the largest financial companies now combine traditional commercial banking with higher-risk activities such as trading so that both their banking and betting activities get access to these government protections and the multibillion-dollar subsidy that comes with them. Using subsidized money to finance the conglomerates’ bets encourages ever-higher levels of debt, risk and interconnectedness not attainable or sustainable in a truly free market, according to Hoenig. Click here to read the full commentary.

A related commentary in today's Wall Street Journal written by former FDIC chair Sheila Bair found that while bank use of risk models is common and not illegal, their use in bolstering a bank's capital ratios can give the public a false sense of security about the stability of the nation's largest financial institutions. Capital ratios (also called capital adequacy ratios) reflect the percentage of a bank's assets that are funded with equity and are a key barometer of the institution's financial strength: They measure the bank's ability to absorb losses and still remain solvent, according to Bair. While this should be a simple measure, it is not, according to Bair, because regulators allow banks to use a process called "risk weighting," which allows them to raise their capital ratios by characterizing the assets they hold as "low risk." For instance, as part of the Federal Reserve's recent stress test, the Bank of America reported to the Federal Reserve that its capital ratio is 11.4 percent. But that was a measure of the bank's common equity as a percentage of the assets it holds as weighted by their risk—which is much less than the value of these assets according to accounting rules. Take out the risk-weighting adjustment, and its capital ratio falls to 7.8 percent. On average, the three big universal banking companies (JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Citigroup) risk-weigh their assets at only 55 percent of their total assets. For every trillion dollars in accounting assets, these megabanks calculate their capital ratios as if the assets represented only $550 billion of risk. Read more. (Subscription required.)

ANALYSIS: PACE OF MERGERS SLOWED IN THE FIRST QUARTER 2013 TO THE FEWEST SINCE 2003

Only 8,115 merger deals were announced worldwide in the first quarter of this year, the lowest number since 2003, according to data from Thomson Reuters, the New York Times DealBook blog reported today. While the combined value of $542.8 billion outpaced last year's first quarter by about 10 percent, it is still 26 percent below the level for the period in 2011. Bankers and lawyers have been publicly boasting about a nascent revival in mergers. In March, 97 percent of deal makers surveyed by the Brunswick Group public relations firm said that they expected more deals to be announced in North America this year than in the last year. Many advisers caution against judging 2013 by one quarter; some deals that would otherwise have been announced in the first quarter were moved to fourth quarter 2012 to avoid incurring potentially higher taxes, they said. Read more.

FRIDAY! DON’T MISS THE ABI LIVE WEBINAR – "LEGACY LIABILITIES: DEALING WITH ENVIRONMENTAL, PENSION, UNION AND SIMILAR TYPES OF CLAIMS"

A panel of experts has been assembled for a webinar on April 5 from 1-2:15 p.m. ET to discuss environmental and pension liabilities, the statutory schemes under which these liabilities arise and the key players involved. Are non-monetary environmental claims dischargeable? Do post-petition expenditures for environmental cleanup constitute administrative expenses? When can an employer terminate a pension plan in bankruptcy, what is the process and what are the consequences? Learn the answer to these questions and more from the comfort of your own office. Special ABI member rate is available! Register here.

HOTEL BLOCK FOR ABI'S ANNUAL SPRING MEETING ALMOST SOLD OUT! REGISTER TODAY!

The hotel block at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., is almost sold out for ABI’s 2013 Annual Spring Meeting! Held April 18-21, 2013, ASM features a roster of the best national speakers, while the depth and scope of topics offer something for everyone. Specifically, four concurrent workshops will cover various “tracks,” including programs for attorneys in commercial cases, a track for restructuring professionals, a track of professional development programming and a track dealing solely with consumer issues. More than 16 hours of CLE/CPE is offered in some states, along with ethics credit totaling 3 hours, making the cost only about $50 per credit. In addition, committee sessions will drill down on other topics to provide you with the most practical and varied CLE/CPE experience ever. Sessions include:

• 17th Annual Great Debates
• Mediation: An Irrational Approach to a Rational Result
• Creditors’ Committees and the Role of Indenture Trustees and Related Issues
• Current Issues for Financial Advisors in Bankruptcy Cases
• The Individual Conundrum: Chapter 7, 11 or 13?
• The Power to Veto Bankruptcy Sales
• Real Estate Issues in Health Care Restructurings
• How to Be a Successful Expert
• The Ethical Compass: Multiple Ethical Schemes Applicable to Financial Advisors
• Chapter 9s, Nonprofits and Other Nontraditional Restructuring Processes
• And much more!

The Spring Meeting will also feature a field hearing of the ABI Commission to Study the Reform of Chapter 11, a report from the ABI Ethics Task Force, a luncheon panel discussion moderated by Bill Rochelle of Bloomberg News, and a Final Night Gala Dinner featuring a concert by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts!

Make sure to register today!

ABI IN-DEPTH

LATEST CASE SUMMARY ON VOLO: SCHOPPE V. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE (10TH CIR.)

Summarized by Eric Madden of Diamond McCarthy LLP

The Tenth Circuit ruled that the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. § 362(a)(1) does not apply to a proceeding commenced by the debtor taxpayer's petition filed in tax court, including any appeal from rulings in the underlying proceeding. Adopting the reasoning of the First, Third, Fifth and Eleventh Circuits and rejecting the reasoning of the Ninth Circuit, the Tenth Circuit concluded that a petition filed in tax court is an independent judicial proceeding initiated by the debtor, not the continuation of an administrative proceeding against the debtor.

There are more than 800 appellate opinions summarized on Volo, and summaries typically appear within 24 hours of the ruling. Click here regularly to view the latest case summaries on ABI’s Volo website.

NEW ON ABI’S BANKRUPTCY BLOG EXCHANGE: I'M A CREDITOR OF DETROIT...NOW WHAT? (PART 2)

The Bankruptcy Blog Exchange is a free ABI service that tracks 35 bankruptcy-related blogs. Previously examining some of the overarching issues that can make a chapter 9 restructuring more challenging for creditors than a chapter 11, a recent blog post takes a closer look at the financial challenges of Detroit.

Be sure to check the site several times each day; any time a contributing blog posts a new story, a link to the story will appear on the top. If you have a blog that deals with bankruptcy, or know of a good blog that should be part of the Bankruptcy Exchange, please contact the ABI Web team.

TEE OFF ON THE NEW ABI GOLF TOUR!

Starting with the Annual Spring Meeting, ABI will offer conference registrants the option to participate in the ABI Golf Tour. The Tour will take place concurrently with all conference golf tournaments. The Tour is designed to enhance the golfing experience for serious golfers, while still offering a fun networking opportunity for players of any ability. As opposed to the format used at ABI’s regular conference events, Tour participants will "play their own ball." They will be grouped on the golf course separately from other conference golf participants and will typically play ahead of the other participants, expediting Tour play. Tour participants will be randomly grouped in foursomes, unless otherwise requested of the Commissioner in advance of each tournament. Prizes will be awarded for each individual Tour event, which are sponsored by Great American Group. The grand prize is the "Great American Cup," also sponsored by Great American Group, which will be awarded to the top player at the end of the Tour season. Registration is free. Click here for more information and a list of 2013 ABI Golf Tour event venues.

ABI Quick Poll

The scope of protection of "financial contracts" in bankruptcy should be rolled back to what it was before BAPCPA expanded it in 2005.

Click here to vote on this week's Quick Poll. Click here to view the results of previous Quick Polls.

INSOL INTERNATIONAL

INSOL International is a worldwide federation of national associations for accountants and lawyers who specialize in turnaround and insolvency. There are currently 37 member associations worldwide with more than 9,000 professionals participating as members of INSOL International. As a member association of INSOL, ABI's members receive a discounted subscription rate. See ABI's enrollment page for details.

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2013

April
- ABI Live Webinar: "Legacy Liabilities : Dealing with Environmental, Pension, Union and Similar Types of Claims"
     April 5, 2013
- ABI Live Webinar: "Student Loans: Bankruptcy May Not Have the Answers - But Does Congress?"
     April 10, 2013
- "Nuts and Bolts" Program at ASM
     April 18, 2013 | National Harbor, Md.
- Annual Spring Meeting
     April 18-21, 2013 | National Harbor, Md.

May
- "Nuts and Bolts" Program at NYCBC
     May 15, 2013 | New York, N.Y.
- ABI Endowment Cocktail Reception
     May 15, 2013 | New York, N.Y.
- New York City Bankruptcy Conference
     May 16, 2013 | New York, N.Y.
- Litigation Skills Symposium
     May 21-24, 2013 | Dallas, Texas

June
- Memphis Consumer Bankruptcy Conference
     June 7, 2013 | Memphis, Tenn.
- Central States Bankruptcy Workshop
     June 13-16, 2013 | Grand Traverse, Mich.

July
- Northeast Bankruptcy Conference and Northeast Consumer Forum
     July 11-14, 2013 | Newport, R.I.
- Southeast Bankruptcy Workshop
     July 18-21, 2013 | Amelia Island, Fla.

DELAWARE SLATED FOR NEW BANKRUPTCY JUDGE AMID GROWING CASELOAD

Delaware's U.S. Bankruptcy Court, the busiest in the country for chapter 11 filings, is getting an additional judge to help handle what officials see as a "full-blown crisis," the subject of a Senate hearing today, Bloomberg News reported. The Wilmington, Del.-based court has a caseload justifying a dozen judges, while it has only half that number now, Chief Delaware U.S. District Judge Gregory M. Sleet, who oversees the bankruptcy unit, said in his 2013 annual report. "The seventh judgeship is important, and funding it is obviously necessary," said Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Bankruptcy and the Courts, which held a hearing this afternoon titled "Sequestering Justice: How the Budget Crisis Is Undermining Our Courts." The hearing centered on the impact of the federal government's spending sequestration on the courts. Coons has been helping to strengthen the financial underpinnings of the bankruptcy courts, sponsoring the bipartisan Temporary Bankruptcy Judgeship Extension Act to extend expiring authorizations in 14 states and Puerto Rico. "A full-blown crisis awaits us" in Delaware as the bankruptcy court deals with 28 percent in budget cuts over three years, necessitating the elimination of 23 of 72 office employees and a furlough program "whereby all staff of the clerk's office take one day every two weeks, without pay, equating to a 10 percent decrease in their salaries," Sleet wrote. The additional bankruptcy judge who has been authorized for Delaware by federal court administrators, "has not been funded," Sleet said. Read more.

To read the prepared witness testimony from today's Senate hearing, please click here.

BACKLOG OF FORECLOSURES CONTINUES TO BLOCK HOUSING RECOVERY

Analysts claim that while the housing market is on the mend -- with progress even in the hardest-hit states -- the backlog of homes in foreclosure and bank-owned properties are still clogging the pipeline, HousingWire.com reported yesterday. The East Coast is a testament to such findings, where the duration of the foreclosure process is high in large part to judicial foreclosure procedures in states using that process, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's latest report. The volume of distressed properties continues to impact housing momentum, and consequently, there is a compelling need for improved public policy on the local and national levels to minimize losses and externalities resulting from foreclosures and REO inventory, explained Diego Aragon, Richard Peach and Joseph Tracy of the New York Fed. As of March 2013, nearly 3 percent of all first-lien loans secured by one-to-four-unit residential properties were 90-plus days delinquent, essentially unchanged from June 2012. In contrast, the percentage of loans in foreclosure, which leveled off at around 4 percent from 2011 through 2012, declined to 3.5 percent by early 2013, the report noted. The decline in the percentage of loans in the foreclosure process was due to a sharp decrease in the number of loans flowing into foreclosure. Read more.

ANALYSIS: DODD-FRANK REMAINS A WORK IN PROGRESS 3 YEARS LATER

When President Obama signed the Dodd-Frank Act to overhaul financial regulation three years ago, he observed that for the new rules to be effective, regulators would have to be vigilant, according to a Washington Post analysis yesterday. The moment marked the beginning of what has proven to be a slow and arduous process of trying to implement one of the most ambitious pieces of legislation in decades -- the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Given the severity of the financial crisis, there was great expectation that regulators would move swiftly to enact and enforce the landmark legislation. But the same intense lobbying and political wrangling that took place when the bill was being written has continued to delay or water down some of its provisions. Federal watchdogs were tasked with writing 398 rules to flesh out the law, but they have missed 62 percent of the deadlines set by Congress, according to data from Davis Polk & Wardwell, a law firm that represents financial institutions. Lately, there has been a renewed commitment from the administration to accelerate the process. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew told an audience of investors in New York last week that "by the end of this year, the core elements of the Dodd-Frank Act will be substantially in place." A top priority, he said, is to complete the long-delayed Volcker Rule, a controversial provision that would ban federally insured banks from proprietary trading: using their own capital to make trades. Read more.

ANALYSIS OF DETROIT'S CHAPTER 9 FILING

BAD REAL ESTATE DEALS RETURN TO HAUNT DETROIT'S PENSIONS

A litany of real estate deals gone wrong is showing how Detroit's retirement system for 30,000 employees and retirees -- propped up by $1.4 billion in borrowed money -- became a cash cow for a select few, Bloomberg News reported today. Now, these bad investments are coming back to haunt workers and pensioners as Detroit Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr proposed slashing their benefits in the city's chapter 9 filing last week, the biggest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. Orr wants to restructure $18 billion in debt and long-term obligations and is asking some creditors to accept less than 20 cents on the dollar. Detroit's pensions are underfunded by as much as $3.5 billion in part because of unrealistic assumptions of 8 percent annual investment returns, Orr has said. The pensions say that the gap between assets and obligations to retirees is $700 million, according to a June 20 statement. "Detroit has been working its way to a level of insolvency for decades," Orr said at a news briefing after the bankruptcy filing. The city was "continuing to borrow, continuing to defer pension payments, continuing not to pay its bills on time, continuing a deepening insolvency." On July 19, a Michigan state court judge ruled that Detroit's chapter 9 filing violated the state's constitution by impairing pension benefits. Michigan's attorney general has appealed. Bankruptcy Judge Steven W. Rhodes in Detroit set a hearing for tomorrow to consider giving the city protection from lawsuits. Though authorities have investigated past investments authorized by the two pension boards, personnel changes have occurred on both with changes in city administrations. The present general retirement system trustees are acting responsibly, said the board's legal counsel, Michael VanOverbeke. In June, Orr ordered city investigators to review pension investments, as well as operations and other aspects of employee-benefit programs. Read more.

ABI will be holding a media teleconference tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. ET to examine Detroit's chapter 9 filing and what lies ahead. There are a limited number of spaces available to listen to the live program. If you would like to listen, please contact ABI Public Affairs Manager John Hartgen at [email protected].

ANALYSIS: DETROIT'S BANKRUPTCY REVEALS DYSFUNCTION COMMON IN CITIES

The financial pressures that pushed Detroit into becoming the largest municipal bankruptcy filing in U.S. history are also playing out on a smaller scale in cities around the nation, Bloomberg News reported yesterday. Diminished tax revenue and rising labor costs have left four cities insolvent since 2007. "None of the other cities are as far along, but there are dozens, if not hundreds of cities that have similar issues," said Alan Mallach, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. "Every other industrial city has problems that could send them down the same path." U.S. municipalities have recovered slowly from the 18-month recession that ended four years ago, which depressed property-tax revenue and led to investment losses for pensions that many cities haven't fully funded for years. Projected pension and health care obligations for the 61 biggest cities will top assets by about $217 billion, according to a study by the Pew Charitable Trusts, a Philadelphia-based research and public-policy group. Read more.

For an analysis of the situation in Detroit, municipal distress and chapter 9 bankruptcy, be sure to pick up a copy of ABI's Municipalities in Peril: The ABI Guide to Chapter 9, Second Edition, from the ABI Bookstore.

COMMENTARY: GETTING DETROIT BACK ON ITS FEET

There is no doubt that Detroit's bankruptcy proceedings will be very painful for Detroit's population of 700,000, but the bankruptcy case might also allow the city to be relieved of paying back its bondholders and banks much of the estimated $9 billion they lent to Detroit on overly rosy assumptions, according to an editorial in today's New York Times. This group of lenders and investors will, of course, push the city and state to also force concessions on city workers and retirees, whose pension funds are underfinanced by about $3.5 billion. But city officials should resist the idea of cutting the pension payments for the city's public workers, which average $19,000 a year. Unlike the situation in other troubled cities where government officials made lavish pension promises and workers gamed the system to inflate their benefits, Detroit's pension problems are quite modest. Moreover, city employees have already had their pay and benefits reduced significantly in recent years. Slashing the meager fixed incomes of retirees will also hurt the city's weak economy because they are more likely to spend most of the money they receive in local businesses. Labor unions also argue that Michigan's Constitution protects their pensions from cuts, which will set up a potentially long legal battle that the city can ill afford. Read the full editorial.

DID YOU MISS MONDAY'S abiLIVE WEBINAR DISCUSSING § 1111(b) ELECTION, PLAN FEASIBILITY AND CRAMDOWN ISSUES? RECORDING IS NOW AVAILABLE!

If you were not able to join Monday's well-attended abiLIVE webinar examining § 1111(b), a recording of the program is now available for downloading! Utilizing a case study, ABI's panel of experts explored the issues surrounding a lender's decision on whether or not to make an election under § 1111(b), plan feasibility and voting. The abiLIVE panel also walked attendees through the necessary mathematical analyses used to examine these issues. The 90-minute recording is available for the special price of $75 and can be purchased here.

NEW abiLIVE WEBINAR ON AUGUST 20: HOW WILL THE NEW U.S. TRUSTEE FEE GUIDELINES IMPACT YOU?

The new U.S. Trustee Fee Guidelines will affect all attorneys and firms who work on larger chapter 11 cases filed on or after November 1st. ABI's Ethics & Professional Compensation Committee will present a panel of experts, including Cliff White, the director of the U.S. Trustee Program, to discuss some of the ways the new guidelines could change day-to-day operations in firms, issues relating to the new market rate benchmarks, and how these changes might alter insolvency practice. Register today to hear government, attorney and academic perspectives on this important and timely topic.

ABI GOLF TOUR UNDERWAY; NEXT STOP IS THE MID-ATLANTIC BANKRUPTCY WORKSHOP IN AUGUST

The 5th stop for the ABI Golf Tour is the Hershey Country Club, in conjunction with the Mid-Atlantic Bankruptcy Workshop. Final scoring to win the Great American Cup — sponsored by Great American Group — is based on your top three scores at seven scheduled ABI events, so play as many as you can before the tour wraps up at the Winter Leadership Conference in December. See the Tour page for details and course descriptions. The ABI Golf Tour combines networking with fun competition, as golfers "play their own ball." Including your handicap means everyone has an equal chance to compete for the glory of being crowned ABI's top golfer of 2013! A 22-handicapper won the tour event last week at Amelia Island, Fla. There's no charge to register or participate in the Tour.

ABI IN-DEPTH

NORTON JUDICIAL EXCELLENCE AWARD NOMINATIONS OPEN UNTIL JULY 29

Nominations are now open for the 8th Annual Judge William L. Norton Judicial Excellence Award, to be presented during the ABI luncheon at the annual meeting of the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges on Nov. 1, 2013. The award is presented by ABI and Thomson Reuters each year to the current or retired bankruptcy judge whose career embodies the same continued dedication and outstanding contributions to the insolvency community as the award’s namesake, Judge Norton. Nominations are considered by a committee made up of representatives from the Norton treatise and past ABI presidents. Nomination forms, which must be submitted by July 29, are available from Clay Mattson at Thomson Reuters ([email protected]).

NEW ABI "BANKRUPTCY IN DEPTH" ON-DEMAND CLE PROGRAM LOOKS AT PRINCIPLES OF PROPERTY OF THE ESTATE: DEMYSTIFYING EQUITABLE INTERESTS

In this 90-minute seminar, Profs. Andrew Kull of Boston University School of Law and Scott Pryor of Regent University School of Law provide an in-depth analysis of a legal principle that has become, in their words, "a long-lost area of the law": § 541 of the Bankruptcy Code. Seeking to demystify what is meant by "property of the estate" and, in particular, the distinction between legal or equitable interests of the debtor in property, Kull and Pryor describe the legal entanglements that ensue when legal title belongs to one person but the equitable title belongs to someone else. The cost of the seminar, which includes written materials and qualifies for 1.5 hours of CLE, is $95. To order or to learn more, click here.

ASSOCIATES: ABI'S NUTS & BOLTS ONLINE PROGRAMS HELP YOU HONE YOUR SKILLS WHILE SAVING ON CLE!

Associates looking to sharpen their bankruptcy knowledge should take advantage of ABI's special offer of combining general, business or consumer Nuts & Bolts online programs. Each program features an outstanding faculty of judges and practitioners explaining the fundamentals of bankruptcy, offering procedures and strategies tailored for both consumer and business attorneys. Click here to get the CLE you need at a great low price!

NEW CASE SUMMARY ON VOLO: ISAACSON V. MANTY (IN RE ISAACSON; 8TH CIR.)

Summarized by Bryan Robinson of the Law Offices of Bryan Robinson

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit upheld the district court's affirmation of the bankruptcy courts imposition of sanctions against the plaintiff (Isaacson) for making factually unsupported, inflammatory and harassing statements against the bankruptcy judge, the bankruptcy trustee, the bankruptcy court and the U.S. Trustee's Office, according to documents filed with the court.

There are more than 900 appellate opinions summarized on Volo, and summaries typically appear within 24 hours of the ruling. Click here regularly to view the latest case summaries on ABI’s Volo website.

NEW ON ABI’S BANKRUPTCY BLOG EXCHANGE: FURTHER EXAMINATION OF DETROIT'S CHAPTER 9 FILING

The Bankruptcy Blog Exchange is a free ABI service that tracks 35 bankruptcy-related blogs. A recent blog post takes a closer look at the issues surrounding Detroit's chapter 9 filing.

Be sure to check the site several times each day; any time a contributing blog posts a new story, a link to the story will appear on the top. If you have a blog that deals with bankruptcy, or know of a good blog that should be part of the Bankruptcy Exchange, please contact the ABI Web team.

ABI Quick Poll

When will the dowward trend of consumer bankruptcy filings turn around?

Click here to vote on this week's Quick Poll. Click here to view the results of previous Quick Polls.

INSOL INTERNATIONAL

INSOL International is a worldwide federation of national associations for accountants and lawyers who specialize in turnaround and insolvency. There are currently 37 member associations worldwide with more than 9,000 professionals participating as members of INSOL International. As a member association of INSOL, ABI's members receive a discounted subscription rate. See ABI's enrollment page for details.

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2013

August
- Mid-Atlantic Bankruptcy Workshop
    August 8-10, 2013 | Hershey, Pa.
- abiLIVE Webinar: How Will the New U.S. Trustee Fee Guidelines Impact You?
     August 20, 2013
- Southwest Bankruptcy Conference
    August 22-24, 2013 | Incline Village, Nev.

September
- ABI Endowment Golf & Tennis Outing
    Sept. 10, 2013 | Maplewood, N.J.
- ABI Endowment Baseball Game
    Sept. 12, 2013 | Baltimore, Md.
- Lawrence P. King and Charles Seligson Workshop on Bankruptcy & Business Reorganization
    Sept. 18-19, 2013 | New York
- abiLIVE Webinar: Complex Requirements and Ethical Duties of Representing Consumer Debtors
     Sept. 24, 2013
- Bankruptcy 2013: Views from the Bench
    Sept. 27, 2013 | Washington, D.C.

October
- Midwestern Bankruptcy Institute Program and Midwestern Consumer Forum
    Oct. 4, 2013 | Kansas City, Mo.
- ABI Endowment Football Game
    Oct. 6, 2013 | Miami, Fla.
- Professional Development Program
    Oct. 11, 2013 | New York, N.Y.
- Chicago Consumer Bankruptcy Conference
    Oct. 14, 2013 | Chicago, Ill.
- International Insolvency Symposium
    Oct. 25, 2013 | Berlin, Germany

November
- Austin Advanced Consumer Bankruptcy Practice Institute
   Nov. 10-12, 2013 | Austin, Texas
- Detroit Consumer Bankruptcy Conference
   Nov. 11, 2013 | Detroit, Mich.

December
- ABI/St. John’s Bankruptcy Mediation Training
    Dec. 8-12, 2013 | New York

OBAMA TO PUSH CONGRESS ON MORTGAGE RELIEF

President Obama yesterday called on Congress to act on home mortgage relief when it returns for a brief legislative session in September, The Hill reported today. The housing market is widely believed to be the most significant drag on the economy, and Obama was under fire in a recent New York Times front-page story for the inability of his administration to address the burden of homeowner debt. "We are going to be pushing Congress to see if it can pass a refinancing bill that puts $3,000 in the pocket of the average family that has not yet refinanced their mortgage," he said. The White House is supporting a trio of Senate Democratic bills that streamline refinancing:

• Sens. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) in May introduced the “Responsible Homeowners Refinancing Act of 2012.” The bill would streamline refinancing for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac borrowers by eliminating upfront fees and appraisal costs, among other changes.

• Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) has a bill called the “Rebuilding Equity Act” for loans of 20 years or less. It would require Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac to pay all closing costs.

• Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) has a bill to aid underwater homeowners by allowing them to receive Federal Housing Administration mortgage insurance.

While significant, the White House-backed legislation falls short of the extensive housing action urged by some. Liberal groups and unions want Obama to replace Edward DeMarco — acting director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — to force the agency to approve principal mortgage reductions. Others want legislation to allow bankruptcy judges to approve principal reductions in chapter 13. Read more.

CASE AGAINST FORMER FREDDIE MAC EXECUTIVES HINGES ON DEFINITION OF "SUBPRIME"

Figuring out the definition of a "subprime mortgage" by a U.S. judge could determine whether three former Freddie Mac executives misled investors about loans backed by the mortgage giant before it sank, the Wall Street Journal reported today. Lawyers for the former executives, including Chief Executive Richard Syron, sparred at a hearing with the Securities and Exchange Commission over the definition of "subprime" and "subprime-like." The fight came as lawyers for the former Freddie Mac executives urged U.S. District Judge Richard Sullivan to throw out an eight-month-old fraud lawsuit by the SEC alleging that the former executives made "materially false and misleading public disclosures" about the company's housing-market exposure in 2007 and 2008. Lawyers for Syron, Patricia Cook, a former Freddie Mac executive vice president, and Donald Bisenius, a former senior vice president, asked the judge to dismiss the suit because Freddie Mac told investors it did not classify single-family loans using the words "prime" or "subprime." Instead, Freddie Mac provided investors with tables outlining the characteristics of loans, allowing investors to draw their own inferences about loan quality, the lawyers said. The lawyers cited an investor document that said the amount of loans that would have been subprime if the term that Freddie Mac used was "not significant." Suzanne Romajas, a lawyer for the SEC, agreed that there is no universally accepted definition of "subprime," but she said Freddie Mac used a combination of factors to decide whether a certain loan was high-risk, and the former executives should have disclosed all of the mortgages that were vulnerable to potential default. For example, including mortgages with "subprime-like" characteristics would have increased Freddie Mac's overall high-risk loan exposure to 10 percent of its portfolio, not the 0.1 percent claimed by the company, she added. Read more. (Subscription required.)

SUPREME COURT CASE COULD CURB DEBT-COLLECTION LAWSUITS

Fearing that the legal playing field could be tilted against consumers, a group of federal and private consumer agencies have filed briefs in a U.S. Supreme Court case that threatens to shift the cost of a lawsuit to consumers in debt-collection cases, CreditCards.com reported today. In the past, collectors have absorbed court costs in "good faith" suits by consumers, even if the consumer loses, unless the consumers sued in bad faith or for purposes of harassment. Without this protection from fee shifting, people would be discouraged from suing debt collectors, say the Federal Trade Commission, the Consumer Financial Protection Board and a group of private consumer advocacy groups in legal briefs filed this month. There has been a surge in the number of cases filed against debt collectors under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the 1977 federal law that regulates the activities of third-party debt collectors. The case that made it to the Supreme Court, though, could discourage such suits, the agencies say. The case, known as Marx v. General Revenue Corp., revolves around the experience of Olivea Marx, a Colorado woman who racked up student debt and failed to pay it, then was contacted by a debt collector. Marx, a single mother with two young children and a low-paying job, claimed that the collector's vigor went beyond the limits of the law. The collector called her several times a day, she said, and illegally threatened to garnish half her wages and sent a collection-related fax to her employer. She sued, but the lower court disagreed, finding that the debt collector's contact with the woman's employer did not violate the law because it did not specifically mention her debt. The court ordered her to pay $4,543 in costs -- nearly all of which compensated the debt collector for hiring a court reporter and bringing in witnesses. Read more.

TRANSUNION: U.S. AUTO LOAN DELINQUENCY RATE IN SECOND QUARTER AT LOWEST LEVEL

Credit-information company TransUnion Corp. said that the national delinquency rate of auto loans in the U.S. hit its lowest level for the second consecutive quarter since the firm began tracking the data in 1999, Dow Jones Newswires reported today. Auto loan delinquency rates in the second quarter dropped to 0.33 percent, down from 0.36 percent in the first quarter and 0.44 percent in the period a year ago. In addition to increased demand in new and used autos, bank auto debt per borrower rose to $13,427 in the second quarter from $12,689 in the previous year. TransUnion said that despite growing bank auto debt, the majority of states and cities are experiencing declines in their auto loan delinquency rates. Read more.

REGIONAL AIRLINES FACE CLOSINGS, BANKRUPTCY

Regional airlines operate half the nation's scheduled flights, but several of those carriers are being closed or are in bankruptcy court protection, USA Today reported today. They face significant challenges, as the big airlines they often fly for are phasing out smaller and costlier regional jets and cutting some low-traffic regional routes to focus on those that are more lucrative. Delta, the largest operator of 50-seat aircraft among U.S. airlines, will shutter regional carrier Comair after Sept. 29. Pinnacle Airlines, with subsidiaries such as Colgan that have flown for United, US Airways and Delta, filed for bankruptcy protection in April. AMR, the parent company of American Airlines and regional carrier American Eagle, filed for bankruptcy protection in November. "Airlines are finding these smaller jets just don't make them any money," says industry analyst Mike Boyd. "That's why they're shutting down Comair. That's why Pinnacle is in bankruptcy. It's a sector of (the) industry that provides a type of aircraft that's rapidly becoming obsolete." Read more.

ORCHESTRAS FIGHT HARD TIMES THROUGH BANKRUPTCY SEEKING NEW MODEL

Orchestras across the country continue to struggle financially, and some are following the lead of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Bloomberg News reported today. The Philadelphia Orchestra was the biggest among at least five U.S. symphonies to seek court protection in the wake of the 2008 economic collapse. Others include music organizations in Louisville, Ky., Syracuse, N.Y., Albuquerque, N.M., and Honolulu. Though subject to the same harsh realities of bankruptcy as corporations, the recent reorganization in Philadelphia -- and the decreased debt and expenses the group emerged with -- may serve as a model for other symphonies struggling with fewer donors and lower ticket sales. With its turnaround plan approved, the Philadelphia Orchestra Association exited court protection on July 30 after 15 months, having resolved $100 million in claims with a $5.5 million settlement, shrinking its payroll and winning a release from its pension obligations. Read more.

Click here to listen to an ABI podcast that focuses on orchestra bankruptcies.

DON'T MISS THE "WHEN IS AN INDIVIDUAL CHAPTER 11 THE BEST FIT?" WEBINAR ON SEPT. 27!

Chapter 11 can offer significant relief for certain individuals who need a restructuring of their finances. Learn when and how to use this tool in a 75-minute live webinar on Sept. 27 at noon ET. An expert panel will guide you through a successful individual chapter 11 and discuss key issues such as plan confirmation, modification and treatment of future income and secured debt.

Panelists on the webinar include:

• James F. Molleur of the Molleur Law Office (Biddeford, Maine)

• John P. Fitzgerald, III, of the Office of the U.S. Trustee (Boston)

• Raymond J. Obuchowski of Obuchowski & Emens-Butler, PC (Bethel, Vt.)

• Jennifer Rood of Bernstein Shur (Manchester, N.H.)

This panel was the highest rated at ABI's Northeast Bankruptcy Conference in July. The webinar is available to ABI members for $75. To register, please click here.

ABI IN-DEPTH

ABI MEMBERS WELCOME TO ATTEND ACB'S FREE HALF-DAY "BANKRUPTCY: BACK TO THE FUTURE" PROGRAM IN SEPTEMBER

The American College of Bankruptcy invites you to attend a free half-day program on Sept. 28 in Chicago for a discussion of many of the challenging topics facing current bankruptcy and reorganization professionals. Topics to be addressed include recent decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, important work of the Advisory Committee on Bankruptcy Rules, and developments in the field of bankruptcy ethics. The nation’s leading judges, academics and bankruptcy professionals are among the speakers for the program. While there is no cost to attend, seating is limited, so early reservation is suggested. For more information and to register, please click here.

LATEST CASE SUMMARY ON VOLO: NUVEEN MUNICIPAL TRUST V. WITHUMSMITH BROWN, P.C. (3D CIR.)

Summarized by Matthew Heimann of Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, PC

Affirming the district court, the Third Circuit held that the district court did have "related to" jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1334(b) to adjudicate Appellant's action against the debtor’s accounting firm and counsel regarding an audit report and opinion letter that was prepared for the pre-petition transaction. The Third Circuit enunciated the principles of "related to" jurisdiction and its "conceivability" inquiry that applies to such analyses.

There are more than 600 appellate opinions summarized on Volo, and summaries typically appear within 24 hours of the ruling. Click here regularly to view the latest case summaries on ABI’s Volo website.

NEW ON ABI’S BANKRUPTCY BLOG EXCHANGE: FURTHER EXAMINATION OF THE FIFTH CIRCUIT’S RULING IN THE PILGRIM’S PRIDE CASE

The Bankruptcy Blog Exchange is a free ABI service that tracks 35 bankruptcy-related blogs. A recent blog post examines the Fifth Circuit's ruling in the Pilgrim's Pride case. The court ruled in the case that a $1 million “enhancement fee" is OK after the company's reorganization plan paid a 100 percent dividend to unsecured creditors.

Be sure to check the site several times each day; any time a contributing blog posts a new story, a link to the story will appear on the top. If you have a blog that deals with bankruptcy, or know of a good blog that should be part of the Bankruptcy Exchange, please contact the ABI Web team.

ABI Quick Poll
The Twombly/Iqbal rule for pleading ‘plausible’ claims has been applied too stringently in dismissing avoidance actions for failure to state a claim.

Click here to vote on this week's Quick Poll. Click here to view the results of previous Quick Polls.

HAVE YOU TUNED IN TO BLOOMBERG LAW'S VIDEO PODCASTS?

Bloomberg Law's video podcasts feature top experts speaking about current bankruptcy topics. The podcasts are available via Bloomberg Law's YouTube channel so that you can access the programs from your computer or device of your choice! Click here to view the Bloomberg Law video podcasts.

INSOL INTERNATIONAL

INSOL International is a worldwide federation of national associations for accountants and lawyers who specialize in turnaround and insolvency. There are currently 37 member associations worldwide with more than 9,000 professionals participating as members of INSOL International. As a member association of INSOL, ABI's members receive a discounted subscription rate. See ABI's enrollment page for details.

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Join our networks to expand yours.

September
- 7th Annual Golf and Tennis Outing
     September 11, 2012 | Maplewood, N.J.
- Complex Financial Restructuring Program
     September 13-14, 2012 | Las Vegas, Nev.
- Southwest Bankruptcy Conference
     September 13-15, 2012 | Las Vegas, Nev.
- 38th Annual Lawrence P. King and Charles Seligson Workshop on Bankruptcy & Business Reorganization
     September 19-20, 2012 | New York, N.Y.
- "When Is an Individual Chapter 11 the Best Fit?" Live Webinar
     September 27, 2012
- American College of Bankruptcy's "Bankruptcy: Back to the Future" Program
     September 28, 2012 | Chicago, Ill.

October
- Nuts & Bolts for Young and New Practitioners - KC
     October 4, 2012 | Kansas City, Mo.
- Midwestern Bankruptcy Institute Program, Midwestern Consumer Forum
     October 5, 2012 | Kansas City, Mo.

- Bankruptcy 2012: Views from the Bench
     October 5, 2012 | Washington, D.C.
- Chicago Consumer Bankruptcy Conference
     October 8, 2012 | Chicago, Ill.
- "Trending Issues: Examiners and Select Plan Confirmation Issues" Webinar
     October 15, 2012
- International Insolvency and Restructuring Symposium
     October 18, 2012 | Rome, Italy

November
- U.S./Mexico Restructuring Symposium
     November 7, 2012 | Mexico City, Mexico
- Professional Development Program
     November 9, 2012 | New York, N.Y.
- Detroit Consumer Bankruptcy Conference
     November 12, 2012 | Detroit, Mich.
- Winter Leadership Conference
     November 29 - December 1, 2012 | Tucson, Ariz.