We are excited to announce the creation of the first-ever Northeast Virtual Bankruptcy Conference & Consumer Forum! The Northeast Advisory Board has assembled a roster of leading insolvency professionals from the region who will present on a variety of insightful and timely topics that offer something for everyone. This online workshop will also provide participants with ample opportunities to network virtually with bankruptcy professionals in the Northeast and beyond — and the entire event costs just $100! Register today for what is sure to be a unique and rewarding virtual experience.
Emerging Leader Program
Join us for an interactive hour long program for insolvency professionals with less than 10 years of experience in either consumer or business bankruptcy. As the Beatles once suggested, “We Can Work It Out!” In what promises to be a dynamic interactive session, we will be dividing participants — culled from a list of emerging leaders — into four teams. Working in separate breakout rooms, each team will consider a workout simulation based on a simple fact pattern and — with the assistance of a facilitator — formulate a resolution, then present their resolution to the group at large. As always, emerging leaders will have the opportunity to join breakout groups with bankruptcy judges afterward for stimulating discussion. Have you got what it takes to create a winning workout?
Sponsored by Bernstein Shur
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Concurrent Sessions (choose Consumer or Business)
Consumer Breakout
Bankruptcy Mediation in Consumer Cases: New Tools for Changing Times
Consumer cases require quick, effective and efficient answers to complex legal issues. Bankruptcy cases are expected to surge as a result of the economic consequences wrought by COVID-19, creating a logjam in the bankruptcy courts that is expected to continue. Mediation is the relief valve, providing opportunities for consumer practitioners to minimize delay and resolve intractable problems. The panelists will discuss the phases of mediation, applicable rules and statutes, cases most suitable for mediation, how to select a mediator, confidentiality and privilege issues, how to prepare both your client and your case, remote mediation, and best practices for achieving a favorable result.
View MaterialsBusiness Breakout
Out of Workouts
How are lenders, borrowers and vested parties adapting to a rapidly changing environment? Are lenders and other creditors becoming more or less aggressive as business plans and borrowing bases are indefinitely affected by the suppressed commercial activity from the coronavirus? The panelists explore these issues and more.
Break
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Plenary Session
Virtually Effective — Conducting Professional and Persuasive Hearings on Remote Platforms
As Bankruptcy Courts hold hearings across a variety of remote platforms, how can attorneys and other bankruptcy professionals ensure they are most effectively representing their clients? This expert panel will discuss best practices for appearing remotely, offering tips on preparing witnesses for testimony, presenting an effective “virtual” courtroom presence, and maintaining proper courtroom etiquette in the new normal, and will also address several ethics considerations in our new "Virtual" reality. These include:
• Coaching the witness (or not!)
• Maintaining privilege/confidentiality when dealing with co-counsel and clients over a remote platform in real time
Sponsored by Ford, McDonald, McPartlin & Borden, PA
Networking Happy Hour
Sponsored by Getzler Henrich & Associates LLC
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Concurrent Sessions (choose Consumer or Business)
Consumer Breakout
The Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019
More than 14 years after Congress amended the Bankruptcy Code to provide special rules and procedures for “small business debtors,” it enacted the Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019. In the wake of the economic damage caused by COVID-19 and the necessary governmental response, Congress then amended the SBRA in the CARES Act to raise the debt limit to $7.5 million (subject to a possible one-year sunset). How will the SBRA change your practice? With a $7.5 million debt limit, standing trustees, a streamlined reorganization process, the elimination of the absolute priority rule and § 1129(a)(10), and the possible modification of certain mortgages, the SBRA presents new opportunities for small business debtors and their stakeholders. This panel will take a look at cases under the new law in its early days, as well as how it impacts eligible individual debtors (and their creditors).
View MaterialsBusiness Breakout
New World Orders: Post COVID Practice
The novel coronavirus has certainly induced many systemic changes around the world, and the bankruptcy and restructuring industry is no exception. What once worked in a pre-COVID-19 world might not work anymore, so parties must adapt quickly, often with no precedence upon which to rely. This panel will discuss the idiosyncrasies and novel ways bankruptcy practice is operating, restructuring and adapting to a “new normal,” and how constituencies on all sides of the table are approaching its unique aspects.
Break
Judicial Round-and-Round
In this virtual variation on the in-person format, a group of distinguished judges from the Northeast region will discuss current bankruptcy and practical skills issues in an innovative Zoom-style presentation. Every 20 minutes, judges will rotate to a new online “room,” allowing participants to maximize their time and gain valuable insights into best practices.
Networking Happy Hour
Sponsored by DiCicco, Gulman & Company LLP
Conference Rates
ABI Member & Non-member: $100
Program and ABI Membership for New Members*: $400
* Includes a one-year ABI membership for first-time members — a $375 value! Membership is individual and nonrefundable. If your membership has expired, select the member rate and add in your membership renewal fee.
Cancellation Policy
No refunds will be granted for this online program. Should you become unable to attend any or all of the sessions, upon request, a recording of all sessions can be sent to you, along with the corresponding educational materials.
Anti-Harassment Policy
The American Bankruptcy Institute is dedicated to providing a harassment-free conference experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age or religion. We do not tolerate harassment of conference participants in any form. Sexual language and imagery is not appropriate for any conference venue, including talks. Conference participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the conference without a refund at the discretion of the conference organizers. Our anti-harassment policy can be found at: https://www.abi.org/about-us/bylaws-and-policies.
Conference Co-Chairs
Consumer Forum Co-Chairs
Advisory Board
This program is eligible for 4.25 hours of general CLE credit, including 1 hour of ethics, in states calculating CLE on a 60-minute hour, and 5.1 hours of general CLE credit, including 1.2 hours of ethics, in 50-minute-hour states. Credit hours are estimated and are subject to each state’s approval and credit-rounding rules and might not be approved prior to the program. California MCLE: ABI certifies that this activity has been approved for MCLE credit in the amount of 4.25 hours, including 1 hour of ethics. NY MCLE: This course or program has been approved in accordance with the requirements of the New York State Continuing Legal Education Board for a maximum of 5 credit hours, of which 4 credit hours can be applied toward the professional practice requirement and 1 credit hour can be applied toward the ethics professionalism requirement.
5 hours of CPE credit, including 1 hour of behavioral ethics, are also available. Instructional Delivery Method: Group Internet-Based.
* 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 submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website, www.nasbaregistry.org.
When and how can I access the virtual conference?
Registered attendees will receive a link via email to the attendee website 48 hours before the first session begins. The link will be sent to the email address you used to register for the program, and this is how you will access all of the conference content. You’ll use the same link each day to access the attendee website for the live conference and whenever you choose to view the on-demand content.
What if I don't receive the link?
Contact [email protected], and a member of the ABI team can provide you with one.
Can I share this link with others?
As with in-person meetings, registrations cannot be shared. The registration provides a secure single sign-on experience for the user.
How much time should I expect to be online during the event days?
The virtual workshop takes place over about 3.5 hours in the afternoon on both Thursday and Friday. During breaks from the live sessions, you can visit other areas of the conference, such as the Attendee Lounge.
Are there any specific technology requirements?
You will be able to access the program sessions without downloading any plug-ins or software. However, for best results, we recommend that you use Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Chromium Edge to access the sessions. The program will not be available on a mobile/cell phone (iPhone, Android, Blackberry), but can be accessed through laptop, desktop (PC or Mac) and certain other mobile devices (Surface Pro, iPad).
What are the suggested web browser prerequisites?
Internet Explorer 10 or higher
Chromium Edge 80 or higher
Google Chrome 53.0.2785 or higher
Safari 10.0.602.1.50 or higher
Firefox 76 or higher
Note: Mobile web browsers are not supported.