New York

John W. Lucas, Moderator
Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones LLP; San Francisco
Judicial Debate
Resolved: The “disinterestedness” requirement should be strictly enforced under § 327 (no waivers or ethical walls).
Pro: Hon. Randall L. Dunn
U.S. Bankruptcy Court (D. Or.); Portland
Con: Hon. Madeleine C. Wanslee
U.S. Bankruptcy Court (D. Ariz.); Phoenix
Business Debate
Resolved: Acceleration of a debt obligation under a credit agreement should act to prevent the lender from enforcing a prepayment premium
Pro: Lori Sinanyan
Jones Day; Los Angeles

The trial team in this session will explore strategies to quickly discover essential facts relating to substantive and procedural legal defenses by discussing the use of discovery, the proper use of and best practices for motions for summary judgment and developing the summary judgment record, and strategies for opposing summary judgment in a contested matter to which Part VII of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure apply. The context will be an objection to a proof of claim asserting legal defenses, including improper interest charges, based on a hypothetical case.

This panel will explore the question of whether exemptions may be denied for bad faith and whether debtors may amend their claimed exemptions to assert a different statutory basis after an exemption has been denied, including the impact of potential res judicata and collateral estoppel claims. Case law developments since Law v. Siegel will be reviewed, as well as important strategic considerations for debtors, trustees and creditors.

Mortgage Regulation Update: New “Qualified Mortgage” and Ability-to-Pay Regulations, and Loan Servicing/Loss-Mitigation Regulations
Practitioners can get up to speed on the new “Qualified Mortgage Rule” (the “QM”) and the ability-to-pay regulations to prepare for future mortgage claim disputes. This panel will discuss the changes to TILA and RESPA, as well as the new Consumer Financial Protection Board (CFPB) regulations on mortgage servicing.

Young lawyers frequently learn that they will be working on a new chapter 11 case when they are directed to start drafting pleadings. This session, spearheaded by members of ABI’s Young & New Members Committee, is geared toward gaining an understanding of what precedes that moment by (1) advising and educating the new(er) generation of bankruptcy professionals on the background and “big picture” of a chapter 11 case, and (2) advising and educating the newest generation of bankruptcy professionals on pre-filing strategies.