2018

The restaurant industry, particularly the fast food and fast casual sectors, is under pressure from rising food and labor costs, the changing dining habits of millennials, and decreased foot traffic at retail shopping centers. This panel will examine those trends and explore potential strategies to maximize enterprise value, both in and out of bankruptcy court.

This panel will examine the factors considered by debtors and their advisors when determining where to file a large chapter 11 business case, and the occasional efforts to have the case transferred to a venue that is arguably more convenient to creditors, employees and/or shareholders. The panel will also discuss the pending legislation known as the Bankruptcy Venue Reform Act of 2018 (S. 2282) — as well as the arguments both supporting and opposing its passage.

Creditor and equity committees have an important role in maximizing recoveries chapter 11 cases. Both formal and ad hoc committee can dramatically influence the course of a chapter 11 and the ultimate shape of a chapter 11 plan. This panel will explore legal tools and practical strategies available to committees in seeking to deliver better results for their constituents, as well as the risks involved and the likelihood of success.

Rarely has a hashtag so completely captured the urgency and gravity of a major shift in national consciousness. This panel of experts will lead an interactive discussion on issues confronting the legal profession in the #MeToo world, examining legal, practical and ethical considerations through a series of vignettes. What should be done about the difficult client that represents a significant portion of firm revenue? What are best practices for lawyers in supervisory and managerial roles?

Many of the challenges that exist in complex business cases are equally at play in small commercial cases. But whereas time and resources might be more abundant in the larger cases, small chapter 11 restructurings frequently demand a more organized — and affordable — process.