Previous Events & CLE Programs
June 30, 2008
Section Event
Bankruptcy Court Judges
Dear Bankruptcy Section Members:
I am writing to encourage you and your colleagues to attend a reception that the BBA and MBA are hosting to welcome the more than 160 bankruptcy judges from around the country attending the Federal Judicial Center's Bankruptcy Judge's Workshop. This event gives us a unique opportunity to recognize the bankruptcy judiciary and showcase the size and sophistication of our District's bankruptcy practice, as well as our City and the recently renovated Great Hall of the John Adams Courthouse. It is important that we have a strong showing of Massachusetts practitioners.
This is a national conference with over 160 bankruptcy judges, their spouses, and other distinguished guests in attendance. For those of you in firms with multiple offices, we encourage you to reach out to your colleagues in other cities and invite them to the reception.
Kindly register at your earliest convenience so that we can get an accurate count. For security reasons, we cannot allow walk-ins the night of the event.
Many thanks and we look forward to seeing you on June 30th.
Douglas Rosner
Co-Chair of the BBA Bankruptcy Law Section
June 25, 2008
CLE Program
Subprime Lending Crisis: Where are we going and why are we in this handbasket?
Sponsored by:
Real Estate Section
Bankruptcy Law Section
Criminal Law Section
Panelists will address the origins, current conditions and the future of the current foreclosure crisis. In addition, the presenters will review recently enacted mortgage lending controls and foreclosure prevention legislation and comment on lenders’ responses to the foreclosure crisis.
Attendees will gain an understanding of predatory and subprime lending markets; what the subprime crisis means for lenders, owners, buyers, and sellers; and what government regulatory and enforcement actions have been taken to curtail to the crisis.
Click here for complete program description
June 17, 2008
Section Meeting
CLO's, CDO's and Credit Default Swaps – What Does it All Mean?
Please join Don DeAmicis, Ropes & Gray LLP, to examine CLO's, CDO's, Credit Default Swaps and other debt derivatives – what they are, how they work, how they are structured, and what happens when there is a default. To the extent there is time, examine workout and restructuring issues, including the effect of credit default swaps on a company's ability to restructure its debt in or outside of bankruptcy.
May 20, 2008
Section Meeting
Navigating Gambling Debtors through Bankruptcy
William J. McLeod, McLeod Law Offices, PC, will serve as moderator as panelists Elaine Benkoski, Law Office of Elaine Benkoski, and Marlene D. Warner, Program Director, Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling discuss the unique issues and problems that gambling debtors face and how consumer attorneys can help them navigate through the bankruptcy process.
May 15, 2008
CLE Program
18th Annual Bankruptcy Bench Meets Bar Conference
Bankruptcy judges and practitioners in the District of Massachusetts will share insights, observations and analysis on key issues for 2007.
Click here for complete program description
April 17, 2008
CLE Program
THIRD YEAR ANNIVERSARY Consumer BAPCPA SPECIAL
Sponsored by:
Bankruptcy Law Section
This is “Jeopardy” And the Game Board is Mortgages!
The rise in securitization of mortgages and the substantial activity in the assignment of mortgage loans have generated great confusion and increasing case law. Jeopardy’s three “contestants” will choose from categories such as “Mortgage Holders,” “Mortgage Securitization,” “Note Holders,” “MERS,” “Servicers” and “Assignments.” Points will be awarded for answers to questions such as “how to determine who the correct parties are when assessing claims” “who to serve with motions for relief from automatic stay” and “who are the parties to adversary proceedings involving predatory lending claims.”
Speakers
John McNicholas, Esq.
Ablitt & Charlton, PC
Julie A. Ranieri, Esq.
Korde & Associates
Amy Lipman-White, Esq.
Stanton & Davis
Beat the Clock: Unscrambling the Deadlines and Limitations
The game show “Beat the Clock” required contestants to perform wacky tasks in 60 seconds. In the second round, contestants were required to take scrambled words of a famous saying or quote and unscramble the phrase in 20 seconds or less. BAPCPA has inserted new provisions of the Code at §1308 which requires that chapter 13 Debtors be current on the filing of tax returns; meet various deadlines and jurisdictional thresholds. This segment will examine the case law and local practice when the tax returns are not filed by the date of the 341, when the debt is “over the ceiling” and when the threshold requirements are not satisfied.
Speakers
Carolyn A.Bankowski, Esq.
Chapter 13 Trustee
William J. McLeod, Esq.
McLeod Law Offices
Roger C. Stanford, Esq.
Stanford & Schall
Survivor – Top 10 issues to confirming a Chapter 13 Plan and getting the Discharge
Contestants in the popular game “Survivor” overcome challenges to win the $1million prize. Debtors must conquer the requirements of BAPCPA to achieve confirmation. The cases since enactment have examined many of the issues including excess disposable income, the means test and surrendered property, extending the automatic stay, etc. Update your knowledge on the top ten issues in Chapter 13.
Speakers
Susan I. Grossberg, Esq.
Jeffrey M. Frankel, Esq.
Law Office of Jeffrey M. Frankel
Gary W. Cruickshank, Esq.
The Newlywed Game
In the Newlywed game couples married less than 3 years prove how much they really know about each other. The expert panelists will field questions about BAPCPA and prove just how much they know about Consumer Bankruptcy Law and Practice.
Speakers
Jenny L. Yandell, Esq.
Parker & Associates
Catherine V. Eastwood, Esq.
Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP
Michael T. Eramo, Esq.
Law Offices of Michael T. Eramo P.C.
Mark C. Rossi, Esq.
Jager Smith P.C.
Moderator
Nina M. Parker, Esq.
Parker & Associates
April 15, 2008
Section Meeting
How to Read a Financial Statement in the Context of an Investigation
Pam Parizek and Marykay Corcoran of KPMG Forensic will provide an overview of:
- Fraudulent Financial Reporting,
- Financial Statements and Financial Statement Analysis,
- Additional Fraud Considerations, and
- Case Review.
February 11, 2008
Section Meeting
A Short Play in 2 Acts: Birth of New Bankruptcy Rules & Infancy of BAPCPA's Business Amendments
Join Doug Gooding, Choate, Hall & Stewart, LLP, Jesse I. Redlener, Proskauer Rose LLP, and Peter Nils Baylor, Nutter, McClennen & Fish, LLP as they 'perform' a short play about BAPCPA and its development. Mr. Gooding will summarize and comment on the proposed amendments to the New Bankruptcy Rules. Mr. Redlener and Mr. Baylor will review selected topics as affected by the "business" amendments to the Bankruptcy Code made by BAPCPA.
February 7, 2008
Section Meeting
Time Management: Tips for Powering up Productivity and Powering Down Stress
Sponsors
Solo & Small Firm Section
New Lawyers Section
Bankruptcy Law Section
Criminal Law Section
Environmental Law Section
Anne Braudy, Braudy Legal Consulting, and Dr. Jeffery Fortgang, Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers, Inc., will offer specific recommendations on how to run your practice more efficiently. Goals are to:
- increase productivity
- free up time for what's missing in your practice
- complete more projects, and
- have more time away from the office.
In addition to time management tips, strategies will be provided to help combat the internal obstacles that get in the way of applying these time-tested methods in your practice.
January 31, 2008
Section Meeting
Young Bar Meets Bench
Join us for the Young Bar Meets Bench, a program intended to provide new practitioners with an introduction to the judges and valuable insight into the Bankruptcy Court and practice. The event will be divided into two segments: an informational segment and a cocktail social segment. Speakers include:
Hon. Henry J. Boroff
Hon. Joan N. Feeney
Hon. William C. Hillman
Hon. Joel B. Rosenthal
James Lynch, Office of the Clerk of Court
Gary Donohue, Office of the United States Trustee
January 16, 2008
CLE Program
Fighting Predatory Lending in the Trenches:
Beyond Basic Training
Sponsors
Bankruptcy Law Section
Real Estate Section
The press and the courts are full of stories about rapidly rising mortgage defaults and foreclosure actions which may be the result of predatory lending and loan servicing abuses. There is an urgent need for counsel equipped with the ability to identify legal issues and bring claims that arise from defaults under the numerous exotic mortgage loan products that consumers are in now. Counsel must be able to implement the powerful remedies available to combat abusive actions alleged by lenders and mortgage brokers.
Learn how to identify and implement the available causes of action including rescission under the Truth in Lending Act, how to determine the coverage triggers in the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act, how to address claims resulting from alleged violations of consumer protection statutes, as well as other important remedies available under state and federal laws.
Click here for complete program description
January 15, 2008
Membership Committee Meeting
Basic Creditor Issues in Bankruptcy
Peter M. Acton, Jr., McDermott Will & Emery LLP, and Alex F Mattera, Demeo & Associates, P.C., will provide a basic overview of issues that creditors and their counsel typically face in a bankruptcy. From proofs of claim to the automatic stay to Section 341 meetings, this program is perfect for new and non-bankruptcy practitioners interested in learning basic bankruptcy concepts and strategies for representing creditors.
December 18, 2007
Section Meeting
Consumer Bankruptcy Do's & Don'ts
Gary Donahue, Office of the United States Trustee, Region 1, and Ann Brennan, Stephen E. Shamban Law Offices, will discuss the big changes in consumer bankruptcy practice brought about by BAPCPA. Specific topics include:
- significant changes to the means test forms;
- changes to the allowable living expenses and standards;
- emerging issues with 707(b); and
- ways to ensure that you and your clients safely navigate through this new legal terrain.
November 20, 2007
Section Meeting
Bankruptcy Issues Relating to the Foreclosure Process
Join us as a distinguished panel discusses foreclosure practice in Massachusetts and bankruptcy issues that arise within the foreclosure context from both a debtor and creditor perspective.
Panelists include:
October 16, 2007
Section Meeting
Predatory Lending: Initiatives Taken by the Office of the Attorney General
Chris Barry-Smith, Assistant Attorney General, and Carol Kenner, Special Assistant Attorney General, will discuss the initiatives taken by the Office of Attorney General concerning predatory lending in the Commonwealth including:
- current enforcement litigation;
- c. 93A regulations governing mortgage brokers and lenders as well as foreclosure rescue transactions and services;
- and the pro bono attorney referral hotline for MA borrowers facing foreclosure.
September 24, 2007
CLE Program
Cross-Border Secured Transactions: What happens when everything that can go wrong, goes wrong?
Sponsors
Commercial Finance Committee
Structuring, negotiating and documenting crossborder financing transactions that minimize these risks presents an array of important legal issues. After this seminar, you will know how to address the legal issues involved in structuring, negotiating and documenting cross-border financing transactions. You will also understand how these risks can be mitigated through the use of tested loan structures and loan document provisions and the development of close relationships with local international counsel.
Click here for complete program description
September 18, 2007
Section Meeting
Tales from the Crypt - How "Old" Bankruptcy Practice affects modern Bankruptcy Practice
Rick Levine of Nelson, Kinder, Mosseau & Saturley, PC and Joe Braunstein of Riemer & Braunstein LLP will discuss how many of the concerns of today’s Bankruptcy Judges, U.S. Trustees, and Congress are based on memories of past practices. Specifically they will discuss how Bankruptcy practice (especially in Massachusetts) over the last 50 years generated startling new concepts with which we live today. These include published rules, regular trials, Bankruptcy Judges, a U.S. Trustee program, publicly accessible case information, and the abolition of receiverships and ex parte communications.
June 20, 2007
CLE Program
Construction Law Update: Contractor Bankruptcy
Sponsors
Real Estate Section
Bankruptcy Section
Litigation Section
This year’s annual construction law update will provide a “nuts and bolts” overview from the perspectives of the owner, contractor and subcontractor. Panelists will offer valuable insight into the issue of "The Contractor Files for Bankruptcy: What Happens Next?" They will examine what happens after the contractor files for bankruptcy protection, including, how the project is funded and completed and how the parties working on the project are paid. The panelists will address the impacts of a contractor bankruptcy from the perspectives of the owner, contractor, subcontractor and surety. The program will also include some bankruptcy basics, including a discussion of preference issues that every lawyer in this field should know.
Click here for complete program description.
June 19, 2007
Section Meeting
Bankruptcy Quiz Show – Confirm It or Not
Janet E. Bostwick of Janet E. Bostwick, PC will host this year's bankruptcy game show, with "contestants" Jennifer Hertz of Duane Morris LLP and Jesse Redlener of Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP leading an interactive discussion on recent cases on Chapter 11 plans and confirmation issues.
June 13, 2007
Section Event
Reception Honoring Visiting Russian Commercial Court Judges
Sponsors
Bankruptcy Law Section
International Law Section
In her capacity as a member of the International Judicial Relations Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States, Judge Joan Feeney of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court is hosting a group of ; five Commercial Court* judges from Moscow in mid-June. At her request, the Bankruptcy Law and International Law Sections are co-sponsoring a ;reception in honor of ; these visitors and you are hereby invited and encouraged to attend.
*The Russian Commercial Court is actually called Arbitrazh Court, but in spite of that name should not be confused with an arbitration tribunal, which in Russian is called treteyski sud.
The reception is free for BBA members and guests.
**The Special Collections Room is on the 4th floor of the John Adams Court House Social Law Library. When you arrive at the Courthouse, take the elevator to the 4th floor, and walk into the main room. Turn right at the main stacks and another right at the Special Collections room. Walk down the hallway past the restrooms and the room will be on your left. There are signs directing you to the Special Collections Room, and a BBA representative will help direct you.
May 24 , 2007
CLE Program
17th Annual Bankruptcy Bench Meets Bar Conference
Bankruptcy judges and practitioners in the District of Massachusetts will share insights, observations and analysis on key issues for 2007.
Click here for complete program description
May 15 , 2007
Section Meeting
Basic Creditor Issues in Bankruptcy
Colin Darke of Mirick, O’Connell, DeMallie & Lougee, LLP and Steve C. Bennett of Wimer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP will discuss issues in bankruptcy that impact creditors.
April 11, 2007
Section Event
Nuts & Bolts - An Introduction to Consumer Bankruptcy Law
Join us as we cover the basics of preparing and filing a consumer bankruptcy case. ; Specific topics include:
- pre-filing considerations
- preparation of the petition
- schedules and statements
- the Chapter 13 Plan
- Reaffirmation Agreements
- practice pointers and advice about handling a consumer bankruptcy case and appearing before the United States Bankruptcy Court
Panelists:
This program is free to members and non-members of the BBA.
April 11, 2007
Section Meeting
Preparing for an Adversary Proceeding
William J. McLeod and Frederick J. Watson, III of Stephen E. Shamban Law Offices, P.C. will discuss how to handle adversary proceedings as well as how and when to settle.
Join us for an interactive discussion from both the debtor and creditor’s perspectives.
March 20, 2007
Section EVent
Nuts and Bolts: An Introduction to Consumer Bankruptcy Law
Join us as we cover the basics of preparing and filing a consumer bankruptcy case. Specifically, we will discuss:
- pre-filing considerations
- preparation of the petition
- schedules and statements
- the Chapter 13 Plan
- Reaffirmation Agreements
- practice pointers
- advice about handling a consumer bankruptcy case and appearing before the United States Bankruptcy Court
Panelists include:
This program is free to members and non-members of the BBA. A reception will follow the program.
March 20, 2007
Section Meeting
Business & Reorganization Topics in the Post-BAPCPA Era
Richard L. Levine, former Director and Counsel of the Executive Office for United States Trustees and Peter Nils Baylor of Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP will discuss corporate cases and practices that have arisen under BAPCPA. Specifically, they will discuss:
- New disclosure duties of creditors’ committees
- Preferences
- Exclusivity
- Leases and executory contracts
- Health care ombudsman
- Section 366 utilities
- Chapter 15
- Section 503(b)(9) and reclamation
- Single asset real estate
- Section 1112 conversion and dismissal
- Individual Chapter 11 debtors
March 1, 2007
CLE Program
The Intersection of Divorce and Bankruptcy
Sponsors
Bankruptcy Law Section
Family Law Section
Attend this program to learn about the relationship between family and bankruptcy law as it has been affected by three recent events: the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2006 (BAPCPA), the US Supreme Court decision Marshall v. Marshall (the Anna Nicole Smith case), and legalization of gay marriage in Massachusetts.
Click here for complete program description.
January 17, 2007
Section Event
Bankruptcy Consumer Law Committee Rap Session
Join us for wine and cheese and come and find out what’s "Heard around Town!"
Consumer attorneys have their ear to the ground as they sit in motion sessions and section 341 meetings waiting for their clients’ cases to be called. As a result, they are in the position to hear about the different practices and procedures exercised by the various courtrooms and trustees. Come to the January Consumer Rap Session to hear and share what is going on in the "day to day" practice by consumer practitioners.
There is no charge, but all are asked to bring an example of the engagement letter or fee agreement which you are using.
November 30, 2006
Section Meeting
Consumer Law Committee Forms Fling and Rap Session
Join us for wine, cheese and snacks to share ideas and tips to keep your files organized in light of the requirements of the new reform act. We will swap organizational forms such as document management forms, due diligence procedures forms, client checklist forms, means test calculation forms, etc. Please bring 15 copies to share.
This will also be an excellent opportunity for attorneys to exchange ideas and practice tips on client communication and document management as well as other issues and challenges of practicing under BAPCPA.
November 21, 2006
Section Meeting
Business Considerations in Workouts and Reorganizations
We will discuss the stages of a business decline leading up to the need for a workout or bankruptcy reorganization. We will also review the economic and operational considerations in deciding if a company can be reorganized, or if it should be sold or liquidated. Panelists include:
November 14, 2006
CLE Program
Handling Bankrupty Pro Bono Cases
Sponsor
The Pro Bono Committee of the Bankruptcy Law Section
Following the first full year of the enactment of the BAPCPA Amendments to the Bankruptcy Code, panelists will share their experience in accepting pro bono cases under the new legislation.
Attendees will learn how to file and administer a pro bono Chapter 7 Bankruptcy case on behalf of a low-income client. The panel will work through a completed petition that illustrates many of the issues that can arise, and discuss techniques for eliciting the necessary information from the client.
Click here for complete program description
October 17, 2006
Section Meeting
Health Care Bankruptcies
Jeffrey D. Sternklar of Duane Morris LLP will discuss health care bankruptcies, following enactment of the Bankruptcy Abuse and Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005.
October 12, 2006
CLE Program
Consumer Amendments to the New Bankruptcy Code: Best Practices and Case Law Developments
This program is designed for all levels of consumer bankruptcy practitioners and will examine what has happened since the new law came into effect...one year on. Panelists will review all the important cases on the new consumer provisions and discuss “Best Practices” that have been, and continue to be, developed.
Click here for full program description
September 19, 2006
Section Meeting
Bankruptcy Law in Russia
Honorable William C. Hillman, U.S. Bankruptcy Court District of Massachusetts, and M. Ellen Carpenter, Roach & Carpenter, P.C., will share what they learned about Russian Bankruptcy Law on their recent trip to Siberia.
In May, Judge Hillman and Ms. Carpenter traveled to Tomsk, a former Gulag city in Siberia, as members of a delegation from the Massachusetts contingent of the Russian American Rule of Law Consortium. There, they met with judges on the Arbitrage Court which has jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases. We are delighted to have Judge Georgiy Pavlov and Judge Andrey Solodilov, from the Tomsk Region Arbitrazh Court, attending this presentation.
Join us to meet the judges, learn about the similarities and differences between the two systems and to see the pictures!
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