Live or On Demand: Just $100 (includes all November and January sessions)

CONSUMER PRACTICE

EXTRAVAGANZA

THE LARGEST ONLINE CONSUMER PRACTICE EVENT OF THE YEAR!
  • Combating the Creative Consecutive Filer
  • Taking the Fear Out of Chapter 13
  • Bankruptcy Crossover
  • Third-Party Releases After Purdue Pharma
  • Proof-of-Claim Considerations
  • Racial Disparities
  • Consumer Rules Update
  • Successfully Marketing a Bankruptcy Practice
  • Subchapter V Issues
Part One
Nov. 11-12, 2024
Part Two
Jan. 21, 22, 24, 2025

AGENDA

Welcome Remarks
12:00-12:15 p.m. ET
Combating the Creative Consecutive Filer
12:15-1:15 p.m. ET

Bankruptcy is a federal protection designed to provide relief for the honest individual who has fallen on hard times. However, like many other laws, the bankruptcy process has blind spots that the deceptive individual (or entity) can exploit. This panel will provide an aerial perspective of different tactics individuals and entities have used to frustrate mortgage creditors, be it consecutive filers, entities hijacking bankruptcy proceedings, or other devious acts.

Jeffrey S. Fraser
ALAW | Tampa, Fla.
Aleksandra K. Fugate
Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP | Rochester, N.Y.
Hon. Jennifer H. Henderson
U.S. Bankruptcy Court (N.D. Ala.) | Tuscaloosa
Nicole Mariani Noel
Kass Shuler, P.A. | Tampa, Fla.
Kristin A. Zilberstein
ZBS Law, LLP | Irvine, Calif.
Taking the Fear Out of Chapter 13
1:30-2:30 p.m. ET

Chapter 13 is the most effective path for consumers to save real and personal property. The chapter 13 trustee is the gatekeeper of this process, so keeping the trustee happy is vital to plan confirmation and eventual discharge. Join us for an engaging and insightful discussion where seasoned chapter 13 trustees share common frustrations and challenges regarding compliance from debtor attorneys, creditors and other entities involved in the chapter 13 process. The panelists will candidly discuss best practices, effective communication strategies and other techniques to avoid the pitfalls that can complicate a chapter 13 case.

Hon. Rebecca B. Connelly
U.S. Bankruptcy Court (W.D. Va.) | Harrisonburg
Edward C. Boltz
Law Offices of John T. Orcutt, PC | Durham, N.C.
Krista M. Preuss
Krista M. Preuss, Chapter 13 Trustee | Jericho, N.Y.
Dynele L. Schinker-Kuharich
Office of the Chapter 13 Trustee | Canton, Ohio
Welcome Remarks
11:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m. ET
Third-Party Releases After Purdue Pharma
12:00-1:00 p.m. ET
Leonard L. Gumport
Gumport Law Firm, PC | Pasadena, Calif.
Hon. Meredith A. Jury (ret.)
Riverside, Calif.
Hon. Michael B. Kaplan
U.S. Bankruptcy Court (D. N.J.) | Trenton
ABI/NCBJ Webinar: Chapter 12 Bankruptcy: Debt or Alive?
1:00-2:15 p.m. ET

Join us for the next Behind the Bench Webinar hosted by ABI and the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges, this session will discuss prefiling considerations, common mistakes and key confirmation issues. The discussion also will include the almost-four-decade evolution in farming and fishing industry cases, compare and contrast them with chapter 11 and 13 cases, and cover the changing economics in those businesses. There will also be exchanges about selecting chapter 12 vs. subchapter V. There is no CLE available for this program. Separate registration is required. Click here to access the registration link.

Krystal R. Mikkilineni, Moderator
Dentons | Des Moines, Iowa
Hon. Heather Z. Cooper
U.S. Bankruptcy Court (D. Vt.) | Burlington
Hon. Brian T. Fenimore
U.S. Bankruptcy Court (W.D. Mo.) | Kansas City
Hon. Catherine J. Furay
U.S. Bankruptcy Court (W.D. Wis.) | Madison
Donald L. Swanson
Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O. | Omaha, Neb.
Bankruptcy Crossover
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET

This session will help practitioners properly prepare schedules for consumer bankruptcy and family law issues, and will discuss how to spot potential issues involving domestic support orders and marital settlement agreements.

Christopher Celentino
Dinsmore & Shohl LLP | San Diego
Hon. Elizabeth L. Gunn
U.S. Bankruptcy Court (D. D.C.) | Washington
H. Edward Hays
Marshack Hays LLP | Irvine, Calif.
Hon. Joshua P. Searcy
U.S. Bankruptcy Court (E.D. Tex.) | Tyler
Welcome and Opening Remarks
12:15-12:30 p.m. ET
Racial Disparities
12:30-1:30 p.m. ET

This session’s panelists co-authored a working paper, “Explaining Racial Disparities in Personal Bankruptcy Outcomes,” that examined data on more than 13 million U.S. bankruptcy cases from 2010-22. The most recent update to the research shows that Black filers were 31% more likely to have their chapter 13 bankruptcy cases dismissed in court than non-Black filers. The data ultimately showed that racial disparities in consumer bankruptcy outcomes are substantial. This session presents new facts on racial disparities in consumer bankruptcy and provides the first evidence of the role of racial bias in contributing to these disparities.

Prof. Bronson S. Argyle
Brigham Young University | Provo, Utah
Prof. Sasha Indarte
University of Pennsylvania, The Wharton School | Philadelphia
Prof. Benjamin Iverson
Brigham Young University | Provo, Utah
Hon. Erik P. Kimball
U.S. Bankruptcy Court (S.D. Fla.) | West Palm Beach
Prof. Christopher J. Palmer
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management | Cambridge, Mass.
Proof-of-Claim Considerations
1:40-2:40 p.m. ET

This session provides a comprehensive overview of proof-of-claim forms, which are essential for creditors in bankruptcy proceedings. The discussion covers the significance of the bar date — the deadline for filing claims — and the potential legal and financial consequences of missing this critical deadline.

Michael J. McCormick
McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce | Roswell, Ga.
Keith L. Rucinski
Office of the Chapter 13 Trustee | Akron, Ohio
Molly Simons
Sottile & Barile Attorneys at Law | Cincinnati
Welcome and Opening Remarks
12:50-1:00 p.m. ET
Consumer Rules Update
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET

This session highlights recent changes (effective Dec. 1, 2024) to the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, including the restyling amendments to Rules 1007(b) and 7001(a), as well as new Rule 8023.1. The panelists also cover the upcoming changes to the mechanics of Rule 3002.1 (including all the new associated forms), which goes into effect later this year. Consumer practitioners of all kinds will not want to miss this experience!

Hilary B. Bonial
Bonial & Associates, P.C. | Dallas
Beverly M. Burden
Chapter 13 Trustee's Office (E.D. Ky.) | Lexington
Caleb Chaplain
U.S. Bankruptcy Court (W.D. Va.) | Harrisonburg
Successfully Marketing a Bankruptcy Practice
2:15-3:15 p.m. ET

In today’s competitive legal landscape, effective marketing is essential for the growth and sustainability of a bankruptcy practice. This session explores innovative and proven strategies tailored for bankruptcy practitioners, drawing on real-world experiences and insights. The panelists discuss how to identify and leverage niche practice areas, as well as cultivating client and attorney referrals, optimizing geographic and community-based marketing efforts, and utilizing creative tools like branded swag to enhance firm visibility.

Randy Nussbaum
The Cavanagh Law Firm | Scottsdale, Ariz.
Summer Shaw
Shaw & Hanover PC | Lexington
Welcome and Opening Remarks
12:45-1:00 p.m. ET
Subchapter V Issues
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET

This session delves into key issues surrounding subchapter V of chapter 11 bankruptcy, which was designed to streamline and simplify the reorganization process for small business debtors. The panelists discuss such critical topics as eligibility requirements, the role of the subchapter V trustee, plan confirmation standards, and the impact of recent legal developments.

Keri P. Ebeck
Bernstein-Burkley | Pittsburgh
Ciara L. Rogers
Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC | Raleigh, N.C.
Brendon Singh
Tran Singh LLP | Houston
Mortgage Updates
2:15-3:15 p.m. ET

This session covers what you need to know about the FHA’s recent Partial Claim/Payment Supplement program and its potential impact on chapter 13 cases.

Maria Tsagaris, Moderator
McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC  | Roswell, Ga.
Pam Bassel
Standing Chapter 13 Trustee | Hust, Texas
Alice Whitten
Wells Fargo | Houston

ADVISORY BOARD

  • Hon. Martin R. Barash
    U.S. Bankruptcy Court (C.D. Cal.) | Woodland Hills

  • Jeffrey S. Fraser
    ALAW | Tampa, Fla.

  • Hon. Elizabeth L. Gunn
    U.S. Bankruptcy Judge (D. D.C.) | Washington

  • Hon. Joshua P. Searcy
    U.S. Bankruptcy Court (E.D. Tex.) | Tyler

  • Summer Shaw
    Shaw & Hanover, PC | Palm Desert, Calif.

POLICIES and FAQS

ABI will seek 4 hours of CLE in 60-minute-hour states and 4.2 hours of CLE in 50-minute-hour states. All credit amounts and types are subject to each state's approval and rounding rules.

Instructional Delivery Method: Group Live Delivered Online

Important Dates: November 2024 Consumer Practice Extravaganza session recordings will be viewable through December 13, 2024.

Note: CPE credit is NOT AVAILABLE for this conference.

No refunds will be granted for this online program. Should you become unable to attend any or all of the sessions, on-demand recordings will be available, as well as the corresponding educational materials.

The American Bankruptcy Institute provides 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 are 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.

ABI acknowledges that in some instances there will be persons who need to attend an educational seminar for CLE credit who are not able to pay full registration fees. ABI will handle such instances on a case-by-case basis and will work with the individual on alternative solutions. ABI also has reduced rates for government employees, professors, law clerks and students. Financial assistance is available for this program. Illinois Attorneys: If registration fees are more than $500, attorneys who qualify will receive at least a 50% reduction in the registration fee. For more information, please contact the American Bankruptcy Institute at (703) 739-0800 or send an e-mail to jmacnamara@abi.org.

Registered attendees will receive an email with the Zoom links 24 hours before the first session begins. The link will be sent to the email address used during registration and will provide access to all conference content. You’ll receive a new email each day with the Zoom links for the live conference. Please be sure to check your spam or junk folder if you do not see the email in your inbox.

Contact support@abiworld.org, and a member of the ABI team can provide you with your link.

Please note that registrations are individual and cannot be shared. The registration link you receive is unique to you and offers a secure single-sign-on experience.

The virtual program sessions take place over about 2-4 hours in the afternoons of each scheduled day.

You will be able to access the program sessions without needing to download any plug-ins or additional software. For the best experience, we recommend using Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or the new Microsoft Edge (Chromium) on laptops or desktops. While having a Zoom account is recommended for a smoother experience, it is not crucial to join the sessions. The program can also be accessed on mobile phones (iPhone, Android) and tablets, including iPads and Surface Pro devices.

  • Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based): Version 91.0 or higher
  • Google Chrome: Version 91.0 or higher
  • Safari: Version 14.0 or higher (for Mac)
  • Mozilla Firefox: Version 89.0 or higher
  • Note: Most mobile web browsers (including iOS Safari and Android Chrome) are supported for accessing Zoom and many online platforms. For the best experience, we still recommend using a desktop or laptop.