This annual symposium focuses on important updates and issues relevant to
both new and experienced bankruptcy practitioners. This year’s program will
focus on resolving student loan debts, bankruptcy preference actions and
strategies, and effective legal writing and advocacy before the
U.S. Bankruptcy Court. The program will also feature a discussion of the
challenges currently facing the bankruptcy bar and strategies for running a
successful practice.
The Hon. Melvin S. Hoffman, chief judge of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for
the District of Massachusetts, will deliver a State of the District Report, and
many of the District’s bankruptcy judges will be in attendance to offer their
insights.
Program highlights include:
- State of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the
District of Massachusetts
- Address by Chief Judge Melvin S. Hoffman, including updates of filing
statistics and trends, as well as a report of recent and expected changes at
the court
- Student Loans In and Out of Bankruptcy
- Case law update on dischargeability of student
loans
- New trends in avoidance of student loans as
fraudulent transfers
- Strategies and programs for addressing non-dischargeable student loans
outside of bankruptcy
- Effective Legal Writing and Advocacy Before the
Bankruptcy Court
- Session chaired by Judge Henry J. Boroff aimed at
providing practitioners with the dos and don’ts of advocacy before the
Bankruptcy Court
- Writing tips for making an effective case to the Bankruptcy
Court
- Preference Defenses and Strategies
- How to represent a creditor-defendant in preference
actions
- Analyzing payment histories for “ordinary course of
business” and “new value” affirmative defenses
- Representing insiders in a preference action
- A trustee’s perspective on preference actions
- State of the Bar and Challenges of Bankruptcy
Practice in 2015
- A discussion of current challenges facing the
bankruptcy bar
- Strategies and tips for running a successful
bankruptcy law practice
- A discussion of diversity in the bankruptcy practice
Members of the Worcester, Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire
County bar associations enjoy a special discounted rate of $80. To register,
please contact the Massachusetts Bar Association Member Service Center at (617)
338-0500.
Faculty:
Elizabeth D. Katz, Esq., Program Co-chair
United States Bankruptcy Court, District of Massachusetts, Springfield
Spencer A. Stone, Esq., Program Co-chair
Sullivan & Worcester LLP, Boston
Hon. Melvin S. Hoffman, Chief Judge, Panelist
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge
Hon. Frank J. Bailey, Panelist
U.S. Bankruptcy Court
Hon. Henry J. Boroff, Panelist
U.S. Bankruptcy Court
Hon. Joan N. Feeney, Panelist
U.S. Bankruptcy Court
Hon. Christopher Panos, Panelist
U.S. Bankruptcy Court
Greta LaMountain Biagi, Esq., Panelist
Greta LaMountain Biagi, Esquire, Amherst
Gerald Glasser, Esq., Panelist
Lyon & Fitzpatrick LLP, Holyoke
Jonathan R. Goldsmith, Esq., Panelist
Goldsmith, Katz & Argenio PC, Springfield
Jack E. Houghton Jr., Esq., Panelist
Offices of Attorney Jack E. Houghton Jr., Pittsfield
Kara S. Rescia, Esq., Panelist
Rescia Law PC, Northampton
Denise Shear, Esq., Panelist
United States Bankruptcy Court, District of Massachusetts, Springfield
Gary M. Weiner, Esq., Panelist
Weiner Law Firm PC, Springfield