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Chapter 11 and Independent Directors: Maximizing Recovery; Challenging Conflicts; Defending Director Integrity

Recording of a 90-minute CLE video webinar with Q&A

This program is included with the Strafford CLE Pass. Click for more information.
This program is included with the Strafford All-Access Pass. Click for more information.

Conducted on Wednesday, January 26, 2022

Recorded event now available

or call 1-800-926-7926

This CLE course will explore the use and effect on creditor options and payouts of companies' bringing on new "bankruptcy directors" as they hurdle toward Chapter 11, the impact of bankruptcy or "independent" directors on the integrity of the bankruptcy system, and what creditors and creditors' committees can do if they claim directors are hijacking the process for the benefit of equity holders. Independent directors will need to best position themselves to refute such accusations and efforts.

Description

A significant source of assets to pay unsecured creditors in Chapter 11 could be the recovery from shareholders or other insiders for alleged self-dealing or violation of fiduciary duties. Creditors, shareholders and secured lenders may disagree over the value and merits of this litigation, which frequently alleges insider self-dealing that contributed to the bankruptcy filing.

According to unsecured creditor constituencies, to thwart recovery efforts and suppress creditor voices, shareholders have begun adding independent bankruptcy directors before or shortly after filing Chapter 11 and then ceding to their control actions against shareholders. Proponents argue independent directors bring the efficiency and speed necessary to preserve the business.

Creditors need to know what tools are available to them to resist actions of bankruptcy directors to protect those that violate duties to the debtor. Independent directors need to know how to properly position themselves to defend against such accusations.

Listen as this panel of experienced bankruptcy counsel discusses the phenomenon of bankruptcy directors and what strategies are available to creditors to increase their recovery.

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Outline

  1. The emergence of "independent" directors
    1. Before filing
    2. After filing
  2. Arguments in favor of independent directors
  3. Conflicts of interest
  4. Creditor and committee responses
  5. Recent cases

Benefits

The panel will review these and other critical issues:

  • What makes a director truly "independent"?
  • What showing should bankruptcy courts require before deferring to the debtor board's decisions on investigations and avoidance actions?
  • How can creditors and committees enhance recovery for creditors?

Faculty

Handler, Michael
Michael R. Handler

Partner
King & Spalding

Mr. Handler specializes in representing lenders and bondholders in all aspects of workout and restructuring matters....  |  Read More

Selbst, Stephen
Stephen B. Selbst

Partner
Herrick, Feinstein

Mr. Selbst has more than 30 years of experience representing debtors, creditors, official committees, distressed...  |  Read More

Smith, Steven
Steven B. Smith

Partner
Herrick, Feinstein

Mr. Smith focuses his practice on complex corporate restructuring and creditors' rights, including in court Chapter...  |  Read More

Steinberg, Arthur
Arthur J. Steinberg

Partner
King & Spalding

Mr. Steinberg is a senior financial restructuring partner with 36 years of practice representing examiners, trustees,...  |  Read More

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