The annual Western Massachusetts Bankruptcy Symposium
highlights important updates and issues relevant to both new and
experienced bankruptcy practitioners. This year’s program will focus on asset
tracing and evidentiary issues arising in adversary proceedings and contested
matters. The program will also feature a presentation on recent developments in
bankruptcy law and practice, including recent decisions out of the U.S. Supreme Court
and proposed changes to the bankruptcy rules and forms. As always, several judges
of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts will be in
attendance to offer their insights, and Chief Judge Frank J. Bailey will give
a “State of the District” address updating attendees on trends and developments.
Specific topics include:
- Recent Supreme Court decisions affecting bankruptcy practice in
Massachusetts, including In re Bellingham Insurance Agency,
Inc., Clark v. Rameker and Law v. Siegel
- Recent case law from the U.S. Court of Appeals and
Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the First Circuit and the Bankruptcy and
District courts
- Pending and recent updates to the Federal Rules of
Bankruptcy Procedure
- Recent and anticipated developments regarding the
dischargeability of income tax debts
- Refresher course on the Federal Rules of Evidence as
applied to bankruptcy adversary proceedings and contested matters
- Practical strategies and tips for presenting evidence
in the Bankruptcy Court
- How to best advise your client and plan for filing
when exempt and non-exempt assets have been comingled
- A Chapter 7 trustee’s view on tracing estate assets
- Tracing proceeds from exempt assets and the
availability of exemptions to protect proceeds of exempt assets
- Issues involving bank accounts held jointly with
non-debtors
- “State of the District” from Chief Judge Bailey
Members of the Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire
County bar associations; the IWIRC; and the NACBA enjoy a special discounted rate of
$80. Contact the Massachusetts Bar Association Member Service Center at (617)
338-0500.
Faculty:
Spencer A. Stone, Esq., Program Co-chair
Sullivan & Worcester LLP, Boston
Elizabeth D. Katz, Esq., Program Co-chair
United States Bankruptcy Court, District of Massachusetts, Springfield
Hon. Frank Bailey, Panelist
Pioneer Legal, Boston
Nicholas Grimaldi, Esq., Panelist
Fierst Bloomberg Ohm LLP, Northampton
David Ostrander, Esq., Panelist
Ostrander Law Office, Northampton
Keith Minoff, Esq., Panelist
Law Offices of Keith A. Minoff, P.C., Northampton
Christina M. Turgeon, Esq., Panelist
Fitzgerald Law P.C., East Longmeadow