CONFERENCE

SCHEDULE

Pre-Conference
Wed, Jun 07, 2017

7:30AM-8:30AM

Breakfast

Sponsored by:

8:30AM-5:15PM

Bankruptcy Taxation

During this full day bankruptcy tax program, our panel of insolvency tax experts will assess how the proposed tax law changes will impact insolvent corporations. The panel will also explore: opportunities and risks created by tax liens and notices of intent to levy, including key factors to address in determining tax lien priority and validity; solving individual tax problems with an offer-in-compromise, an installment agreement and/or a bankruptcy filing; tax planning and approaches to dealing with select post-petition audit assessment challenges; recent case law addressing the insolvency test for exclusion of income; and complex compliance and audit issues arising in cases that convert from 11 to 7. Finally, the panel will provide insights and an overview for filing bankruptcy estate income tax returns.

8:45AM-5:15PM

Financial Advisors’ Toolbox

This all day preconference session will educate an intermediate practitioner on the skills needed to analyze transactions and investigate relationships to uncover potential recoveries of transfers for the benefit of the Estate and its creditors. Further, the session will provide discussion on how the Financial Advisor assists the Debtor and Counsel with locating, litigating and liquidating these transfers and assets. Additional discussion topics include: Ponzi scheme analysis, valuation, and expert witness/Daubert issues.

10:00AM-10:15AM

Morning Break

3:45PM-4:00PM

Afternoon Break

6:30PM-8:00PM

33rd Annual Conference Opening Reception

Sponsored by:

Conference – Day 1
Thu, Jun 08, 2017

7:30AM-8:30AM

Breakfast

Sponsored by:

8:30AM-8:40AM

Welcome & Opening Remarks

8:40AM-9:30AM

Keynote: “U.S. Marshals: Then and Now”

Mr. Taylor’s presentation will cover the 227 year history of the United States Marshals Service and many of the current issues the Marshals Service is facing, not only in the Northern District of Texas but across the nation.

Sponsored by:

9:30AM-10:45AM

Fossil Fuel Industry Update

This panel will discuss a variety of case law developments and hot topics impacting oil, gas and coal restructurings, including recent strategies, rulings and issues relating to equity committees, rejection of midstream contracts, and valuation. The panel will further discuss issues, strategies, and possible protocols relating to situations involving contracts between debtors with separate chapter 11 proceedings.

10:45AM-11:00AM

Morning Break

Sponsored by:

11:00AM-12:00PM

Health Care

Health care bankruptcies are complicated to say the least. From health and safety issues, complicated financing structures, and government licensing and accounts receivable challenges, these cases are nothing but typical. This panel will explain the twists and turns of financial restructuring in this heavily regulated and critical industry. Updates will include any anticipated industry landscape changes in light of legislative changes to come in the first half of 2017.

Excursions

12:00PM-5:00PM

Luxury Treatments at Well & Being Spa

Well & Being offers a palette of uniquely rewarding and deeply personalized experiences in an amazing spa and wellness setting, which infuse life with a greater sense of vitality. Here you will experience unparalleled service, unrivaled presence and attention to detail. A variety of spa treatments are reserved for AIRA guests throughout the afternoon and include massages, facials, body treatments and nail services. Appointments will be confirmed on a first come, first served basis.

Price: $70-220, depending on the service requested (excludes a suggested 20% gratuity)

Four Seasons Spa website»

Attendees may choose this excursion option if you'd like to schedule an appointment for spa services at Well & Being – after registration, Cheryl Campbell ccampbell@aira.org will contact you about your appointment options.

Sponsored by:

12:15PM-5:30PM

Skeet Shooting and Lunch at Gas Monkey Bar & Grill

If you are looking for a fun afternoon to do something you wouldn’t normally do, put on your jeans and boots and join us for an experience you won’t soon forget. The afternoon begins with lunch at the Gas Monkey Bar & Grill, a roadhouse–style restaurant serving up BBQ and burgers. Then we are off to Elm Fork Shooting Sports where we will receive an introduction to the facilities and the personnel, then be introduced to the basic skills involved in skeet shooting and the firearms being used, including a safety briefing. Each participant will have an opportunity to shoot a shotgun at a number of different clay presentations from different stations. The group is organized into squads of 4 that travel from station to station in the comfort of a covered golf cart. No alcoholic beverages will be served during lunch.

Price: $180

Elm Fork Shooting Sports»

Sponsored by:

12:30PM-5:00PM

Self-Guided Tour of George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, with Lunch at Cafe43

The permanent exhibit at the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum looks at the life and career of President George W. Bush. Artifacts, documents, audiovisual, and interactive components capture the key decisions and events of his Presidency. Visitors experience many facets of President Bush’s time in the White House, including the campaign and the 2000 election, key legislative moments from the presidency, and compassionate policy initiatives enacted during his Administration. Highlights include: A Nation Under Attack – Remembering the events of September 11, 2001; Life in the White House – A peek behind the closed doors of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue to see what life is like inside the White House; Oval Office – The Oval Office exhibit is an exact replica, in scale and design, as the one in the White House during the Bush Administration. Lunch at Cafe43 in the Presidential Library is included with this excursion.

Price: $75

Library website»

Sponsored by:

1:00PM-6:00PM

Golf on TPC Course at Four Seasons Las Colinas

Home to the AT&T Byron Nelson – a PGA TOUR event – TPC Four Seasons Las Colinas is part of an award-winning golf Resort. The 18-hole, par-70 course measuring 7,166 yards from the championship tees is designed to be challenging for professional golfers as well as inviting to recreational players. Originally designed in 1982, the course was redesigned in 2008 by former PGA TOUR and current Champions Tour player D.A. Weibring and his partner, architect Steve Wolfard. Consecutive tee times begin at 1:00 PM. A boxed lunch and 2 drink tickets are included.

Price: $300
Club rentals: $90 (Payment for club rentals will be handled directly with the Club House)

Golf at Four Seasons»

Festivities

6:30PM-7:30PM

Cocktail Reception

Sponsored by:

7:30PM-8:30PM

Annual Banquet

Dinner Sponsored by:
Wine Sponsored by:

8:30PM-9:30PM

Presentation of Awards

Awards Sponsored by:

9:30PM-11:00PM

Dessert Reception

Sponsored by:

Conference – Day 2
Fri, Jun 09, 2017

7:30AM-8:30AM

Breakfast

Sponsored by:

8:30AM-9:30AM

Green Energy

If political promises are kept, big changes are ahead for the U.S. energy markets. How will green energy be affected by increased drilling, changes to the IRS Code, changing energy subsidies, increased employment in coal mines and a realignment of energy priorities in Washington? These changes would come after green energy’s primary competitor – carbon based energy – remains significantly cheaper than it was only a few years ago. The panel will discuss the challenges facing green energy companies that find themselves in financial distress.

Concurrent

Restructuring Issues Facing Higher Education

Join this discussion and vigorous debate regarding the restructuring issues facing colleges and educational institutions, and the permissibility of filing bankruptcy. The panel members will discuss: the challenges that higher education faces; for profit vs. non–profit educational institutions; bankruptcy filings and restructurings; availability of institutional capital; rating and accreditation agencies; and communications with stakeholders.

9:30AM-10:30AM

Hot Topics in International Insolvency

This panel will explore recent developments in international insolvency. The discussion with cover topics such as the global trends impacting creditors, complexities introduced with international financing, and what to expect from increasing trade barriers.

Concurrent

Transportation

Learn about a variety of issues facing the transportation sector, including the cause and effect of the recent wave of distress in the shipping industry, current trends in aviation bankruptcies, and get a refresher on the unique nature of railroad bankruptcies.

10:30AM-11:00AM

Morning Break

Sponsored by:

11:00AM-12:00PM

Hot Topics in Fraud

During this session, our panelists will discuss current hot issues involving fraud in bankruptcy cases. They will include discussion about the Wyly cases as well as other exciting cases where fraud was at issue. You can count on some very interesting stories!

Concurrent

Heavy Metal

Recent times have been very challenging for the metals industry. Domestically, disruption in certain end user markets have crushed demand for many metal products which resulted in significant declines in the prices of many metal commodities. Globally, the impacts of a softening Chinese economy combined with production overcapacity in certain metals sectors have put additional downward pressure on prices. This panel discussion will focus on impact of such events as well as the prospective outlook for the broader metals industry.

12:00PM-1:30PM

Lunch & Keynote

Ms. Saldaña will speak about her time as Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE"), an agency within the Department of Homeland Security, and issues the nation continues to face in this area.

Sponsored by:

1:30PM-2:30PM

Industries to Watch

Ernest Hemingway has a famous quote regarding bankruptcy: “How do you go bankrupt? Two ways. Gradually, then suddenly.” With oil prices seemingly more stable for the first time in years, which industry might be the next one to see a number of companies in financial distress? In this session, our panelists will discuss their thoughts about which industry has been showing signs of a gradual decline and give their insights on where the next wave of bankruptcy filings may come from.

Concurrent

Trends in Financing

This panel discussion will focus on the important trends and developments in financing involving companies in distress or bankruptcy such as: What is the atmosphere for distressed financing? What are the M&A trends including restructuring transaction challenges and solutions? What types of financing, including traditional and alternative sources, is available for distressed or insolvent companies in the near term? How has this changed over the past few years? How much liquidity is available to companies exiting bankruptcy and what factors impact available financing?

2:30PM-3:30PM

Structured Dismissals: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Bring your six-shooter! This panel will discuss the authority of Bankruptcy Courts to approve structured dismissals and the merits of their use in Chapter 11. Bankruptcy attorneys, judges and US Trustees will discuss their personal experiences with structured dismissals, the benefits and detriments thereof, and whether continued approval by Bankruptcy Courts is "good", "bad" or "ugly."

Concurrent

Structuring Pre-Bankruptcy Transactions

What can be learned from recent deals and court decisions about the risks and best practices relating to structuring transactions involving a distressed entity? The panel will explore issues relating to asset sales, restructuring of corporate entities and exchange offer transactions. Topics may include, among others, buyer and seller considerations in connection with asset sales, the use of fairness opinions, corporate restructurings to separate operational units from legacy liabilities, successor liability, bankruptcy-remote entities, fraudulent transfer considerations and fiduciary duties.

3:30PM-4:00PM

Afternoon Break

Sponsored by:

4:00PM-5:00PM

Managing the Courtroom

During this session, you will hear about effective ways to manage presentations to the Court. The panelists will discuss the use of demonstrative aids as well as best practices for presenting an expert witness. Judge Isgur will present his views of what works best, and more importantly, what doesn’t.

Concurrent

Municipal Restructuring Strategies: Rights and Wrongs

The last five years have witnessed an extraordinary array of large municipal debt defaults and an increasing number of states and local government units experiencing fiscal distress. Veterans of municipal distress and some of the biggest Chapter 9 battles will discuss the approaches utilized to date to repair broken governments. Is there a right vs. wrong way to approach municipal restructurings?

Friday Night Excursion

6:30PM-10:00PM

"Be a Texan for the Night" at Austin Ranch

You won’t want to miss this true Western experience at one of the oldest ranches in Texas, with amazing BBQ and other delicious Texas–inspired food, drinks and entertainment. You can even join a group dance lesson with Texas two–step and other western dance moves, and play Jenga, Ping Pong and Corn Hole. Austin Ranch is situated on more than 90 acres of lush rolling hills and dense woods with a private lake – a beautiful setting for an exciting night, Texas–style!

Price: $175

Sponsored by:

Conference – Day 3
Sat, Jun 10, 2017

7:30AM-8:30AM

Breakfast

8:30AM-9:45AM

Next Generation Technology

Innovations and developments in technology are delivering new tools – and challenges – to the bankruptcy and restructuring field, as well as everywhere else. This session will examine important new processes, factors and concerns impacting the landscape for advisors.

9:45AM-10:00AM

Morning Break

10:00AM-11:15AM

Ethics of a Troubled Company from the Boardroom to the Courtroom

The diverse panel is comprised of an outside counsel, in-house counsel, a frequent independent corporate director, and a financial consultant, with vast experience, and sometimes different perspectives, on the ethical role of company's management and professionals in the stressful distressed company environment. The panel will discuss and debate a myriad of important, and occasional competing, legal, ethical and practical issues, challenges and considerations facing the officers, directors and advisors of financially distressed companies, beginning from the first signs of trouble through in, and out of, court liquidations and restructurings.

Cancellation/Refund Policy

Written cancellation for the conference or any social activities, including excursions must be received by Monday, May 15, 2017 for a full refund, less a $75 cancellation processing fee. No refunds will be made after May 15, 2017 however substitutions will be allowed.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsorship with the AIRA provides exposure and visibility to the decision making experts in the insolvency and restructuring field. To discuss available opportunities contact Cheryl Campbell at (541) 646–9261 or ccampbell@aira.org.

National Registry of CPE Sponsors

"Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Advisors" is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.learningmarket.org.

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