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Small Business-Middle Market Restructurings Track
A separate track designed for firms that work with clients in the small and middle markets. With six different sessions throughout the conference, this will provide more specific information to practitioners working on smaller cases. The topics include:
- Challenges of Growing Your Practice: Will You Always Be Boutique Sized?
From staffing issues, business development strategies and infastructure needs, learn valuable insight into effective ways to grow your business and expand your practice.
- Fun with Forensics
Learn the methodology and tools needed for forensic accounting in the bankruptcy arena. The session will discuss the 7 stages of the forensic investigation, tasks to be performed within those stages, potential issues and deliverables. The session will include practical tools, process mapping and deposition matrix, along with many other insights to an effective forensic investigation. The session will NOT include internal controls, SOX, risk assessment or PCAOB.
- Fiduciary Appointments
Session will address issues related to serving as a Chapter 11 trustee, Chapter 7 trustee, Liquidating trustee, Receiver and as an Assignee pursuant to an Assignment for Benefit of Creditors.
- Do’s and Don’t’s of Being an Expert Witness
Serving as an expert for smaller businesses — a panel discussion of how to deal with unique issues arising in preparing the report, being deposed and testifying.
- Ethical Issues for Small Practitioners
The panel will discuss: treatment of information in insolvency and bankruptcy proceedings, the use of information and veracity in official activities, information disclosure issues, the requirement and meaning of diligent interaction and various other ethical situations a practitioner might encounter.
- Valuation
How to value Joe’s Texaco as apposed to Texaco: A discussion of unique issues that must be addressed in valuing a “middle market” or small troubled business.
Preconference Sessions
Bankrupcty Taxation
The program will include a comprehensive presentation addressing recent developments with an emphasis on the continuing impact of BAPCPA; reporting compliance matters affecting estates of individuals; Trustee tax planning opportunities; a presentation on planning issues involving real property debt restructuring and foreclosure outside of bankruptcy and pre-bankruptcy tax planning.
Corporate reorganization tax issues will be addressed through a case study and review of the basic rules governing debt relief, change of ownership, planning for the preservation of tax attributes, and consolidated entities; also a recent beneficial letter ruling involving a reorganization under Section 368(a)(1)(F).
Consumer case tax issues will be addressed including when a Chapter 13 filing can benefit a debtor with significant non-dischargeable taxes.
Don’t miss the opportunity to find the answers to your tax questions.
Toolbox for Practitioners:
Running on Empty - Taking a Commercial Debtor Through Chapter 11
Presented as a case study of the life of a corporate debtor, the panels will take participants through the entire Chapter 11 process, beginning with pre-bankruptcy planning, going through crisis management, first day orders, DIP financing considerations, stabilizing operations, developing and negotiating a plan of reorganization and finally post confirmation issues. A blend of legal, financial and operational panelists will provide perspectives from the points of view of debtors, creditors and the U.S. Trustee.
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Keynote Speakers
On Friday, five keynote speakers will each make a presentation commenting upon restructuring trends, issues, and opportunities, as viewed from their respective areas of expertise and how they relate to bankruptcy and insolvency
 Capital Markets - Richard Gibbs Division
Director and the Chief Economist at Macquarie, Richard Gibbs is widely recognized as one of Australia’s leading global analysts with extensive experience in the analysis of the Japanese and NE Asian economies. Richard regularly provides commentary on economic and business developments in NE Asia for CNN and CNBC Asia.
 Buy Side - Steven F. Mayer
Steven F. Mayer is a Managing Director, Co-Head of Private Equity, and member of the Investment Committee of Cerberus Capital Management, LP (“Cerberus”). Cerberus, a private investment firm with approximately $26 billion of capital under management, acquires, and invests in equity and debt of, middle-market companies that exhibit the potential for business improvement or are otherwise not considered core by their current owners. As a senior member of Cerberus’ Private Equity group, Mr. Mayer focuses primarily on acquisitions of controlling equity interests in companies involved in the technology, telecommunications, media, health care, consumer products, and business services industries in the United States and Europe.
 Economist - David A. Wyss
David A. Wyss is Chief Economist at Standard & Poor’s, based in New York. In this position, he is responsible for Standard & Poor’s economic forecasts and publications, and coauthors the monthly Equity Insight and the weekly Financial Notes. He also manages research projects, especially in financial risk. David holds a B.S. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. in economics from Harvard University. David testifies regularly before Congress, is quoted regularly in the press, and has appeared on many major television programs. He has written many articles for popular and professional publications.
 Professor - Jack Williams
Dr. Williams is a Professor of Law at Georgia State University College of Law in Atlanta, Georgia, where he teaches and/or conducts research in a number of areas including Admiralty, Bankruptcy, Business and Commercial Law, Tax, Sports Law, and Islamic Law (Sharia). Williams consults with BDO Seidman, LLP, New York. Williams has served as a commentator on CNN, CNN Radio, FoxNews, CSPAN, NBC Nightly News, ABC Evening News, Dateline, The Today Show, CNBC and MSNBC. Since 2004, the AIRA has been honored to have Professor Williams as its Scholar in Residence, conducting research on credit management and techniques to uncover financial fraud.
 Turnaround Professional John DiDonato
John DiDonato, at Huron Consulting Group, has over 20 years of extensive experience in reorganization, restructuring, capital raising, buy side advisory and merger integration. He provides guidance to financially challenged entities maneuvering through both out-of court and court-supervised restructurings. Throughout his career, John has served in excess of 100 debtors, functioning for many as chief restructuring strategist.
| Following the five keynote presentations, a roundtable panel made up of industry experts will discuss and debate the comments and predictions of the Keynote Speakers, and share their particular perspectives on restructuring trends, issues and opportunities. |
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