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The Bankruptcy StrategistKickerFeaturesSectionsNewsLJN Newsletters

What Should You Know About the Rules of Evidence?

By Marc Bennett
February 09, 2004

Bankruptcy lawyers who rarely visit a courtroom may think they do not need to worry about the rules of evidence. Yet evidentiary rules can provide critical protections. In a typical case or negotiation, lawyers create and circulate tremendous amounts of information — much of which would be potentially damaging if obtained by other parties. To protect this information, bankruptcy lawyers need to be familiar with the rules of evidence and how courts have interpreted these rules. The case law interpreting these rules is not static; rather, it is constantly evolving in ways relevant to counsel who specialize in corporate insolvency. For example, a series of recent cases explored the boundaries of the attorney-client privilege, examining such questions as, if counsel for a creditors' committee hires a financial expert, is the expert's work protected?

The Federal Rules of Evidence apply to most issues that arise in bankruptcy cases, according to Rule 9017 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure. The following discussion focuses on four useful subjects under these rules.

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