Venue Reform in Corporate Bankruptcies
April 01, 2020
A bipartisan group of House lawmakers has introduced a bill that aims to limit where distressed companies can file bankruptcy, making it harder for companies to file outside of the jurisdiction where they are headquartered or have most of their assets. The Bankruptcy Strategist asked Robert J. Gayda, a partner in Seward & Kissel's Bankruptcy and Corporate Reorganization Group who represents a clients in all aspects of restructuring, about his thoughts on proposed venue reform in corporate bankruptcies.
A New Regime in Preference Litigation
April 01, 2020
One of the provisions of the Small Business Reorganization Act amends the language of Bankruptcy Code Section 547 —
which gives trustees and debtors in possession the right to seek to recover a payment to a third party in the 90-day period prior to the commencement of a bankruptcy case as a "preference" — to add a due diligence requirement. Though the intent behind the added language seems clear, it may not have its intended effect.
Discharge of Student Loan Debt OK'd Under Brunner Standard
March 01, 2020
In January, a Southern District of New York U.S. Bankruptcy Chief Judge entered a decision granting summary judgment to a pro se debtor, finding that he debtor had satisfied the "undue hardship" standard set forth in Section 523(a)(8) of the Bankruptcy Code, and ordering the discharge of the student loan debt of more than $220,000.
Lessor Repossession of Property on Eve of Lessee Bankruptcy
March 01, 2020
Voluntary Turnover or Face Contempt
Lessors who repossess property immediately prior to a lessee bankruptcy filing may be required to return such property or face sanctions by the bankruptcy court. Federal courts are currently split on the issue of whether the lessor must voluntary surrender property seized petition or may hold such property until such time as the debtor seeks, and obtains, an order of turnover.
Tips to Minimize Landlord's Exposure When a Commercial Tenant Files Bankruptcy
March 01, 2020
Landlords often have clues that a tenant is going to be filing for bankruptcy, rental payments are consistently late several months in a row and the tenant falls more than a month behind on the rent. But, it can still be shocking when a landlord receives a legal notice in the mail, instead of a rent check.
Recent Developments in Third Circuit Bankruptcy Law
March 01, 2020
Bankruptcy and corporate restructurings continue to be active despite generally strong U.S. financial markets and broader macroeconomic conditions. Here is a brief overview of three recent and noteworthy bankruptcy decisions within the Third Circuit.
