Ethics Committee

ABI Committee News

Materials From The Midwestern Bankruptcy Institute

The 28th Annual Midwestern Bankruptcy Institute, held in Kansas City, Mo. on October 3, 2008, proved to be a successful partnership between the American Bankruptcy Institute and the UMKC School of Law.  The meeting upheld its well-earned reputation by featuring distinguished speakers on a number of current bankruptcy topics.  Two sessions of particular interest were the Business Ethics and Consumer Ethics sessions.

The session, "Business Ethics:  Does Conflicts Counsel Solve the Problem?  Reconciling a Practical Solution and State Ethics Rules," covered topics ranging from Bankruptcy Code and Rules analysis to showing deference to the client's choice of counsel.  The panel for the session included Hon. Jerry W. Venters, U.S. Bankruptcy Court (W.D. Mo.), Craig D. Hansen, Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P. in Phoenix and Mark A. Shaiken, Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP in Kansas City, Mo.  Click the link below to review the materials.

Business Ethics Session Materials

The consumer bankruptcy track during the conference included the session "Consumer Ethics:  Balancing the Multiple Roles of Consumer Debtor's Counsel under BAPCPA:  Can You Be a Watchdog, Counselor and Advocate at the Same Time?" The panel discussed the multiple roles that a consumer debtor's counsel is expected to play under BAPCPA.  The session covered Rule 11, debt relief agencies and ethical issues surrounding the mortgage meltdown.  The panelists included Howard S. Smotkin, Stone, Leyton & Gershman in St. Louis, Daniel J. Casamatta, Office of the U.S. Trustee in Kansas City, Mo., and Cynthia F. Grimes, Grimes & Rebein, LC in Lenexa, Kan.  Click the link below to review the materials.

Consumer Ethics Session Materials

Committee Session At The ABI Winter Leadership Conference

The Winter Leadership Conference will be held Dec. 4-6 in Tucson, AZ, at the Westin La Paloma.  This year's conference will feature another great group of sessions and speakers, as well as some top-notch entertainment!  The Ethics Committee session will be held on Friday at 3:45 p.m.  "The Good, the Bad and the Very, Very Ugly:  Pitfalls of Improper or Incomplete Disclosures by 'Professionals'" will feature speakers Ramona Elliott from the Executive Office for U.S. Trustees, Janice B. Grubin of Drinker Biddle & Reath in New York, Bill Ryan of Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP in Baltimore, Kelly Beaudin Stapleton of Traxi LLC in New York and Prof. Jack Williams, ABI Resident Scholar.  Hon. Barbara J. Houser, U.S. Bankruptcy Court (N.D. Texas) will moderate the panel.  Register for the conference online today!