Expert Analysis

• Serta Simmons Ch. 11 Expands Split On Credit Agreements

  

  The recent confirmation of Serta Simmons' Chapter 11 plan by a Texas bankruptcy court judge furthers a split in case law between narrow interpretation of credit agreement provisions and a more holistic approach focused on the practical effect of the uptiering transaction on minority lender rights, say attorneys at Schulte Roth.

• How High Court Is Assessing Tribal Law Questions

  

  The U.S. Supreme Court's four rulings on tribal issues from this term show that Justice Neil Gorsuch's extensive experience in federal Native American law brings helpful experience to the court but does not necessarily guarantee favorable outcomes for tribal interests, say attorneys at Dorsey & Whitney.

• In-Office Engagement Is Essential To Associate Development

  

  As law firms develop return-to-office policies that allow hybrid work arrangements, they should incorporate the specific types of in-person engagement likely to help associates develop attributes common among successful firm leaders, says Liisa Thomas at Sheppard Mullin.

• Shifts In The CRE Landscape Demand Creative Loan Solutions

  

  An increase in commercial real estate loan workouts makes it critical for borrowers, lenders and other CRE participants to examine all the available options and remedies, including mortgage and mezzanine foreclosures, bankruptcy filings and property short sales, say attorneys at Goulston & Storrs.

• Perspectives

  A Judge's Pitch To Revive The Jury Trial

  

  Ohio state Judge Pierre Bergeron explains how the decline of the jury trial threatens public confidence in the judiciary and even democracy as a whole, and he offers ideas to restore this sacred right.

• Opinion

  Calif. Policymakers Should Aid Crashing Cannabis Market

  

  As California’s cannabis sector nears the brink of financial collapse, it may be time for the state government to seriously consider potential bailout programs for the embattled industry — though the crisis also presents strategic buying opportunities for those with a high tolerance for uncertainty, says Michelle Mabugat at Greenberg Glusker.

• How To Recognize And Recover From Lawyer Loneliness

  

  Law can be one of the loneliest professions, but there are practical steps that attorneys and their managers can take to help themselves and their peers improve their emotional health, strengthen their social bonds and protect their performance, says psychologist and attorney Traci Cipriano.

• A Smoother Process For CRE Receiverships In Conn.

  

  A newly effective Connecticut law concerning distressed commercial real estate provides a number of opportunities and strategic considerations for creditors, and should be watched even by counsel in other states as adoption of the law could become more widespread, say John Loughnane and Steven Coury at White and Williams.

• Opinion

  Litigation Funding Disclosure Should Be Mandatory

  

  Despite the Appellate Rules Committee's recent deferral of the issue of requiring third-party litigation funding disclosure, such a mandate is necessary to ensure the even-handed administration of justice across all cases, says David Levitt at Hinshaw.

• Recalling USWNT's Legal PR Playbook Amid World Cup Bid

  

  As the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team strives to take home another World Cup trophy, their 2022 pay equity settlement with the U.S. Soccer Federation serves as a good reminder that winning in the court of public opinion can be more powerful than a victory inside the courtroom, says Hector Valle at Vianovo.

• The State Of Student Loan Debt In Bankruptcy

  

  With student loan debt in the spotlight following the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision to block President Joe Biden's forgiveness plan, it's an apt time to review how student loans are treated in bankruptcy and why very few are discharged, say Daniel Lowenthal and Kimberly Black at Patterson Belknap.

• SVB Bankruptcy Case Raises Asset Control Questions

  

  The initial disputes in Silicon Valley Bank's bankruptcy case between the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the debtor over tax refunds and deposits are likely to signal the rekindling of old battles for limited assets last fought during the Great Recession, say Jeffrey Rothleder and Maura McIntyre at Squire Patton.

• Who Owns Crypto Assets? Know The Bankruptcy Risks

  

  Amid a wave of recent crypto custodian Chapter 11 filings, the legal character of customer deposits give rise to a deluge of questions, because in the absence of a concrete regulatory regime, the terms and conditions are likely going to be how the court determines legal rights, says Heidi Hockberger at Levenfeld Pearlstein.

• An In-Depth Look At FDIC Reform Options After Bank Failures

  

  Anthony Pirraglia and Melissa Hall at Loeb & Loeb explain the three coverage options for reforming the deposit insurance system, which were proposed in a recent report from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. in the wake of the Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank failures.

• Ch. 11 Ruling Informs On Social Media Ownership Rights

  

  Social media users now have useful guidance regarding account ownership rights following a federal bankruptcy court's recent ruling in the Vital Pharmaceuticals Chapter 11 case, which rejected the notion that advertised content alone could create a presumption of ownership for the advertised business, say Deborah Enea and Thomas Dockery at Troutman Pepper.