Category Archives: Bankruptcy
Ways to Overcome Objections to Chapter 11 Plan Confirmation
Objections by creditors can complicate a Chapter 11 reorganization. In reality, though, objections to plan confirmation process can often be surmounted. Experienced attorneys routinely address them and many can be resolved without ever heading to a contested hearing. The following are common grounds for creditor objections to plan confirmation: Feasibility concerns — A creditor may […]
What Factors Bear on the Duration of a Chapter 11 Case
The duration of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy is among the chief concerns raised by business owners seeking debt relief. While Chapter 11 offers businesses flexible tools to restructure, its timeline is highly dependent on the company’s organization and financial situation. There is no universal average timeline, but several predictable factors can influence how swiftly or […]
How Small Businesses Keep Operating During a Subchapter V
Subchapter V is a special form of Chapter 11 bankruptcy that was created to give distressed small businesses a chance to reorganize and return to financial health. Key to this remedy is that a business is allowed to stay open. Owners retain control, operations proceed without interruption and debts are restructured into manageable payments, for […]
Warning Signs That a Business Should Consider Chapter 11
For many struggling companies, Chapter 11 bankruptcy represents a viable option for reorganizing debts and returning to solvency. This remedy allows a company to restructure obligations under the supervision of the bankruptcy court while remaining in operation. Unfortunately, business owners too often delay filing for Chapter 11 until a crisis peaks, which can limit their […]
How to Protect Personal Assets During a Small Business Bankruptcy
Despite their best efforts, small business owners may be pushed into insolvency by economic downturns, unexpected events. They can seek relief under bankruptcy laws, including Subchapter V of Chapter 11, which provides a streamlined process for seeking debt protection and restructuring. The owner of a closely held business facing the prospect of bankruptcy may worry […]
Making Optimal Use of California Exemptions in Bankruptcy
When filing for bankruptcy in California, you can shield a good amount of your assets from creditors by employing exemptions provided by state or federal law. California offers two distinct exemption sets: System 1 (under California Code of Civil Procedure §704) and System 2 (under California Code of Civil Procedure §703.140). You must choose one […]
High Court Ruling Curtails Use of Third-Party Releases in Chapter 11
The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in what is known as the Sackler Discharge case has fundamentally altered how companies and their equity owners use Chapter 11 bankruptcy to resolve large-scale liability. The court definitively rejected the use of non-consensual third-party releases for equity holders or affiliates who are not themselves seeking a discharge through bankruptcy. […]
Rite Aid’s Demise Shows the Pitfalls of Exit Financing in Chapter 11
Exit financing is a new loan or credit facility that a company secures as it prepares to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. It can be a useful component of a successful reorganization plan, helping to provide a foundation for the company’s post-bankruptcy future. However, as demonstrated by national pharmacy chain Rite Aid’s recently announced second […]
Types of Adversary Proceedings and How to Defend Against Them
In bankruptcy law, an adversary proceeding is filed to litigate a major issue that affects the debtors’ and creditors’ rights. It is typically lodged by a creditor objecting to some aspect of the debtor’s entitlement to debt discharge. The proceeding is in essence a lawsuit, commenced by the filing of a complaint and involving discovery, […]
Using a Special Purpose Entity to Protect IP Assets During Bankruptcy
Companies facing potential financial distress have strategies available to protect their valuable intellectual property. One of these involves transferring IP assets such as patents, trademarks and copyrights to a special purpose entity (SPE) while the company is still solvent. This can keep IP assets immune from creditors while allowing the parent company to defend against […]
