January 26, 2007

Law school to host bankruptcy seminar Feb. 16

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Top bankruptcy scholars from throughout the nation will participate in a daylong symposium next month at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

"Shredding the Safety Net" will examine the impacts of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005. The symposium is from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, Feb. 16, at the SIU School of Law, which is sponsoring the event.

The keynote luncheon speaker is Washington and Lee University School of Law Professor Margaret Howard, who will discuss "The Law of Unintended Consequences." The luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m. Howard is a noted expert in bankruptcy law, particularly consumer bankruptcy law, although she has expertise in all facets of bankruptcy, Dean Peter C. Alexander said.

The symposium will explore bankruptcy law history and its future. The topic is timely, said Alexander, one of the symposium's eight scheduled speakers.

"It appears that Congress may be about to take up some technical amendments to the bankruptcy law, which they have not done yet. Input from these teacher-scholars may be very important as Congress takes another look at fine-tuning the bankruptcy laws," Alexander said.

The symposium and lunch are free and open to the public, but registration is required. The registration deadline is Feb. 12. Registration fees for those seeking Continuing Legal Education credits is $50; $40 for attorneys who are SIU School of Law alumni, or who work for public interest, legal services, or non-profit agencies. To register, and for more information on schedules and Continuing Legal Education credits for Illinois attorneys, visit http://www.law.siu.edu or call 618/453-8761.

Other scheduled speakers are:

  • Professor Nathalie Martin, University of New Mexico School of Law — "The Horse, the Barn, and BAPCPA: Is There a Way to Make Debtor Education Meaningful?" 8:30 a.m.
  • Judge Judith Fitzgerald, Western District of Pennsylvania — "We All Live in a Yellow Submarine: BAPCPA's Impact on Family Law Matters." 9 a.m.
  • Professor Robert Lawless, University of Illinois College of Law — "Small Business and the 2005 Bankruptcy Law: Should Mom & Apple Pie Be Worried?" 10 a.m.
  • Dean Peter C. Alexander, SIU School of Law — "Non-Uniform Bankruptcy Laws after BAPCPA." 10:30 a.m.
  • Professor Thomas Plank, University of Tennessee College of Law — "Toward a More Efficient Bankruptcy Law: Mortgage Financing Under 2005 Bankruptcy Amendments." 1 p.m.
  • Professor Kelli Alces, University of Richmond School of Law — "New Provisions Relating to Securities Causes of Action on Corporate Governance in Bankruptcy." 1:30 p.m.
  • Professor Charles Tabb, University of Illinois College of Law — "Living With the Means Test." 2:30 p.m.