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Bankruptcy Bench/Bar Conference Agenda and Reading Materials

The Bankruptcy Section of the Houston Bar Association presents:

The First Bankruptcy Bench/Bar Conference
for the Southern District of Texas

The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center
November 6-7, 2008

Click here for a PDF version of the agenda.

Papers and Proposed Rules that will be discussed at the bench bar conference
are available by hyperlink below. Please review them prior to the conference.

Day 1 - Thursday, November 6, 2008
8:00 Check-in
9:00 Welcome Remarks & Program Introductions
Hon. Wesley W. Steen, Houston, Chief Judge,
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Texas
9:15 Case Law Update
Janet S. Northrup, Houston
Hughes, Watters & Askanase, L.L.P.
CLE (.75) Preston T. Towber, Houston
The Towber Law Firm, P.C.
  Henry Flores, Houston
Haynes & Boone, L.L.P.
10:00 Case Manager Panel
  Hon. Jeff Bohm, Houston, Judge,
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Texas
  Robin Stennis, Case Manager for Hon. Jeff Bohm, Houston
  Anita Dolezel, Case Manager for Hon. Marvin Isgur, Houston
  Maureen Bryan, Case Manager for Hon. Karen K. Brown, Houston
  Jean Kell, Case Manager for Hon. Wesley W. Steen, Houston
  Maria Rodriguez, Case Manager for Hon. Letitia Z. Clark, Houston
10:30 Break
10:45 CLE (.75) Lessons About the Law from Outside the Law
Hon. Keith P. Ellison, Houston, Judge
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
11:30 Lunch (included with Registration) – Guest Speaker
Loren Steffy, Business Columnist, Houston Chronicle
1:00 Ethics Panel Hon. Karen K. Brown, Houston, Judge,
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Texas
CLE (.75) Joseph M. Hill, Houston
Cage, Hill & Niehaus, L.L.P.
Ethics John P. Melko, Houston
Gardere Wynne Sewell, L.L.P.
  Patrick L. Hughes, Houston
Haynes & Boone, L.L.P.
  Magdalaine (Maggie) S. Ebeade, Houston
Cage, Hill & Niehaus, L.L.P
1:45 UST Update on BAPCPA
CLE (.50) Charles McVay, Houston, U.S. Trustee,
Region 7 and Region 19
2:15 Break
2:30 Break-out to either:
CLE (.75) Chapter 13 Rules and Forms - Update
Hon. Marvin Isgur, Houston, Judge,
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Texas
  Kenneth P. Thomas, Houston
Staff Attorney for William E. Heitkamp,
Chapter 13 Trustee
  John Kurt Stephen, McAllen
Cardenas Whitis & Stephen, L.L.P.
  Dinorah Gonzalez, Houston
Staff Attorney for David G. Peake,
Chapter 13 Trustee
  or
  Complex Rules and Forms - Update
Hon. Wesley W. Steen, Houston, Chief Judge,
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Texas
  Henry J. Kaim, Houston
King & Spalding, L.L.P.
  Alfredo R. Perez, Houston
Weil, Gotshal & Manges, L.L.P.
  Materials:
  - Proposed Oil and Gas Case Rules
  - Proposed LOCAL RULE 6006—Assumption, Rejection or Assignment of an Executory Contracts or Unexpired Leases by Omnibus Motion
  - Proposal for Financing Procedures in the United States Bankruptcy Courts for the Southern District of Texas
  - Proposed Local Rule 3007. Objections to Claims.
  - Proposed Motion Procedures for Payment of Pre-Petition Amounts Owed to Critical Vendors
3:15 Mediation - When One Judge is not enough
Hon. Marvin Isgur, Houston, Judge,
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Texas
  Hon. Richard S. Schmidt, Corpus Christi, Judge,
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Texas
  William R. Greendyke, Houston
Fulbright & Jaworski, L.L.P.
  John F. Higgins, IV, Houston
Porter & Hedges, L.L.P.
  H. Malcolm Lovett, Jr., Houston
Strategic Capital Corporation
4:15 Reception
Day 2 - Friday, November 7, 2008
9:00 Break out to either:
CLE (.75) Mortgages - Chapter 13 and Beyond
Hon. Marvin Isgur, Houston, Judge,
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Texas
  Brendetta A. Scott, Houston
Hughes, Watters & Askanase, L.L.P.
  Cindy Boudloche, Corpus Christi
Chapter 13 Trustee
  Johnie J. Patterson, II, Houston
Walker & Patterson, P.C.
  Marjorie A. Britt, Houston
Britt & Catrett, P.C.
  or
  Asset Sales in Bankruptcy, including When is a Sale a Sale and Not a Secret Plan?
Hon. Richard S. Schmidt, Corpus Christi, Judge,
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Texas
  Wayne Kitchens, Houston
Hughes, Watters & Askanase, L.L.P.
  Shelby A. Jordan, Corpus Christi
Jordan, Hyden, Womble, Culbreth & Holzer, P.C.
  Barbara M. Rogers, Houston
Rogers, Anderson & Bensey, P.L.L.C.
9:45 Evidence/Trial Tactics
Hon. Jeff Bohm, Houston, Judge,
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Texas
CLE (.75) David R. Jones, Houston
Porter & Hedges, L.L.P.
  Marcy E. Kurtz, Houston
Bracewell & Giuliani, L.L.P.
  Loretta Cross, Houston
Grant Thornton, L.L.P.
10:30 Break
10:45 Break out to either:
CLE (.75) Best Practices for Consumer Practitioners
Hon. Jeff Bohm, Houston, Judge,
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Texas
  Hon. Marvin Isgur, Houston, Judge,
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Texas
  Hon. Wesley W. Steen, Houston, Chief Judge,
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Texas
  Lisa A. Cockrell, Houston
Codilis & Stawiarski, P.C.
  Richard W. Aurich, Jr., Houston
Staff Attorney for David G. Peake,
Chapter 13 Trustee
  or
  Best Practices for Business Practitioners
Hon. Karen K. Brown, Houston, Judge,
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Texas
  Hon. Letitia Z. Clark, Houston, Judge,
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Texas
  Hon. Richard S. Schmidt, Corpus Christi, Judge,
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Texas
  Edward Rothberg, Houston
Weycer, Kaplan, Pulaski & Zuber, P.C.
  Elizabeth (Liz) Freeman, Houston
Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell, L.L.P.
  Susan J. Brandt, Houston
Nathan Sommers Jacobs, P.C.
  Dean Swick, Houston
Alvarez & Marsal, L.L.C.
  John Akard, Jr. Houston
John Akard, Jr. P.C.
11:30 Lunch is served (included in Registration) and conference is adjourned