REMINDER: 2020 Bankruptcy Bench Meets Bar Webinar, Wednesday, May 20, at 3 p.m.

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Where: Online via Zoom

When: Wednesday, May 20, 2020, 3:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.

This webinar is an opportunity for bankruptcy professionals to hear from Massachusetts Bankruptcy Judges about the Bankruptcy Court’s operations since the COVID-19 pandemic and how practitioners are adapting.  The program will include the following topics:

     -State of the District update from Chief Judge Christopher J. Panos;

     -New standing orders and other procedural changes;

     -Current practice for status conferences, non-evidentiary hearings, and evidentiary hearings, and tips for telephonic hearings;

     -How the Court is preparing to handle the back log of evidentiary hearings and trials; and

     -What practitioners should expect when the Court reopens for live hearings (and factors being considered with respect to timing).

Other agenda items include answering questions and/or brief discussion of comments submitted by practitioners in advance about challenges with the new remote-only operation of the Bankruptcy Court.  All questions and comments can be emailed to Macken Toussaint, Bankruptcy Section Co-Chair, at mtoussaint@riemerlaw.com

Speakers:

     -Hon. Christopher J. Panos, U.S. Bankruptcy Court

     -Hon. Frank J. Bailey, U.S. Bankruptcy Court

     -Hon. Janet E. Bostwick, U.S. Bankruptcy Court

This program is being presented live via Zoom.  Please register for this program through your BBA account to receive the Zoom webinar link.  In order to receive the Zoom webinar link, you must register at least two hours before the start time of the program.

Further information for the program may be found HERE

BBA Bankruptcy Section Announces COVID-19 Response Committee

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The Bankruptcy Section of the Boston Bar Association has formed a COVID-19 standing committee (the “Committee”) to assess the impact of COVID-19 on bankruptcy practice, to proactively monitor the anticipated rapid rise in consumer bankruptcy cases in response to the COVID-19 crisis, and to assist with the expected increase in demand for such pro-bono legal services for consumer debtors.

The Committee is currently focused on (1) reviewing the Bankruptcy Section’s current pro bono protocols and adapting them to COVID-19 situations, (2) preparing educational programs to update attorneys on recent changes to the bankruptcy code and rules, including changes to bankruptcy and relevant state laws in response to COVID-19, and (3) providing training for attorneys entering the field who are interested in volunteering to take pro-bono consumer bankruptcy cases, which are expected to rise sharply.

If you are interested in learning more about the Bankruptcy Section pro bono response, please contact Ariana Gebauer at agebauer@bostonbar.org.

The members of the Committee are Donald Lassman (Chair), Christine Devine, Macken Toussaint, Amy Lipman-White, Dmitry Lev, Jacob Simon, Frank Morrissey, Kathleen Cruickshank, and Kate Nicholson.  Other questions about the Committee can be directed to Donald Lassman at Don@Lassmanlaw.com.

Lunch Bunch with Judge Bailey: Thursday, January 23, 2020 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM

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Description: Please join us for our first brown bag lunch of the new year with Judge Frank J. Bailey in the former law library on the 12th floor of the Bankruptcy Court. This is a great opportunity to participate, learn, and discuss hot topics in bankruptcy law in a relaxed open forum environment. We encourage practitioners to come and discuss current trends, concerns, and issues, so feel free to bring questions! If you have questions or items you’d like to discuss, you may submit them in advance by email to mlipton@parkerlipton.com. This event is open to everyone. Non-BBA members are also welcome to attend. Lunch will be provided courtesy of the BBA.

To register for this event, click HERE.

Young Bar Meets Bench: Monday, February 10, 2020 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM

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Description: Are you a young lawyer who is tired of never having your day in Court? Today is your lucky day!

For the first time in 13 years, the Young Bar Meets Bench is joining forces with the Junior Lawyers Training Program to host a joint oral advocacy workshop at the Boston U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Participating attendees will have the great opportunity to argue a “mock” motion before a panel of esteemed judges and litigators (and a room of their peers) in you guessed it, a Courtroom! Non-participating attendees will have the great opportunity to observe their peers, learn tips and strategies about oral advocacy, ask questions during the Q&A segment, and network at the Program’s reception.

If you would like to argue a motion, please email Jenna Kim at jkim@bostonbar.org .

Register to attend this event HERE.

THIS TUESDAY, November 12th from 12 – 1 PM, Join Us at the BBA for a Homestead Overview in Bankruptcy and Trusts and Estates

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This program will focus on the Massachusetts Homestead Act and how it protects or does not protect property in the event of a bankruptcy. The speakers will also review how T&E attorneys make certain transfers with respect to a primary residence and how it may be impacted by a future bankruptcy. To register click HERE.

When: Tuesday, November 12, 2019, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.

Where: Boston Bar Association, 16 Beacon Street, Boston, MA

Speakers:

-Adam J. Ruttenberg, Arent Fox LLP

-Elizabeth A. Caruso, Baker, Braverman & Barbadoro, P.C.

Registration Categories:

-BBA Member – Free. Included as part of your membership.

-Non-Member – $100.00

Sponsoring Section/Committee(s):

-Trusts & Estates Section

-Estate Planning Committee

-Bankruptcy Law Section

Contact: Jenna Kim, jkim@bostonbar.org

NOTICE OF VACANCY: TERM LAW CLERK TO THE HON. JANET E. BOSTWICK

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Position Title: Law Clerk to U.S. Bankruptcy Judge

Position Type: Full-Time Term Limited, Excepted Service

Application Opening Date: October 21, 2019

Application Closing Date: Preference for those received by November 12, 2019

Location: Boston, Massachusetts

Term of Employment: Immediately to August 31, 2020 (with potential to extend)

Starting Annual Salary Range: JSP 11/1 – 13/1, ($69,016 – $127,874 depending upon qualifications, experience and bar membership status)

General Job Description: Duties include conducting legal research and analysis, preparing memoranda and draft orders and opinions, working collaboratively with members of Chambers and the Clerk’s Office on matters affecting case administration, and performing other duties as may be assigned. A portion of the law clerk’s time will be spent observing courtroom proceedings and performing certain administrative functions.

Minimum Qualifications: At the time of appointment, the applicant must be a U.S. Citizen or be authorized to work in the United States. Applicant must be a law school graduate with academic standing in the upper third of the class or have other demonstrated proof of superior research and writing skills and legal acumen. Additionally, the applicant must be proficient in computer-assisted research and Microsoft Word. It is preferred that applicants have taken bankruptcy law in law school or have experience in the bankruptcy field or comparable practice areas. Familiarity with case management/electronic case filing (CM/ECF) is also preferred. Applicants must be able to quickly process and resolve complex issues and have excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal skills. Maturity, judgment, and discretion are required. Employees are hired provisionally pending the results of a completed background investigation.

How to Apply: Applications must include a cover letter, current resume and at least one writing sample. Candidates may apply for this position through the Online System for Clerkship Application and Review (OSCAR) by clicking HERE , or alternatively, may submit applications by mail to: The Chambers of the Hon. Janet E. Bostwick, Attn: Leslie Su, Law Clerk, United States Bankruptcy Court, John W. McCormack Post Office and Court House, 5 Post Office Square, Suite 1150 Boston, MA 02109-3945.

The Court reserves the right to modify the conditions of this job announcement, to withdraw the job announcement, or to fill the position sooner than the closing date, if a closing date is shown, any of which actions may occur without any prior written notice.

Further Information for Applicants:

· Employees of the United States Bankruptcy Court serve on an “at will” basis and are required to adhere to a Code of Conduct, a copy of which is available upon request.

· Applicants who proceed further through the application process may be requested to provide additional information including references.

· The United States Bankruptcy Court is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Get Ready for the 2019 Amendments to the Bankruptcy Code: Small Business, Veterans’ Rights, and Farm Relief, October 15th, from 12 to 1 pm.

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Join us at the BBA on Tuesday, October 15th, from 12 pm to 1 pm, as we review Bankruptcy Code amendments and discuss their potential impact on filings now, in 2020, and beyond. The discussion will include provisions affecting small businesses, veterans, and family farmers in reorganizing their debts, as well as changes to the laws governing avoidance actions ushered in by the amendments.

To register for the event, click HERE.

BBA Member – Free. Included as part of your membership.

Non-Member – $100.00

Speakers: David Mawhinney, K&L Gates LLP, and Jessica Youngberg, Veterans Legal Services

For more information about the amendments affecting veterans, click: HERE for a helpful chart on the HAVEN Act and HERE for the final legislation’s text.

Bankruptcy Fall Kickoff Reception with Honored Guest, Judge Designate Janet E. Bostwick: October 2nd, at 5 PM at the BBA.

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Please join the Bankruptcy Law Section at its Fall Kickoff Social Event for socializing, networking, and to welcome our Honored Guest, Judge Designate Janet E. Bostwick, as the newest member of the Massachusetts Bankruptcy Bench.

When: Wednesday, October 2, 2019, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Where: Boston Bar Association, 16 Beacon Street, Boston, MA

This program is free and open to all.  Don’t miss it!

You may register for the event by clicking HERE.

National Diversity Event — October 24, 2019 at 4 PM — Roadways to the Federal Bench: Who, me? A Bankruptcy Judge?

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In an effort to improve diversity in the bankruptcy bench and bar and the federal bench in general, the Judicial Conference of the U.S. Committee on the Administration of the Bankruptcy System is hosting a simultaneous, nationwide event occurring live in 19 cities on October 24, 2019 at 4 PM Eastern. Boston is one of the cities hosting the event, where it will take place at the John J. Moakley Courthouse. The event is open to all lawyers and law students who register for the event.

The program will start with a livestreamed engaging panel discussion with Judges Bailey, Donald, and Gordon, moderated by retired Judge Davis. You will learn about bankruptcy practice (you get to go to court!), roadways to the bench, and why diversity is so important in the bankruptcy bench and bar. You will then participate in an hour of “roundtable” discussions, where judges sitting at your table will talk about their roadways and answer your questions. Every fifteen minutes, the judges will move to another table, so you will meet up to 8-10 judges in just one hour. We expect that Bankruptcy, Circuit Judges, District and Magistrate Judges will attend and participate in this event. There will be a reception immediately following the event.

Registration opens September 17, 2019, at noon Eastern. We have limited space, so availability is on a first-come, first registered basis. No charge, but you MUST register. DON’T MISS OUT! Once registration opens, you can sign up by visiting the event website HERE and clicking on the registration button when that becomes active. If space is available, you will receive an email confirming your registration within a few days. If you receive a confirmation email and are later unable to attend, please let us know immediately so that we can make space available to another lawyer or law student. In some instances, interested lawyers and law students may be placed on a wait list if space later becomes available. In the meantime, that website has more details about the event. Who, me? Yes, you! See you there.

6/21/2019: Bankruptcy Court 2019 Summer Associate Reception

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Calling All Summer Associates and Interns! On Friday, June 21 from 1:00-3:00 p.m., the Bankruptcy Court Diversity Initiative Task Force and the Bankruptcy Law Section of the Boston Bar Association are hosting a reception on the 12th Floor of the John W. McCormack Post Office and Court House located at 5 Post Office Square.

The event is for 2019 Boston area summer associates to learn about the Court’s work and opportunities to practice before it. Lunch will be provided. Please encourage your summer associates and interns to attend. They can sign up for the event by clicking here.