Bankruptcy

This course is an introduction to federal bankruptcy law with an emphasis on corporate reorganization. The course examines various aspects of the bankruptcy process including the automatic stay, the avoidance and recovery of certain pre-bankruptcy transfers (e.g., preferences and fraudulent transfers), the treatment of executory contracts, the financing of operations and investments in bankruptcy, and the sale of assets in a bankruptcy case. The course also examines selected Chapter 11 operating issues and the plan of reorganization. Along the way the course will consider certain controversial issues that may arise in a bankruptcy setting, such as forum shopping, valuation, leveraged buyouts, distressed debt investing, and third-party releases. The course brings the real world into the classroom by following current developments in actual bankruptcy cases, primarily through reports in the media and classroom discussion. Elements used in grading: Exam.