This handbook is a comprehensive guide to business bankruptcy. It includes a chapter on the Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019. Other topics covered in this handbook include: the consequences of bankruptcy and out-of-court alternatives; business Chapter 7 cases; §541 property of the estate; proofs of claim, priorities, and distribution; the trustee’s responsibilities and avoiding powers in business bankruptcies; Illinois common-law assignments for the benefit of creditors; involuntary bankruptcy; postpetition financing; and executory contracts and unexpired leases. This handbook also covers special problems that arise when dealing with farm debtors, limited liability companies, and commercial real estate cases.
Chapter 1 — Overview of the Bankruptcy Code and System
Mazyar Hedayat and Bonny Patel, M. Hedayat & Associates, P.C., Bolingbrook
Chapter 2 — Consequences of Bankruptcy and Out-of-Court Alternatives
Jack Shadid, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, Chicago
Chapter 3 — Section 541: Property of the Estate
Ryan C. Hardy, Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC, Chicago
Chapter 4 — Proofs of Claim, Priorities, and Distribution
Michael A. Brandess, Husch Blackwell LLP, and Mark S. Melickian, Raines Feldman Littrell LLP, Chicago
Chapter 5 — Trustee’s Responsibilities and Avoiding Powers in Business Bankruptcies
Joseph D. Frank, Brian P. Welch, and Luca J. Giovine, Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella, P.C., Chicago
Chapter 6 — Advising Business Debtors: Alternatives to Bankruptcy
Mazyar Hedayat, M. Hedayat & Associates, P.C., Bolingbrook
Chapter 7 — Illinois Common-Law Assignments for the Benefit of Creditors
Michael A. Brandess, Husch Blackwell LLP, Chicago
Chapter 8 — Involuntary Bankruptcy
Michael J. Small, Foley & Lardner LLP, Chicago
Chapter 9 — Business Chapter 7 Cases
David P. Leibowitz, Law Office of David P. Leibowitz, LLC — Lakelaw, Chicago
Chapter 10 — Representing the Chapter 11 Debtor
Jack Shadid, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, Chicago
Chapter 11 — Representing the Secured Creditor and Adequate Protection
Chad H. Gettleman, Adam P. Silverman, Alexander F. Brougham, and Nicholas R. Dwayne, Adelman & Gettleman, Ltd., and Nathan Q. Rugg and Alexander F. Berk, Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP, Chicago
Chapter 12 — Postpetition Financing
John (“Jack”) R. O’Connor, Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC, Chicago
Chapter 13 — Representing the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors
Matthew L. Warren Paul Hastings LLP, and Valerie Eliasen, Chicago
Chapter 14 — Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases
Elizabeth B. Vandesteeg and Sean P. Williams, Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC, Chicago
Chapter 15 — Attorneys’ Fees in Chapter 11 Cases
Jeremy C. Kleinman, Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella, P.C., Chicago
Chapter 16 — Special Problems in Dealing with the Farm Debtor
Richard G. Larsen, Springer Larsen, LLC, Wheaton
Chapter 17 — The Chapter 11 Plan, Confirmation, and Cramdown
Kevin H. Morse and Kenny Chiaghana, Clark Hill PLC, Chicago
Chapter 18 — Asset Sales Under the Bankruptcy Code
Peter J. Roberts, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, Chicago
Chapter 19 — Special Issues for Limited Liability Companies
Mazyar Hedayat and Bonny Patel, M. Hedayat & Associates, P.C., Bolingbrook
Chapter 20 — Chapter 11 Cases for Individuals and Small Business Debtors
Paul M. Bauch, Bauch & Michaels, LLC, Chicago and Carolina Y. Sales, Robbins DiMonte, Park Ridge
Chapter 21 — Special Problems in Commercial Real Estate Bankruptcy Cases
Jill L. Nicholson and Samantha M. Ruben, Dentons US LLP, Chicago
Chapter 22 — Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019
Matthew Brash, Newpoint Advisors Corporation, Schaumburg, Carolina Y. Sales, Robbins DiMonte, Park Ridge, and Neema T. Varghese, NV Consulting Services, Chicago
