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2010 NORTON BANKRUPTCY LAW SEMINAR MATERIALS

THE ETHICS OF REPRESENTING DEBTORS AND CREDITORS IN BANKRUPTCY

By Susan M. Freeman

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Sources of Applicable Law1
II. Fiduciary Duties of the DIP and DIP Counsel 5
A. Fiduciary Duties, In General 5
B. Management of the Estate 7
C. DIP Duties With Respect to Asset Sales 11
D. Drafting a Reorganization Plan 13
E. Duties of DIP Counsel 14
III. Qualification to Serve as DIP Counsel 23
A. Disinterestedness and Lack of Any Adverse Interest 23
B. Representation of Multiple, Affiliated Entities 25
C. Attorney Direction by Management 28
D. Fee-Related Disqualification 29
E. DIP's Counsel's Representation of the Estate's Creditors 32
F. Attorney's Ownership Interest in the DIP and Serving as Officer or Director 36
G. Effectiveness of Curative Measures 37
H. Disclosure is Mandatory 39
I. Sanctions for Conflicts and Failure to Disclose Potential Bases for Disqualification 44
Conclusive Effect of Fee Award, and Indemnity, for Ethical Violations 47
IV. Prepetition Retainers and Fee Agreements 50
A. Source of Retainer 50
B. Earned on Receipt Retainers 51
C. Installment Retainers 55
D. Limiting the Scope of Representation 57
V. Representation of Creditors and Committees 58
A. Conflicts of Interest With Bankruptcy Estates 58
B. Representation of Multiple Creditors 59
C. Fiduciary Duties of Creditors' Committee Members 61
D. Committee Counsel's Fiduciary Duties 64
VI. Client Misconduct and Improper Requests 68
A. Prepetition Counseling 68
B. Illegal Client Conduct During a Bankruptcy Case 73
VII. Litigation Tactics and Defenses 77
A. Attorney-Client Privilege and Ethics 77
B. Trustee Power to Waive the Debtor's Privilege 78
C. Creditors' Committee Exercise of Privilege 80
D. The Joint Defense or Common Interest Doctrine in Bankruptcy 82
VIII. Abusive Litigation Tactics 83
A. Standards Under Rule 9011 and Related Rules83
B. Obtaining Sanctions 85
C. Reporting Bankruptcy Misconduct 88
D. Judicial Disqualification 90

 

 

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