Becker Meisel Attorneys Focused on Conflict Issues and Multiple Representations in Bankruptcy Proceedings as well as Redemption and Reaffirmation

EAST BRUNSWICK, N.J., May 13, 2008 – Douglas Kent, Esq., of counsel with the Livingston, N.J.-based Becker Meisel, and Lauren Hannon, Esq., an associate with the full-service law firm, recently served as featured speakers at the 10th Annual Honorable William H. Gindin Bankruptcy Bench-Bar Conference. This well-attended event was presented by the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education (NJICLE) in cooperation with New Jersey State Bar Association Bankruptcy Law Section. Kent and Hannon are members of Becker Meisel’s bankruptcy, insolvency, and creditors’ rights practice group.

Kent has practiced bankruptcy law for more than 30 years. His panel concentrated on conflict issues and multiple representations in bankruptcy proceedings. In addition, the panel discussed issues raised by a hypothetical situation presented by the panel to its audience. Kent, among other things, specifically spoke regarding the issues in undertaking the representation of multiple secured creditors in a bankruptcy proceeding and the possible conflicts of representing more than one major general unsecured creditor in a bankruptcy proceeding.

Hannon, who concentrates her practice on bankruptcy, insolvency and creditors’ rights, focused on exemptions, lien avoidance, and redemption and reaffirmation. She dealt with the divergent case law that has resulted from the revision of the Bankruptcy Code in 2005 with Congress’ passage of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act. In particular, she discussed whether debtors continue to be entitled to a "ride-through" option when they chose to retain property subject to liens of secured creditors or if they are limited to the options of redemption and reaffirmation.