Bankruptcy practitioners across the circuits understand these categories of adversary proceedings or contested matters, involving state law claims, that could potentially be subject to bankruptcy jurisdiction: core and non-core proceedings.[1]  For core proceedings, a bankruptcy court may enter “final” orders and judgments.

The rise in energy-sector bankruptcies has brought the question of whether oil and gas conveyances can be assumed or rejected under § 365 of the Bankruptcy Code to the surface. Issues related to assumption and rejection are particularly difficult in the energy sector because “[t]raditional property concepts are difficult to apply in the oil and gas context.

Real estate debtor principals who guaranty a debtor’s debts often face uphill battles to obtain stays pursuant to § 105 of the Bankruptcy Court of guaranty actions against them by secured creditors of the debtor. The bankruptcy court in In re Chicora Life Center, LC[1] recently issued such a stay.

The Bankruptcy Litigation Committee had a tremendous 2016! We strived to continue to provide our members with enlightening and useful substantive information while also offering enjoyable and valuable social and networking opportunities.