Bankruptcy and Insolvency Update 2026


Course Date: September 29, 2026

Full Course Materials
Total: 5h 45min
Total Ethics: 1h

Course Introduction and Land Acknowledgement (9:00 – 9:10)

Teresa Sheward — Program Lawyer, CLEBC, Vancouver
Geoffrey H. Dabbs — Gehlen Dabbs Cash LLP, Vancouver
Rebecca M. Morse — Farris LLP, Vancouver

General Overview of All Insolvency Statutes (9:10 – 9:50)

  • insolvency—identifying it factually and analyzing it legally
  • trying to avoid bankruptcy—proposals and creditor protection
  • bankruptcy under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act of Canada (BIA)
  • receivership under provincial law
  • practice directions and model orders of the Supreme Court
  • pitfalls to watch out for!
  • other potentially applicable federal and provincial law
  • practice considerations, advice, and action points

Geoffrey H. Dabbs — Gehlen Dabbs Cash LLP, Vancouver
Rebecca M. Morse — Farris LLP, Vancouver

Priority Issues in Bankruptcy and Insolvency (9:50 – 10:30)

  • the basic priority scheme under the BIA
  • priority creditors
    • secured creditors
    • Crown claims
    • unpaid suppliers
    • the Wage Earner Protection Program Act
  • postponed creditors
    • equity claims
    • non-arm's length transactions
  • trust property 
  • exempt property

Carol M. Cash — Gehlen Dabbs Cash LLP, Vancouver

BREAK (10:30 – 10:45)

Receivership, CCAA, BIA—Proposals to Creditors (10:45 – 11:50)

  • an overview of CCAA, receivership and BIA proposal processes
  • a review of the various tools available in each of these regimes, including vesting and reverse vesting orders, DIP financing, and when a party can disclaim leases and other contracts
  • a review of industry trends including an overview of acceptable rates for DIP financing and break fees

Jason Eckford, CPA, CIRP, LIT — Senior Vice President, Recovery and Restructuring, MNP Ltd., Vancouver
Rebecca M. Morse
— Farris LLP, Vancouver
Holly Palmer, CA, CPA, CIRP, LIT — Senior Vice President, MNP Ltd., Vancouver

NETWORKING LUNCH (provided to in-person registrants) (11:50 – 12:50)

Insolvency and the Landlord-Tenant Relationship (12:50 – 1:15)

  • bankruptcy and the landlord-tenant relationship
  • impact on landlord's rights/remedies on tenant making a proposal under the BIA
  • receivership of the tenant
  • Commercial Tenancy Act and liability of bankruptcy trustee and receiver for rent
  • landlord's options in dealing with a potentially insolvent tenant
  • tips and traps in dealing with an insolvent tenant

Daxton S. Boeré — Farris LLP, Vancouver

Directors' and Officers' Liability in Insolvency (1:15 – 1:40)

  • who is considered an officer or director?
  • types of liability
  • avoiding or minimizing the liability
  • indemnification and insurance
  • liability for breach of directors' duties

Christopher Ramsay — Clark Wilson LLP, Vancouver (presenting remotely)
Simon Wu — Clark Wilson LLP, Vancouver

Reverse Vesting Orders (1:40 – 2:05)

  • purpose of a reverse vesting transaction
  • steps to implementation
  • jurisprudence and court consideration for approval

Katie Mak — Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, Vancouver

Forbearance Agreements (2:05 – 2:30)

  • Forbearance Agreements
    • timing and effect
    • key terms and optional terms
    • issues and pitfalls

Jordan D. Schultz — Dentons Canada LLP, Vancouver 

BREAK (2:30 – 2:45)

Guarantees (2:45 – 3:10)

  • key terms
  • common defences
  • independent legal advice

Noor Mann — Lawson Lundell LLP, Vancouver

Proofs of Claim, Disallowances, and Appeals Therefrom (3:10 – 3:35)

  • purpose of BIA
  • proofs of claim
  • trustee's duty to examine
  • trustee may allow or disallow
  • role of the courts
  • appeals from disallowance
    • nature of an appeal
    • limitation period
    • trustee's duty to appear on appeal
    • process: de novo or true appeal
      • fresh evidence 
      • trial de novo
    • standard of review
    • standing
  • creditor's right to apply to expunge or reduce
    • procedure
    • scope of application
  • an alternative or parallel process: suing in the civil courts
  • costs
  • trustee's fees 
    • trust claims
    • secured claims

Jonathan L. Williams — Owen Bird Law Corporation, Vancouver

Case Study Roundtable: Bringing it All Together (3:35 – 4:30)

Daxton S. Boeré — Farris LLP, Vancouver
Geoffrey H. Dabbs
— Gehlen Dabbs Cash LLP, Vancouver
Rebecca M. Morse — Farris LLP, Vancouver
Jonathan L. Williams — Owen Bird Law Corporation, Vancouver