Bankruptcy & Insolvency 2024


Course Date: February 23, 2024

Full Course Materials
Total: 5h 17min
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 – 9:45)
 
  • 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
  • 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 (9:45 – 10:25)
 
  • the basic priority scheme under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act
  • 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 (10:25 – 10:40)
 
Insolvency and the Landlord/Tenant Relationship (10:40 – 11:20)
 
  • bankruptcy and the landlord/tenant relationship
  • impact on landlord's rights/remedies on tenant making a proposal under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act of Canada
  • 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
Robert Fischer — Whitelaw Twining Law Corporation, Vancouver
 
Directors' and Officers' Liability in Insolvency (11:20 – 12:00)
 
  • who is considered an officer or director?
  • types of liability
  • avoiding or minimizing the liability
  • indemnification and insurance
  • liability for breach of directors' duties
Ryan Laity — Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Vancouver
 
LUNCH (12:00 – 1:00)
 
Forbearance Agreements (1:00 - 1:25)
 
  • Forbearance Agreements
    • timing and effect
    • key terms and optional terms
    • issues and pitfalls
Jordan D. Schultz — Dentons Canada LLP, Vancouver
 
Proposals to Creditors (1:25 – 2:05)
 
  • Division 1 Proposals under the BIA 
    • who may make a proposal
    • filing under the BIA
    • stay of proceedings
    • purpose and terms
    • process and timing
    • restructuring options
    • creditor and court approval
    • performance, default, and annulment
  • Informal Proposals
    • considerations
    • advantages and disadvantages
    • work outs
Jennifer McCracken, LIT — BDO First Call Debt Solutions, BC and Yukon
 
BREAK (2:05 – 2:20)
 
Proofs of Claim, Disallowances, and Appeals Therefrom (2:20 – 2:55)
 
  • filing of a proof of claim with a bankruptcy trustee and the process thereafter 
    • purpose of BIA
    • role of the courts
    • proofs of claim
    • trustee's duty to examine
    • trustee may allow or disallow
    • creditor's right to apply to expunge or reduce
      • procedure
      • scope of application
    • appeals from disallowance
      • nature of an appeal
      • trustee's duty to appear on appeal
      • limitation period
      • process (de novo or true appeal; fresh evidence)
      • trial de novo
      • standard of review
      • standing
  • 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
 
Personal Bankruptcy and Discharge of Bankrupt (2:55 – 3:40)
 
  • process
    • the trustee in bankruptcy
    • summary administration vs. ordinary administration
    • stay of proceedings
    • property of a bankrupt
    • surplus income
  • role of creditors
    • the filing of proofs of claims
    • acting as inspector
  • conclusion of process
    • orders of discharge
    • debts that survive after discharge
  • what you need to know if you are acting for a bankrupt or creditor
    • student loans
    • tax driven bankruptcies
    • multiple bankruptcies
  • grounds for opposing the bankrupt's discharge
  • what evidence you should put before the court 
  • what orders the court may make
    • variation of bankruptcy discharge orders
    • appeals
Jennifer McCracken, LIT — BDO First Call Debt Solutions, BC and Yukon
Cody G. Reedman — Reedman Law, Vancouver
 
Hot Topics in Insolvency (3:40 – 4:00)
 
  • new legislation: Money Judgement Enforcement Act replaces Court Order Enforcement Act
  • reverse vesting orders
  • government COVID loans
  • scope of releases
  • monitors' costs
  • trusts
Geoffrey H. Dabbs — Gehlen Dabbs Cash LLP, Vancouver
Robert Fischer — Whitelaw Twining Law Corporation, Vancouver
Jennifer McCracken, LIT — BDO First Call Debt Solutions, BC and Yukon
Rebecca M. Morse — Farris LLP, Vancouver
Jordan D. Schultz — Dentons Canada LLP, Vancouver