L. Alexandra Hogan, an attorney at Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C., has been chosen as an expert speaker and participant for the upcoming four-day conference conducted by the American Bankruptcy Institute to be held July 17-20 in Stowe, Vt. The panel discussion will explore the ethical boundaries of secrecy and confidentiality issues in a bankruptcy case. Topics the panel will discuss include:

• Should a creditor or attorney for the debtor serve on a creditors’ committee, and to what extent may relevant information be divulged?
• To what extent may an attorney reveal information received by him or her during a retention interview if he or she is not hired but is later retained by another party?
• What problems arise if information to be divulged by one client could have an adverse impact on another?
• To what extent does a debtor’s duty to reveal information trump its desire to protect business secrets, and how should the situation be handled?
• Can a case tolerate disparate scopes of information being given to parties in interest?
• Do the ethical issues change with the “environment” – court, mediation, negotiation, pitch for business, etc.?

The American Bankruptcy Institute is the largest multi-disciplinary, nonpartisan organization dedicated to research and education on matters related to insolvency. It was founded in 1982 to provide Congress and the public with unbiased analysis of bankruptcy issues. Membership includes more than 13,000 attorneys, auctioneers, bankers, judges, lenders, professors, turnaround specialists, accountants and other bankruptcy professionals providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and information. In fulfillment of its mission to provide information to its members, journalists, Congress and the public, the American Bankruptcy Institute is engaged in numerous educational and research activities as well as the production of a number of publications both for the insolvency practitioner and the public. The annual conference features top-flight CLE sessions for both business and consumer practitioners.

“The American Bankruptcy Conference provides a unique, multi-disciplinary perspective and is an important platform for sharing ideas to better serve matters of insolvency,” said Attorney Hogan. “I am proud to be part of a panel discussion that will explore so many important issues in modern bankruptcy law.”

While Attorney Hogan strives to find alternatives to bankruptcy, as it is an option of last resort, she has an extensive bankruptcy practice that includes both debtor and creditor representation in individual and business cases, including Chapter 7 and Chapter 11. Additionally, Attorney Hogan acts as counsel to Chapter 7 Trustee, Steven Weiss, in bankruptcy litigation advanced in adversary proceedings. She is a member of the Hampden County Bar Association, International Women’s Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation, Massachusetts Bar Association and the Young Professionals Society.

Local Law Firm Receives United Way Gold Award For Extraordinary Support
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Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C. was recognized as a gold award recipient from the United Way of Pioneer Valley during the 2014 annual celebration. Local businesses were recognized with gold, silver or bronze level awards for extraordinary support during the 2013-2014 campaign. Each year, the United Way of Pioneer Valley runs an annual campaign that provides funding for local nonprofit organizations and community initiatives. Donations finance health and human service programs throughout the region. Awards were presented at the annual celebration which was hosted at Chez Josef in Agawam on Thursday, May 22.

“We are proud to have the good fortune to be able to give back to a community that supports our success,” said Partner Steve Schwartz, who has been with the firm since its inception 45 years ago. “We are equally proud of the other contributing businesses recognized at the United Way of Pioneer Valley annual event. We accomplish more working together.”

The United Way of Pioneer Valley is the regional affiliate of United Way Worldwide – a leadership and support organization and network of nearly 1,800 community-based United Ways in 45 countries and territories. United Way envisions a world where all individuals and families achieve full potential through education, income stability and healthy lives. For 90 years, the United Way of Pioneer Valley has been working in partnership with individuals, businesses and organizations that advance the common good throughout the greater Springfield community including the 25 cities in Hampden County, South Hadley and Granby.

Many United Way donors choose to participate in a company or organization’s annual campaign and make donations through payroll deduction. Interested companies and organizations not currently offering a United Way campaign can contact the campaign department team at United Way of Pioneer Valley at (413) 693-0227.