Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Debtor v. UST: The Battleground Over Retention of a Chief Restructuring Officer

By Mark S. Melickian and Jack O'Connor
November 01, 2018

Nearly two decades ago, a dispute between J. Alix & Associates and the Executive Office of the United States Trustee (EOUST) over J. Alix's proposed role in two turn-of-the-century restructuring cases (Harnischfeger Industries, Inc. and Safety-Kleen Corp.) led to détente, and a procedure that has generally governed the employment of chief restructuring officers (CRO) in bankruptcy cases since that time.

The "J. Alix Protocol," as it is known, does not have the force of law; rather, it is a set of guidelines by which the UST will not object to retention of a CRO under 11 U.S.C. §363(b), which allows the debtor to enter into transactions "outside the ordinary course of business" with court approval. The compromise struck in the Protocol is the incorporation of certain of the Bankruptcy Code's conflicts of interest, disclosure, and compensation guidelines applicable to case professionals (e.g., attorneys and financial advisors). See, 11 U.S.C. §Section 327(a).

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year Later Image

The DOJ's Criminal Division issued three declinations since the issuance of the revised CEP a year ago. Review of these cases gives insight into DOJ's implementation of the new policy in practice.

The Bankruptcy Hotline Image

Recent cases of importance to your practice.

Use of Deferred Prosecution Agreements In White Collar Investigations Image

This article discusses the practical and policy reasons for the use of DPAs and NPAs in white-collar criminal investigations, and considers the NDAA's new reporting provision and its relationship with other efforts to enhance transparency in DOJ decision-making.

How AI Has Affected PR Image

When we consider how the use of AI affects legal PR and communications, we have to look at it as an industrywide global phenomenon. A recent online conference provided an overview of the latest AI trends in public relations, and specifically, the impact of AI on communications. Here are some of the key points and takeaways from several of the speakers, who provided current best practices, tips, concerns and case studies.

The DOJ's New Parameters for Evaluating Corporate Compliance Programs Image

The parameters set forth in the DOJ's memorandum have implications not only for the government's evaluation of compliance programs in the context of criminal charging decisions, but also for how defense counsel structure their conference-room advocacy seeking declinations or lesser sanctions in both criminal and civil investigations.