To the Extent That...

Bankruptcy law requires that professionals seeking to be paid from the estate to publicly disclose their connections to the case. In 1998, John Gellene, a former partner of the prestigious law firm now known as Milbank LLP, was found guilty for knowingly and fraudulently making false declarations under penalty of perjury. In connection with seeking to be retained as debtor’s counsel in a bankruptc...

Today we speak with Dr Rohan Shad of Stanford University Medical Center, now an Integrated Cardiothoracic Surgery Resident at the University of Pennsylvania. He has been exploring the application of AI techniques to help surgeons anticipate and reduce risks in certain heart surgeries.

In this episode, host Stephen Pike, Co-Leader of the ESG Advisory Services practice at Gowling WLG in Toronto, talks with Peter Tomczak, Chair of Baker McKenzie's North America Litigation and Government Enforcement Practice Group, about ESG Litigation and Risk Management - two critical issues that are challenging businesses and their boards of directors today.

Law firms have a duty to protect their clients’ best interests, but that duty does not give cover for defrauding clients’ creditors or running afoul of judicial rules governing how debtors are represented.

In this episode, Kaamil Ansar, partner and founder of The Ansar Law Firm, discusses the challenges, opportunities, and strategies for financing renewable energy projects. Kaamil is a specialist in energy and renewable energy, infrastructure and international project finance, cross-border mergers and acquisitions including private equity.

Host Gary J. Ross talks with Troy Zander, partner at Barnes & Thornburg LLP, who started out practicing in the Ch. 11 bankruptcy space 30 years ago and then moved to the venture debt space, where he has been ever since. Troy represents lenders to tech and life science companies, sharing the distinctions between how venture debt deals are structured for each. Troy discusses the nuances of venture d...

A serial chapter 13 filer routinely used his estranged son’s Social Security number, and multiple variations, to avoid detection for more than a decade. That ended when the last filing was done to frustrate an eviction by a world famous rapper who would not let the fraud slip. But no one could actually find the filer to enforce various orders and findings of civil contempt which stalled the case....

In Episode 3, host Jordan L. Fischer, Esq. interviews Chris Hoofnagle, Professor of Law at University of California, Berkeley. Chris and Jordan explore the evolving impact of emerging technologies on the practice of law. Chris provides key insight into legal informatics, and his predictions regarding ChatGPT and its impact on the law. Diving into the pros and cons of new technologies for lawyers,...

In this episode, host Stephen Pike, partner at Gowling WLG in Toronto, talks with Bruce Dravis about Directors’ Fiduciary Duties, Corporate Purpose and Stakeholder Interests, the three pillars of the Board’s engagement on ESG. Stephen A. Pike is a Toronto-based partner at Gowling WLG and co-leader of the firm's Canadian ESG Advisory Services practice. As a senior legal advisor to Canadian, America...

In this episode of “Pathway to the Bench: A Discussion with Judge Timothy Driscoll,” Lindsay Powell, a civil litigator at Wilson Elser, speaks to Judge Driscoll, of New York, about his pathway to the bench, how his background shaped his view of the law, and the importance of passion in the pursuit of the law. Judge Driscoll also shares what it takes to excel as an attorney, as well as tips for law...

In this episode, Judge Elizabeth Gunn speaks with Kristen E. Burgers, partner at Hirschler Law, on how a bankruptcy trustee almost got away with millions . . . and how he got caught. Bankruptcy trustees hold a unique position of public and judicial confidence, being charged with the honest marshaling and accounting of debtors’ assets. In this episode, we explore what happens when a trustee violate...

In Episode 2, host Jordan L. Fischer, Esq. interviews Eamon Gallagher, currently the Director of the Entrepreneurial Law Clinical at Drexel Law School and advisor to start-ups. Jordan and Eamon walk through the recent events surrounding Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and the impact of SVB on the start-up ecosystem. Drawing on his work with hundreds of start-ups, Eamon provides practical take-aways that...

Host Gary J. Ross talks with Lisa Stark, Partner in the Wilmington office of K&L Gates and a former litigator who now focuses on corporate governance, private equity and venture capital, and M&A. Gary and Lisa discuss the importance of several Delaware court cases, including In re Trados Inc. Shareholder Litigation and In re Nine Systems Corporation Shareholders Litigation. Other topics covered in...

In the second part of a two-part interview, Alicia Downey continues her conversation with business lawyer and former Hong Kong legislator Dennis Kwok. In this episode, Dennis offers insights into what private companies and their counsel should know about anticipating the effects of the Chinese government’s heightened focus on national security on commercial relationships and dispute resolution in...

Hong Kong has historically served as an important base of operations for international companies working in media, financial services, manufacturing, and distribution. In this episode, the first part of a two-part interview, Alicia Downey speaks with business lawyer and former Hong Kong legislator Dennis Kwok about the new risks posed by recent legislative and political developments in China and H...

In this episode, Shazia Ahmad talks with Kathleen S. McLeroy about her successful legal career and the skills, strategies, and opportunities that allowed her to assume not only a leadership position at her firm but also holding leadership positions in her bar and community organizations. Shazia Ahmad works on complex structured finance transactions involving a variety of asset classes at Kramer Le...

In this episode, Shazia Ahmad talks with Jeannie Frey, chief legal office and general counsel at Christus Health, about the challenges posed by a crisis, such as the Covid pandemic, and what leadership tools are needed to succeed in running a business. Frey served as chair of the ABA’s Business Law Section during 2020-21. Shazia Ahmad works on complex structured finance transactions involving a va...

TelexFree purported to sell an internet phone servicing allowing free calls to Brazil and Latin America, it was one of the largest pyramid schemes in history, conning 1.8 million victims worldwide. When the whole pyramid came crashing down it resulted in criminal prosecutions, class action lawsuits, and a bankruptcy case. The bankruptcy court, as is often the case where there is a massive number o...

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory, located high in the Andes in Chile, is expected to be operational near the end of 2023. The Rubin’s wide-field reflecting telescope will scan the entire southern sky every few nights. Our guest, Harvard Professor of Astronomy Edo Berger, is a leader in the Rubin Observatory’s work and will be our guide to what is intriguing in deep space, and how AI will help astrono...

Host Gary J. Ross talks with Scott Kupor, Managing Partner at Andreessen Horowitz and the author of the best-seller Secrets of Sandhill Road: Venture Capital and How to Get It. Scott discusses how Andreessen Horowitz organizes its funds, with verticals consisting of consumer enterprise and biotech/health, as well as software, crypto, and gaming. Gary and Scott also cover such topics as LLCs vs. co...

In this episode, Kaamil Ansar, partner and founder of The Ansar Law Firm, discusses the challenges, opportunities, and strategies for financing renewable energy projects. Kaamil is a specialist in energy and renewable energy, infrastructure and international project finance, cross-border mergers and acquisitions including private equity, privatizations and restructurings, corporate finance and com...

Host Gary J. Ross talks with Ingrid Pierce, Global Managing Partner at Walkers, one of the top law firms in the Cayman Islands, about the formation and use of offshore funds and investment vehicles. Gary and Ingrid discuss the rise of the Cayman Islands as an offshore jurisdiction and the various entity structures that are available in the country. Additional topics covered include setting up inve...

In Episode 1, host Jordan L. Fischer, Esq. interviews Violet Sullivan, VP of Client Engagement for Redpoints Cybersecurity. Jordan and Violet dive into her path to a career in both law and technology, and her recommendations on how to build your technology knowledge. Violet discusses the value of creating a knowledgeable team that can help your business to understand the threats and vulnerabilitie...

In this episode, learn how a debtor was forced into bankruptcy only to flee to France with his wife, a land rover, their beloved dogs…and some notorious diamonds. What do you do when your lavish lifestyle, complete with designer clothes, giant diamond rings, and high-end cars, is brought crashing down by an involuntary bankruptcy petition? In the case of the once highly successful developer Michae...

Strokes are one of the most frightening of maladies, striking as they do at the brain, the center of personhood. In this episode of Mind the Gap we will be talking with the founder and leader of one of the leading stroke centers, Dr Stanley Tuhrim of the Mount Sinai Comprehensive Stroke Center in New York City. Mount Sinai’s Stroke Centers have been leading adopters of powerful AI techniques, the...