Thanks to everyone who submitted an bankruptcy song, to everyone who voted and shared their comments and to illustrator Gideon Kendall for suggesting the cartoon announcement prize idea.

Also thanks to our sponsors for their support of the first-ever (to our knowledge) Bankruptcy Song Contest and for collectively making a donation to the National Consumer Law Center in the amount of $25 for each song submitted (for which we received a nice thank you note from the NCLC’s Executive Director):

• Bruce Weiner (Rosenberg Musso & Weiner) – NYBankruptcyNet (Brooklyn, NY)
• George Haines & David Krieger (Haines & Krieger) (Las Vegas, NV)
• Russell A. Demott – Charleston Bankruptcy Blog (Charleston, SC)
• Nancy Rapoport (nancyrapoport.blogspot.com), the Gordon Silver Professor of Law at the William S. Boyd School of Law (UNLV)

********

2nd Place

Congratulations also to Arlene Robins of Woodbury, NY for her wonderful submission “BANKRUPTCY WIFE’S LAMENT”. Arlene will receive a t-shirt (or other item from our fabulous catalog of BAPCPA Man and Bankruptcy Bill merchandise on Zazzle.  (Note:  Arlene is the wife of good-humored Long Island bankruptcy attorney Craig Robins, who also has an excellent song entry titled “DEBT-FREE GIRL”.)

********

The Bankruptcy Song Submissions

Once again, here are the song entries for Bankruptcy Bill’s Bankruptcy Song Contest:

1.  “AMEND IT MY WAY” by Judge Sheri Bluebond (United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California)

2.  CABARET” by Judge Sheri Bluebond (United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California) (Click song title or scroll down the page to see lyrics.)

3.  “DON’T CRY FOR ME HOUSEHOLD FINANCE” by Judge Sheri Bluebond (United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California) 

4.  “DEBTS IN WRONG PLACES” by Judge Alan S. Trust (United States Bankruptcy Judge, Eastern District of New York)

5.  “‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE FILING” by Mark Sippel, Esq. (Sippel & Carroll PLLC (Kingman, AZ))

6.  “PHARAOH OBAMA – LET THE DEBTORS GO” by Mark Sippel, Esq. (Sippel & Carroll PLLC (Kingman, AZ))

7.  “THE BANKRUPTCY ABUSE SONG” by Mark Sippel, Esq. (Sippel & Carroll PLLC (Kingman, AZ))

8.  “DEBT-FREE GIRL” by Craig Robins, Esq. (Woodbury, NY)

9.  “BANKRUPTCY WIFE’S LAMENT” by Arlene Robins (Woodbury, NY)

********

BONUS!

And if you just can’t get enough bankruptcy music, CLICK HERE to hear “Bankruptcy Lover“ by Bankruptcy Bill & The Fresh Starts.

Bankruptcy Bill #23:  Neiger LLP Preference Action 3000
http://www.neigerllp.com/neiger-llp-preference-action-3000/

(CLICK IMAGE BELOW TO SEE THE FULL CARTOON ON THE NEIGER LLP WEBSITE)

FYI, we love coming up with original, customized cartoons.  If you’d like one yourself, just get in touch with us at bill@bankruptcybill.us.

********************

Feel free to post comments below or send any well wishes to the family at bill@bankruptcybill.us.

Below are a few other examples of Gideon Kendall’s baby/child-related work:

The Caveman’s Guide to Pregnancy

The Caveman’s Guide to Baby’s First Year

Dino Pets

Note:  This site is best viewed using a Mozilla Firefox or Safari browser.  If you are viewing this site using Internet Explorer, you may not be able to view items in the sidebar.  Clicking on any page or post will cause sidebar items to appear.

FYI, this cartoon also appears in the Fall 2009 issue of the newsletter for the Bankruptcy Section of the State Bar of Texas along with a nice profile about the Bankruptcy Bill cartoons written by Eric Van Horn, a bankruptcy lawyer with Dallas firm Rochelle McCullough LLP and the writer of the Chapter 8 humor columns in the ABI Journal.  Also, thanks to Judge Alan S. Trust of the Eastern District of New York for his article in the Summer 2009 issue of the Bankruptcy Section newsletter (”Robes Without Stripes”) which provided helpful cultural background for the cartoon.

Highlights of the conference included:

1. Learning that both Professor Jay Westbrook and Judge Keith Lundin both have extensive collection of bankruptcy-related cartoons, and that both Texas and Tennesse have had bands comprised of musical bankruptcy judges who like to write and play bankruptcy-related songs.
2. Judge Lundin’s monogrammed bowling shirt with “High on BAPCPA” on the back.
3. A spirited discussion between Hugh Ray (McKool Smith) and Bruce Grohsgal (Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones) on the topic of “Who’s Really in Charge Here?  Reorganizations in the Shadow of Chrysler and GM.”
4. Learning that Byrnie Bass’ son Brett is a professional bass player and that he not only has played with Enrique Iglesias but currently plays in a band with former Spin Doctors lead singer–and my high school classmate–Chris Barron.  (Here’s an article about Brett from Lubbockonline.com.)
5. Cartoon brainstorming with Andrew Eckerman (Conway Mackenzie, Inc.), Melissa Hayward (Franklin Skierski Lovall Hayward), Jesse Moore (Hunton & Williams), Ian Roberts (Baker Botts), Tim Million (Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr) and Eric Van Horn (Rochelle McCullough).
6. Jogging around the lake and arriving at the Congress Avenue Bridge just in time to see the largest urban bat colony pour out for its evening activities.
7. Hearing Evelyn Biery (Fulbright & Jaworski) recount her role as Anna Nicole Smith for a previous bankruptcy conference musical send-up.
8. An in depth discussion of organic farming with Joe Martinec and Weldon Ponder.
9. The Third Annual Westbrook Bankruptcy Conference Cocktail Reception at Austin hotspot Lanai, hosted by the Young Lawyers Committee of the Bankruptcy Section of the State Bar of Texas.  (Thanks to Jay Ong (Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr), Layla Milligan (Staff attorney for Chapter 13 Trustee) and Eric Van Horn (Rochelle McCullough) for organizing!)
   

   "Ain't that Texas cookin' good!"

10. Obtaining valuable advice from Brian Abramson (Diamond McCarthy) on the topic of sleep training for infants.
11. Barbecue from Stubbs, Iron Works and (at the airport) Salt Lick.  (Thanks to Guy Clark for the inspiration!)
12. Keeping Austin Weird.
13. Having a chance to meet so many wonderful folks on my first-ever visit to the Great State of Texas.  The conference had an extremely friendly and collegial atmosphere, and everyone from associates to partners to judges were accessible and enjoyable to meet.

************************

Get your BAPCPA Man and Mortgantua T-shirts, Mugs, Cards and More!

*To see more of Gideon Kendall’s work go to www.gideonkendall.com.  Or order yourself a copy of Dino Pets, the wonderfully illustrated children’s book written by Lynn Plourde and illustrated by BAPCPA Man’s favorite illustrator, Gideon Kendall.

*Click here for Bankruptcy Bill #20 – Fantasy Bankruptcy #1, here for all previous Bankruptcy Bill cartoons, and here for a previous post on the connection between structured finance and fantasy football.

Here are bios for the highly respected Delaware bankruptcy lawyer Laura Davis Jones of the law firm Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones and for the Honorable Judge Arthur Gonzalez of the Southern District of New York who has presided over many of the largest bankruptcy cases including Lehman Brothers, Enron, Chrysler and Worldcom.

And for any fans (or fantasy football owners of) of Tony Gonzalez (another great Gonzalez) here’s info on Atlanta Chapter 7 bankruptcy and Atlanta Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

Get your BAPCPA Man and Mortgantua T-shirts, Mugs, Cards and More!

*To see more of Gideon Kendall’s work go to www.gideonkendall.com.  Or order yourself a copy of Dino Pets, the wonderfully illustrated children’s book written by Lynn Plourde and illustrated by BAPCPA Man’s favorite illustrator, Gideon Kendall.

LawShucks

Fantasy bankruptcy is brilliant. Harvey Miller is the Adrian Peterson of the draft, but then do you go for the double-down strategy of picking Goldstein, or do you diversify and go with someone from K&E?

*********************

*********************

*Click here for all previous Bankruptcy Bill cartoons, and here for a previous post on the connection between structured finance and fantasy football.

Here’s more information about Matthew Feldman, the bankruptcy lawyer from Willkie Farr & Gallagher who was appointed to the Auto Task Force, as well as about Marcia Goldstein, chair of the Business Financing & Restructuring group at Weil Gotshal & Manges.  And, for what it’s worth, here’s more information about carpal tunnel syndrome.

Also, if you’re really into stats, go here for more information on the Bankruptcy Means Test, and for the Dallas Cowboy fans out there, here’s more info on Dallas Bankruptcy (Redskins fans need not click).

And lastly, here are some recent bankruptcy-relevant posts on Above The Law:

• Student Loan Bailout: House Hearing on Discharging Student Debts in Bankruptcy
• This Week In Layoffs: 10.04.09
• Morning Docket 09.17.09 – link to item about Jones Day and the Lehman bankruptcy
• Morning Docket 10.06.09 – link to item on foreclosures and apparent lack of lawyers

*To see more of Gideon Kendall’s work go to www.gideonkendall.com and gideonkendall.squarespace.com/journal.  Or order yourself a copy of Dino Pets, the wonderfully illustrated children’s book written by Lynn Plourde and illustrated by BAPCPA Man’s favorite illustrator, Gideon Kendall.

No new Bankruptcy Bill or BAPCPA Man cartoons this week, but we’ll be back with more next week.  Meanwhile, given new predictions of back-to-back recessions by Nouriel Roubini of the Financial Times (”The risk of a double-dip recession is rising“), it seems appropriate to reach back to the beginning of Bankruptcy Bill for a re-run of the bankruptcy wave cartoon:

*If you like what you see and want to support us, you can do it via sponsorship/advertising/syndication/other as well as by simply making a donation in any amount via PayPal.

*Click here to see all of the Bankruptcy Bill cartoons and here to see cartoons related to “law firms.”

*To see more of Gideon Kendall’s work go to www.gideonkendall.com and gideonkendall.squarespace.com/journal.  Or order yourself a copy of Dino Pets, the wonderfully illustrated children’s book written by Lynn Plourde and illustrated by BAPCPA Man’s favorite illustrator, Gideon Kendall.

p.s.  Regarding copyright issues, our legal counsel, IP Aileen, says:  “Other bloggers/websites/publications:  You are more than welcome to post “Bankruptcy Wave” on your sites as long as you also include all of the text, links and images in this post, including this paragraph.  If you fail to respect our wishes, we’ll fix the economy so as to remove the need for any bankruptcy services (if you’re a lawyer) or any more coverage of the recession (if you’re a journalist/blogger).”

*Update: In bankruptcy news today,  Michael Foreman has joined Haynes & Boones‘ New York office.  He was previously at Dorsey & Whitney.

*If you like what you see and want to support us, you can do it via sponsorship/advertising/syndication/other as well as by simply making a donation in any amount via PayPal.

*Click here to see all of the Bankruptcy Bill cartoons and here to see cartoons related to “law firms.”

*To see more of Gideon Kendall’s work go to www.gideonkendall.com and gideonkendall.squarespace.com/journal.  Or order yourself a copy of Dino Pets, the wonderfully illustrated children’s book written by Lynn Plourde and illustrated by BAPCPA Man’s favorite illustrator, Gideon Kendall.

p.s.  Regarding copyright issues, our legal counsel, IP Aileen, says:  “Other bloggers/websites/publications:  You are more than welcome to post Strip #19 – Law Firm Raids on your sites as long as you also include all of the text, links and images in this post, including this paragraph.  If you fail to respect our wishes, we’ll send you back to Kirkland’s restructuring group (Chicago office).”

“Bankruptcy Lover“

http://bankruptcybill.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/bankruptcylovermp3.mp3

(Click either the link above or the image below to listen.)

Bankruptcy Bill & The Fresh Starts groupies can get their…

• Posters here: http://www.zazzle.com/poster_bankruptcy_bill_the_fresh_starts-228608539647711199
• Mugs here: http://www.zazzle.com/mug_bankruptcy_bill_the_fresh_starts-168135713990751518
• Hats here: http://www.zazzle.com/hat_bankruptcy_bill_the_fresh_starts-148439025032658748
  

Click here for the lyrics and explanatory notes as well as a note on copyright and use restrictions.

Come along, come with me to Wilmington, Delaware

We’ll file first day motions and then we’ll say a prayer

And when the Notice of Disclosure Statement Hearing is set

I’ll wrassle with the banks ’til they restructure your debt

We’ll hide ‘neath legal cover, I’m your bankruptcy lover tonight

>>>>>

And while your creditors are clamoring for things that they want

I’ll exercise my lien on you up in the DuPont

We’ll cram the plan down on the creditors committee

You’ll tie me up and make me your indentured trustee

We’ll hide ‘neath legal cover I’m your bankruptcy lover tonight

>>>>>

And there’ll be no more objections to my affections

No bagels thrown

You’ll let me DIP my romancing in your financing

When I get you a loan

>>>>>

So come on hurry up though Amtrak will be late

So we can get together for an effective date

I ain’t Kirkland or Skadden, baby, that’s not my style

But my love comes prepackaged and it’s bigger than Weil

We’ll hide ‘neath legal cover I’m your bankruptcy lover tonight

>>>>>

[Struck Finn Solo]

>>>>>

You’ve got a debtor obsession in your possession

I’m your fresh start

So then if my passion smolders for your bondholders

You’ll assume or reject my heart

>>>>>

So let’s get rockin’ on the docket if you know what I mean

And if you don’t like going south we’ll do it in Bowling Green

I’ll help review the Code and figure out the right section

And make sure when the Court approves we use it’s protection

We’ll hide ‘neath legal cover I’m your bankruptcy lover tonight (Retain my heart)

We’ll hide ‘neath legal cover I’m your bankruptcy lover tonight (That’s nunc pro tunc)

We’ll hide ‘neath legal cover I’m your bankruptcy lover tonight (Don’t cram me down)

We’ll hide ‘neath legal cover I’m your bankruptcy lover tonight

(All rise.  The Court is now in session.)

**********************************************

Explanatory notes for the non-corporate bankruptcy practitioner

1. Wilmington, Delaware – The most popular venue for corporate bankruptcy filings
2. First day motions - On the day of a bankruptcy filing, a significant number of motions are typically filed with the Court and collectively referred to as “first day motions.”
3. Notice of Disclosure Statement Hearing – A notice letting creditors know the date the Court will hold a hearing to consider the disclosure statement, i.e, a document (often a large, bound booklet) a debtor is required to file in which it is required to disclose certain information about its business.
4. Lien – a claim on property, typically with higher priority than most other claims by creditors.  Property secured by a lien is claimed by “exercising” the lien.
5. DuPont – The DuPont Hotel is the hotel where out-of-town bankruptcy professionals stay when in Wilmington, DE for a bankruptcy case filing.
6. Cram the plan down – If a debtor is unable to gain acceptances from all creditor classes, it can rely on certain provisions of the Bankruptcy Code to get the Court to force a given creditor class to accept the plan of reorganization.  This is known as a “cramdown” and a debtor is said to “cram the plan down” on the dissenting creditor class.
7. Indentured trustee – A play on the term “indenture trustee,” which is the designated agent for a given bond issuance and often a key point of contact in a debtor’s relationship with its bondholders.
8. No bagels thrown – A reference to the  notorious bagel-throwing incident by a well-known bankruptcy lawyer.
9. DIP – An acronym for Debtor-In-Possession, i.e., the concept that the Debtor’s management (as opposed to some sort of outside trustee) continues to run the business during the course of the bankruptcy process.
10. DIP Financing/DIP Loan – A loan made to a Debtor post-filing (i.e., during the bankruptcy process) that is given special priority ahead of other creditors by the Bankruptcy Code and provides incentive to lenders by reassuring them that they are likely to be repaid.
11. Amtrak – The transportation mode of choice by many New York bankruptcy lawyers for travel to the Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, DE.
12. Effective Date – The date the plan of reorganization is implemented and the Debtor begins making payments.
13. Kirkland/Skadden – Kirkland & Ellis and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom–Two of the biggest most prestigious law firms with top-rated bankruptcy groups known for handling large debtor cases.
14. Prepackaged – A “prepackaged bankruptcy filing” (aka “prepack”) is one where the plan of reorganization is negotiated and approved by creditors prior to the filing so that on the day of the filing the entire case is presented to the Court.  Often used by Debtors who have a solid underlying business but excessive bondholder debt, it is considered a more efficient way to get through the bankruptcy process.
15. Weil – Weil, Gotshal & Manges – Historically known for having the largest and strongest bankruptcy practice and serving as debtor’s counsel to Enron, Worldcom, Adelphia and Lehman Brothers, Weil Gotshal was big in bankruptcy before bankruptcy was cool.
16. Debtor obsession in your possession – A play on the term “Debtor In Possession” or “DIP” as explained in #9.
17. Fresh start – The term commonly (over-) used to describe the intended benefit of a bankruptcy filing.  (As if everything is hunky-dory following a discharge.)
18. Assume or reject – A reference to the procedure outlined in the Bankruptcy Code concerning a debtor’s ability to assume or reject leases and certain other contractual obligations.  Often in the context of a motion, e.g., “Motion to Assume or Reject Executory Contracts.”
19. Bowling Green – The Lower Manhattan location (and subway stop on the 4/5 train) of the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (SDNY).  The SDNY and Wilmington, DE bankruptcy courts are the two most common venues for large bankruptcy case filings.
20. Nunc pro tunc – A Latin phrase that, in the context of the retention of bankruptcy professionals, means “retroactively.”  Used when work was necessarily performed prior to the official retention of a lawyer or other professional service provider.   e.g., “The debtor seeks the retention of ABC Law firm nunc pro tunc to March 1, 2009.”
21. Don’t cram me down – A reference to the “cram down” provisions of the Bankruptcy Code as described in #6 above.

Hope you enjoyed the song and the explanations.  If nothing else, at least you’ve got something to sing at ABI karaoke night.

Yours truly,

-Bill & Struck

p.s.  Regarding copyright issues and use restrictions, our legal counsel, IP Aileen, says:  “Other bloggers/websites/publications/ and any other media outlets, publishers or distributors:  You are more than welcome to post the “Bankruptcy Lover” song on your sites as long as you also include all of the text, links and images in this post, including this paragraph.  If you fail to respect our wishes, then we’ll force you to listen to the muzak version of this song over and over and over while being stuck between floors of a Holiday Inn on the outskirts of Wilmington.”