Obtain the knowledge to assist low-income small businesses - corporations, partnerships, or sole proprietorships - faced with financial distress due to loss of a lease, sustained business slowdown, financing issues, or an unforeseen disaster, by analyzing the relevant circumstances and weighing the potential courses of action.  While the session is focused predominantly on filing for bankruptcy relief and using the protections afforded under the Bankruptcy Code, the session also includes a discussion of other key actions by which low-income business owners might salvage or, if necessary, wind down their companies.  These include out-of-court workouts, assignments for the benefit of creditors, winding up under state law, and obtaining financing from the Small Business Administration.

• Faculty Chair: Marcia Goldstein, Esq., Alfredo Perez, Esq., Ronit Berkovich, Esq., Abigail Zigman, Esq., and Candace Arthur, Esq., and Debra McElligott, Esq., Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP; Peter Laurinaitis, Managing Director, and Mark Buschmann, Managing Director, Blackstone Restructuring Group.

Participating Attorneys may attend every session of interest.  Training is without charge, but space is limited for live sessions and priority is given to law firms whose generosity makes this program possible and who partner with The Legal Aid Society to provide pro bono legal services to low-income New Yorkers. These seminars also are open to Attorney Emeritus lawyers who are transitioning from a full-time legal practice or have retired and wish to contribute their time and expertise on behalf of low-income New Yorkers.   Additional information about The Legal Aid Society and its Pro Bono Practice can be found on our website, www.legal-aid.org. 

Please complete the registration form included in this brochure and return by email to Rosemary Hare-Bey, Pro Bono Coordinator, at rharebey@legal-aid.org.   Unless specifically noted, each training session listed below provides two hours of Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Credit ("CLE"), including Bridge the Gap. Additionally, unless we are informed otherwise, all participants will be enrolled as members of Pro Bono Net’s NYC Pro Bono Center. 

For both live trainings and webinar trainings pre-enrollment is required.  Your participation in each training will be confirmed by Rosemary Hare-Bey upon receipt of the registration form.  For each session registration will be between 6:00 - 6:30 p.m., unless otherwise noted.  The program will immediately follow, concluding at 8:30 p.m. Space is limited at each session, so please RSVP as early as possible to ensure participation.

A special thank you to our partners at Pro Bono Net for making the webinar sessions possible this year.  Pro Bono Net is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing access to justice through innovative uses of technology and increased volunteer lawyer participation.