Professor to Study Chapter 11 Fees

On December 20, 2004 Seton Hall Associate Law School Professor Stephen J. Lubben was awarded an ABI grant to study Chapter 11 cases. ABI announced that it had awarded the $346,000 to Lubben to study professional fees in Chapter 11 business Bankruptcy cases. The study will provide the most comprehensive, independent look at professional fees in Chapter 11 cases to date. Preliminary work on the study will begin next summer and the final report will be completed by fall 2007.The study is expected to include approximately 1,100 cases -- up to 40 cases will be selected from 33 Districts, 3 from each numbered Federal Circuit, and the study will follow the cases for 2 years. Professional fee and expense data will be collected from retention and compensation applications. A variety of data on the Debtors and their cases will also be collected. This secondary information will be considered in connection with the professional fee and expense data.