To help with your writing efforts, here’s what people are looking for in Bankruptcy Law online. Trending topics culled from JD Supra, search analytics, social media conversations, and other sources:
Consider writing about:
How executive compensation and/or company bonus payouts may become a troublesome issue in bankruptcies; potential impediments to these types of payments in the bankruptcy context; when these payments are more likely to become the target of scrutiny; related takeaways from real-life bankruptcy cases or other practical guidance on how companies considering bankruptcy can avoid legal fallout over their compensation plans.
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Foreign companies’ ability to access U.S. bankruptcy law protections; advantages to companies of taking that path; conditions that foreign companies need to satisfy before filing for U.S. bankruptcy.
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Corporate bankruptcies in Canada; how they are trending in 2026 so far, both in and of themselves and in comparison to recent years; key factors fueling recent bankruptcy filings in Canada; specific sectors that are seeing the most bankruptcies; what newcomers to the bankruptcy process should know about navigating bankruptcy system processes and common pitfalls, as well as possible alternatives to the bankruptcy process.
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Disclosure statements in bankruptcies; what debtors or creditors need to know about the creation, filing, and/or review of disclosure statements and related plan information; filing obligations that arise in a given type of bankruptcy; key issues involving the process for making objections to, or securing court approval of, a disclosure statement; potential repercussions for producing knowingly or unknowingly flawed disclosure statements.
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Common causes of lender disputes within the bankruptcy context, from either a lender or a creditor perspective; common triggers or related risks to be aware of; potential avenues for resolution, and sources of assistance; any noteworthy bankruptcy cases illustrating any of these points and related do’s and don’ts.
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Recent developments involving Catholic dioceses and the status of their settlements with sex abuse survivors and the dioceses’ bankruptcy proceedings; what to know about resolution of key obstacles, proposed settlement terms and reorganization plans, and a path forward for the dioceses and other affected entities or individuals. How do these cases compare with bankruptcy cases involving other institutions that have been the subject of widespread sex abuse allegations?
Related information:
https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/archdiocese-maryland-sex-abuse-settlement-bankruptcy
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Bankruptcy issues pertaining to a franchisee-franchisor relationship; related obligations, rights, best practices, or potential liability risks; any useful takeaways from bankruptcy rulings involving franchisees and franchisors.
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Factoring agreements; how they are defined; what role they may play in a bankruptcy situation; key contractual terms to pay attention to; what else to consider before pursuing such an arrangement.
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The assets auction process in bankruptcies; when and how this process is undertaken; related rights and obligations of parties to an auction; potential risks to be aware of; additional do’s and don’ts for participants in the auction process.
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A Chapter 11 filing by radio broadcaster Cumulus Media; Cumulus’ ranking within that industry; what to know about the Federal Communications Commission’s role in a broadcaster’s bankruptcy process; what Cumulus’ latest bankruptcy filing (its second in less than 10 years) may indicate regarding the state of the radio industry as a whole.
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Debt-to-equity transactions; what they typically consist of within a bankruptcy context, and/or circumstances within which these types of transactions are most likely to take place; key steps or best practices to consider; pros and cons of a debt-to-equity swap; what else to consider before undertaking this process; any recent or otherwise noteworthy cases that may help illustrate the process.
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The process of converting from one type of bankruptcy to another; under what circumstances this can be done (or the types of situations to which the process is best suited); a conversion’s potential benefits, drawbacks, or pitfalls; what to know about the process for contesting a conversion; practical takeaways from any noteworthy disputes involving, or recent examples of, a bankruptcy conversion.
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Bankruptcies in the trucking and logistics sectors; particular bankruptcy filings worth noting; what to know about the “great freight recession”; how upheaval in the trucking and logistics industry is affecting business customers; how impacted businesses can best anticipate and plan for potential bankruptcies among companies that they currently, or might, use for their shipping needs; questions that businesses may want to be asking these companies to gauge their financial stability; related contractual terms to review; how to deal with unfulfilled or delayed customer orders amid disrupted shipping timelines.
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Bankruptcy trends in the hotel industry (in the jurisdiction of your choice or globally); key factors driving bankruptcies within this industry; recurring or persistent drivers of bankruptcy fror this sector, or common themes across cases; related financial challenges for the hotel industry; how hard hit the hotel sector has been by evolving consumer options and preferences, especially given the rise of short-term rentals offered by individual homeowners or other property owners; how the hotel industry is adapting to those changes.
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The receivership process. How is a receivership initiated and overseen, and by whom? What are common circumstances under which a receivership may be sought? What are some key considerations to take into account before seeking a receivership? How does the receivership process compare to the bankruptcy process?
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Common misconceptions that exist regarding corporate bankruptcies, whether widely speaking or that you have encountered on the part of clients during your legal career. What are some common misunderstandings regarding a bankruptcy’s impact on finances, management role and powers, exit out of bankruptcy, or the bankruptcy process in general? How can these misunderstandings interfere with a company’s options and complicate the path to recovery? Alternatively or additionally, consider whether to present your piece in the form of a “five things lawyers wish their clients knew about the bankruptcy process” type of piece.
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Reports that retailer Eddie Bauer is poised to file for bankruptcy; what to know about the company’s current financial situation, its potential future options, its past experiences with bankruptcy, its place in the outdoors retail category, and how that sector is faring overall.
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The U.S. Supreme Court’s denial of petition for certiorari in a challenge to the Boy Scouts of America’s bankruptcy plan; what fueled the challenge to the bankruptcy plan; what the high court’s action means for sex abuse claims against the scouting organization and compensation for abuse survivors; how the Boy Scouts case compares to other cases where sex abuse claims against an organization have wound up in bankruptcy court.
Related information:
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Your choice of three or more noteworthy developments in bankruptcy law from 2025. Take your pick of trends, verdicts, strategies, or other points, whether on a broad basis or focused on a particular industry or region, and explain why you consider them to be of significance, both in and of themselves and for the year ahead.
Consider writing about:
Luxury retailer Saks’ bankruptcy filing; factors leading to the parent company’s Chapter 11 filing; bankruptcy trends within that segment of the retail sector; why Amazon is objecting to Saks Global’s bankruptcy financing plans; key challenges ahead for Saks as it navigates the bankruptcy process.
Related information:
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The nature of a “bad faith” bankruptcy. What constitutes a bad-faith filing, and what is the basis and process for determining when a filing is made in bad faith? Consider whether to write a primer on the issue, or whether to take a look at objections commonly raised by creditors in such cases, or whether to examine recent or otherwise noteworthy findings of bad faith, and the related implications for debtors or creditors.
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IRobot’s filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection; setbacks that contributed to the company’s current financial condition; what to know about the Roomba maker’s proposed sale to a manufacturing partner; how two entities in this type of relationship can best navigate a change in ownership; additionally, what IRobot’s situation may illustrate regarding how to secure rights to use cash collateral in a bankruptcy; and perhaps a wider-angle look at the use of robotics in the home and how companies relying on this form of technology are faring these days.
Related information:
https://www.npr.org/2025/12/15/nx-s1-5644772/tariffs-roomba-irobot-bankruptcy
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This week’s Chapter 11 filing by leading electric bicycle company Rad Power Bikes; issues leading to a downturn in the company’s outlook; current state of the e-bike industry (either nationally or globally); key challenges facing the industry right now.
Related information:
https://www.theverge.com/news/846201/rad-power-bikes-chapter-11-bankruptcy
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Bankruptcy within the context of a troubled marriage; bankruptcy options and alternatives to consider; timing issues for a bankruptcy vs. a divorce; key issues involving disclosure of assets, community property, liability risks, mediation, dispute resolution, etc.; practical lessons from any noteworthy real-life legal disputes involving divorce and a bankruptcy; what else to know and plan for when considering whether to file for bankruptcy.
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Bankruptcy plans on the part of short-term rental company Sonder; what niche the company filled (or hoped to fill) in the real estate sector; any practical takeaways from the breakdown of Sonder’s licensing agreement with hotel chain Marriott; related reputational damage to Marriott and other fallout for the hotel chain; what other companies may want to think about before partnering with short-term rental operations or short-term rental startups; additional issues that may have contributed to Sonder’s financial difficulties; what to know about the Chapter 7 bankruptcy process; and perhaps a wider-angle look at the short-term rental market, or a review of practical information for Sonder customers who may have been left stranded by the company’s bankruptcy.
Related information:
https://www.sfgate.com/tech/article/sf-company-sonder-suddenly-goes-belly-up-21165423.php
https://www.businessinsider.com/marriott-sonder-guest-safety-bargaining-chip-bankruptcy-2025-11
https://www.hoteldive.com/news/marriott-sonder-licensing-agreement-terminated/805402
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A reported surge in bankruptcy filings by mom-and-pop type businesses; likely factors contributing to these bankruptcies; how bankruptcy options may differ for smaller businesses as compared to larger businesses; what to know about Subchapter V proceedings in particular; related pros and cons a business should be aware of before embarking on a reorganization within the Subchapter V framework.
Related information:
https://www.thedailybeast.com/mom-and-pop-business-bankruptcies-hit-record-high-under-trump
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The debt restructuring process (in the case of either a corporate or individual debt restructuring); what this process involves and when it is commonly undertaken; potential benefits or downsides of a debt restructuring (from either a debtor or a creditor standpoint); practical guidance on embarking on a debt restructuring.
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A Nov. 5 ruling by the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Yellow Corporation v. International Brotherhood of Teamsters; background to the underlying case; key points in the federal appeals court’s ruling; what the ruling means for the Yellow Corp. trucking company and the Teamsters labor union; practical takeaways for other companies dealing with labor relations and negotiations during a restructuring.
Related information:
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Fallout from fraud or other misconduct on the part of a debtor in a bankruptcy dispute; past or common examples of such behaviors; options that creditors who suspect debtor misconduct may be able to pursue, either on their own or with the help of outside parties; potential forms of relief for creditors, and penalties for debtors found to have committed bankruptcy fraud.
Consider writing about:
The U.S. Bankruptcy Code’s equal treatment rule; the rule’s focus and intent; any recent noteworthy court actions involving the equal treatment rule; related trends across jurisdictions; what else parties to a bankruptcy case should know about obligations and rights under the equal treatment rule.