In partnership with the Justice Academy of Armenia, CLDP held a workshop on Bankruptcy, and Liquidation and Intellectual Property Considerations in Bankruptcy Proceedings in Yerevan, Armenia. The two-day program, with participation of 21 Armenian judges, included presentations, country-specific case studies, and examples from real practice on Armenia’s registration requirements for commercial companies, bankruptcy cases and processes in the US, preconfirmation issues and case management tools, reorganization and liquidation considerations, international elements in bankruptcy cases, as well as complex intellectual property considerations unique to bankruptcy proceedings.

While Armenia has bankruptcy laws, filed cases are liquidations as the current legislation does not effectively allow for reorganizations.  The participants were particularly interested in how effective reorganizations in the United States have allowed companies to discharge debt, re-emerge and contribute to the local economy.  The participants were also interested in hearing how the United States Trustee program has been effectively utilized to impart transparency and efficiency to Bankruptcy proceedings. Finally, the participants, expressed gratitude for the sessions on intellectual property aspects of bankruptcy proceedings as they anticipate an increase of IP-related disputes in the Armenian court system. 

The program is a part of the annual curriculum of the Justice Academy of Armenia and thus will incorporate Armenian trainers and topics most relevant to Armenian judges. Leading the workshop was Judge Marvin J. Garbis from the U.S. District Court in the District of Maryland and Chief Judge Nancy V. Alquist, U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the District of Maryland. Through CLDP’s ongoing program of judicial capacity building, Armenian judges will gain the skills necessary to fairly, efficiently, and effectively adjudicate salient topics related to international commercial disputes.