Blank Rome partners William J. Dorsey and Paige Barr Tinkham will serve as panel moderators at Information Management Network’s (“IMN”) Bank Special Assets Midwest, being held September 8 and 9, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Speakers will provide insights on innovative loan deal structures, industry trends, emerging opportunities, strategic approaches, and more.
ABOUT THE SESSIONS
Exploring Strategies Around Loan Defaults, Workouts, Forbearance & Turnarounds
Monday, September 8 | 9:25–10:10 a.m.
Topics:
- Key risks affecting commercial real estate loans and their implications for special servicing
- Shifts in relationships between borrowers, lenders, and servicers, including enforcement trends
- Creative workout discussions vs. actual agreements. What happens when reserves are depleted?
- How does workout and turnaround activity differ by asset type and geography?
- Expectations for distressed deal flow, default rates, and their impact on risk strategies
- The role of federal tax considerations in structuring distressed asset resolutions
- The art of the turnaround: Strategic approaches to loan defaults and forbearance
Panelists:
- Moderator: William Dorsey, Partner, Business Litigation, Blank Rome
- Paul Grusecki, Managing Director of Advisory Services, NAI Hiffman
- John Giuffre, Vice President, Senior Special Assets Officer, Carter Bank
- Lee Anderson, EVP, Strategic Asset Management Group, UMB Bank
- Mike Castle, VP-SBA Servicing & Portfolio Management, First Internet Bancorp
- Jane Shifrin, Senior Vice President, Special Assets Officer, Busey Bank
Strategies in Bankruptcy and Receivership Management
Monday, September 8 | 1:30–2:15 p.m.
Topics:
- Understanding the legal criteria, timing considerations, and potential rewards—and pitfalls—of initiating an involuntary bankruptcy
- Exploring how debtors may resist filings, the legal and reputational risks of failed attempts, and the possibility of sanctions
- Best practices for coordinating creditor actions, minimizing conflict, and avoiding unintended consequences during bankruptcy proceedings
- How has the use of receiverships shifted in today’s market? When is it a more viable alternative to bankruptcy?
- Which sectors and geographies have been most affected by distress? How does this impact receivership strategy?
- Leveraging Article 9 structured exits as an alternative to foreclosure or bankruptcy
- Lesser-known execution hurdles, success factors, and the importance of selecting the right receiver for the asset and situation
- Key elements of the initial court order and powers granted to the receiver
- Ongoing reporting obligations
- Insights from difficult receiverships—what went wrong? What could have been done differently?
Panelists:
- Moderator: Paige Tinkham, Partner, Finance, Blank Rome LLP
- Jim Paul, Director: State & Federal Court Appointed Receivership, ALPS Group
- Matthew Tarshis, Principal/Managing Partner, Frontline Real Estate Partners
- David Onion, Managing Director & CEO, Chicago Capital Holdings
- Carey Ryan, Managed Assets Division, Wintrust Financial Corporation
Blank Rome LLP is pleased to be a Silver Sponsor of the event.
For more information and to register, please visit the Bank Special Assets Midwest webpage.
