Local Rule 2014-1: Employment of Professional Persons; Disclosure of Connections

LOCAL RULE 2014-1 Employment of Professional Persons Disclosure of Connections

(a) Certification. To ensure public confidence in the integrity of the bankruptcy process, the verified statement that must accompany an Application for Employment of Professional Persons pursuant to Fed. R. Bankr. P. 2014(a) shall, after disclosure of any actual connections, close with the statement: "Except as set forth above, I have no connection with the debtor, creditors, or any party in interest, their respective attorneys, accountants, or the U.S. Trustee, or any employee of the U.S. Trustee." Applications for Employment which are not accompanied by a verified statement containing such a statement may be denied without prejudice.

(b) Effective Dates.

1) Presumptive 30-day order. An application for an order approving employment pursuant to Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 2014(a) shall be presumed to relate back to the later of 30 days before the filing of the application or the order for relief. The order approving the employment shall state the effective date on or after which the employment is authorized and effective for services rendered.

2) Retroactive authorization for employment exceeding 30 days. All requests for retroactive authorization for employment exceeding 30 days duration must be set for hearing, must show exceptional circumstances, must satisfactorily explain the applicant's failure to receive prior judicial approval, and must demonstrate that the applicant's services benefited the bankruptcy estate in a significant manner.