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Local Bankr. R. 2014-1 Employment of Professionals.

(a)     Statement Required by Rule 2016(b).

The statement required by FRBP 2016(b), Form B2030, shall be filed with any application for employment of counsel for the Debtor or any application or motion seeking substitution of counsel for the Debtor. The Form B2030 shall indicate: (i) whether the filing fee has been paid simultaneously with the filing of the petition; (ii) the amount of the filing fee that has been paid simultaneously with the filing of the petition; and (iii) the source of the filing fee that has been paid simultaneously with the filing of the petition.  A copy of an engagement or retainer agreement shall be filed with Form B2030. The failure to fully complete and file Form B2030 with any application or motion seeking employment or substitution of employment may result in denial of the application.

(b)     Retroactive or Nunc Pro Tunc Employment.

(1)      If an application to employ a professional is filed within thirty (30) days after the commencement of services provided by that professional, the application shall be deemed contemporaneously filed unless the Court   orders otherwise.

(2)      If an application to employ a professional is filed more than thirty (30) days after the commencement of services by the professional and the application seeks retroactive or nunc pro tunc relief, the application shall include:

(A)      an affidavit setting forth the facts relating to the late filing of the application; and

(B)      the legal authority the applicant relies on as to why the retroactive or nunc pro tunc relief sought is appropriate under applicable law.

(c)      Any application seeking approval of a contingent fee shall: (i) have annexed to it the engagement or retainer agreement; and (ii) sufficient information to confirm its enforceability under applicable non-bankruptcy laws and the applicable Rules of Professional Conduct, including the Connecticut Rules of Professional Conduct.

(d)     Maintenance of Retainer Funds.

Unless the Court orders otherwise, in a Chapter 9, 11, 12, and 13 case, any professional employed by a Debtor or a trustee shall deposit funds paid upon or in anticipation of the commencement of the case for professional services and expenses to be rendered after the petition date, regardless of the source of funds (i.e., whether received from the Debtor, an insider of the Debtor as defined in 11 U.S.C. § 101(31), or a third party), in a trust account, clients’ funds account, escrow account, or IOLTA account consistent with Rule 1.15 of the Connecticut Rules of Professional Conduct.

(e)     Application of Retainer Funds.

Any funds required to be deposited into in a trust account, clients’ funds account, escrow account, or IOLTA account consistent with Rule 1.15 of the Connecticut Rules of Professional Conduct shall not be applied to fees earned or expenses incurred by a professional after the petition date absent a prior court order authorizing such application.

EFFECTIVE MARCH 16, 2026

1. Statement Required by Rule 2016(b).

1. The statement required by FRBP 2016(b), Form B2030, shall be filed:

1. 1. at the commencement of a case by every attorney for a Debtor, whether or not the attorney applies for compensation; 
   2. with any application for employment of counsel for the Debtor or any application or motion seeking substitution of counsel for the Debtor; and
   3. at any other time required by FRBP 2016(b) (i.e., within 14 days after any payment or agreement not previously disclosed) or Local Bankruptcy Rule 2016-2 (with an application for allowance of compensation for a debtor’s attorney).

2. The Form B2030 shall indicate: (i) whether the filing fee has been paid simultaneously with the filing of the petition; (ii) the amount of the filing fee that has been paid simultaneously with the filing of the petition; and (iii) the source of the filing fee that has been paid simultaneously with the filing of the petition.  A copy of an engagement or retainer agreement shall be filed with Form B2030.  The failure to fully complete and file Form B2030 with any application or motion seeking employment or substitution of employment may result in denial of the application. 

2. Employment of Special Counsel Pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 327 (e).

Applications to employ special counsel pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 327(e) shall include an affidavit by the attorney to be employed: (1) acknowledging the attorney has read the Local Bankruptcy Rules; (2) acknowledging the status of the representation the attorney is to be engaged upon, including that any affirmative claim is or may be property of the bankruptcy estate; (3) identifying the client (which may be the bankruptcy estate or the trustee, and may no longer be the Debtor); (4) acknowledging any claim that is property of the bankruptcy estate may not be arbitrated or settled before a motion on notice to all parties-in-interest, an opportunity for a hearing and an order from the Bankruptcy Court (see FRBP 9019); (5) acknowledging that any attorney compensation is not allowed and may not be paid before an application on notice to all parties-in-interest, an opportunity for a hearing and an order from the Bankruptcy Court; and (6) acknowledging that any prior employment or agreement for legal representation is superseded.

3. Retroactive or Nunc Pro Tunc Employment.

1. 1. If an application to employ a professional is filed within thirty (30) days after the commencement of services provided by that professional or the petition date, whichever is later, the application shall be deemed timely filed unless the Court orders otherwise.
   2. If an application to employ a professional is filed more than thirty (30) days after the later of the petition date or the commencement of services by the professional and the application seeks an order authorizing employment as of the petition date, the application shall include:

1. 1. 1. an affidavit setting forth the basis for delaying the filing of an application to employ the professional and whether there is any prejudice to any party in interest from the proposed employment; and
      2. the legal authority the applicant relies on as to why the retroactive relief sought is appropriate under applicable law, including whether the applicant asserts excusable neglect as a basis for retroactive relief.
2. Contingency Fee Agreement.

Any application seeking approval of a contingent fee shall: (i) include as an exhibit the engagement or retainer agreement; and (ii) include sufficient information to confirm its enforceability under applicable non-bankruptcy laws and the applicable Rules of Professional Conduct, including the Connecticut Rules of Professional Conduct.

5. Maintenance of Retainer Funds.

Unless the Court orders otherwise, in any pending case, any professional employed by a Debtor or a trustee shall deposit funds paid upon or in anticipation of the commencement of the case for professional services and expenses to be rendered after the petition date, regardless of the source of funds (i.e., whether received from the Debtor, an insider of the Debtor as defined in 11 U.S.C. § 101(31), or a third party), in a trust account, clients’ funds account, escrow account, or IOLTA account consistent with Rule 1.15 of the Connecticut Rules of Professional Conduct.

6. Application of Retainer Funds.

Any funds required to be deposited into a trust account, clients’ funds account, escrow account, or IOLTA account consistent with Rule 1.15 of the Connecticut Rules of Professional Conduct, shall not be applied to fees earned or expenses incurred by a professional after the petition date absent a prior court order authorizing such application.