
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
The American Bankruptcy Institute's Winter Leadership Conference brings together the nation's top insolvency professionals for unparalleled networking and educational opportunities. Join us in the beautiful Tucson desert for three days of cutting-edge educational sessions, engaging panel discussions, and valuable networking events that will enhance your practice and expand your professional network.

FEATURED SPEAKERS

Virginia Tate
FAI International, Forensic Accounting & Investigations
New Orleans

Lauren Rose Winne
Berkeley Research Group LLC
New York

Marc B. Ross
KCP Advisory Group/HBM
Blue Bell, Pa.

J.P. Marcos
Alastar Partners
New York
Breakfast
Welcome Address
Practical Applications of AI
Refreshment Break
Trustee’s Rights in the Debtor’s Shoes: In Pari Delicto, Barton and More
This session will explore the complex legal doctrines that define the rights and limitations of trustees and debtors in bankruptcy. The panelists will examine when trustees and debtors step into the shoes of the debtor, including how pre-petition rights and defenses impact the estate. The discussion also will analyze the application and limits of the in pari delicto doctrine, along with potential workarounds, and provide a close look at the Barton doctrine — its reach, exceptions, and whether protections continue after case closure. In addition, the panelists will consider the implications of the Fifth Circuit’s recent Highland Capital Management decision, including how gatekeeper provisions may reshape Barton protections for post-confirmation estate representatives.
Speakers
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Robert F. ElgidelyFox Rothschild LLP
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Hon. Paul R. HageU.S. Bankruptcy Court (E.D. Mich.)
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Ferve E. KhanBakerHostetler
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Cia H. MacklePachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones LLP
You’ve Ignored Subchapter V Long Enough: Tips for Debtor and Creditor Lawyers
Moderators
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Hon. Michelle M. HarnerU.S. Bankruptcy Court (D. Md.)
Speakers
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Jeffrey S. AinsworthBransonLaw, PLLC
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Lacey S. BryanMarkus Williams Young & Hunsicker LLC
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Katharine B. ClarkThompson Coburn LLP
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Robert S. MarticelloRaines Feldman Littrell LLP
Healthcare Bankruptcies and Managing Long-Term-Care Facility Distress
Moderators
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Thomas W. BuckProvince, LLC
Speakers
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David E. GordonPolsinelli
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Russell A. PerryAnkura Consulting Group, LLC
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Jordana L. RenertUMB Bank
Real Estate Industry Focus: Confronting Challenges and Exploring Solutions
This panel will discuss the financial and legal challenges that continue to confront the real estate market by asset class — including office, hospitality, retail and residential — as well as solutions, bright spots and predictions.
Moderators
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Dania SlimPillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Speakers
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Daniel A. BloomRiker Danzig LLP
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Gunnar BransonAFIRE
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Brian E. GreerGreenberg Traurig, LLP
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Michael B. SchaedleBlank Rome LLP
Hot Topics in International Law
Speakers
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Florian BruderDLA Piper
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Eric S. ChafetzLowenstein Sandler LLP
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Susana Hidvegi ArangoHB Legal
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Hon. Christopher M. LopezU.S. Bankruptcy Court (S.D. Tex.)
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Minglei WuMinglei Wu Mediation and Advisory
Financial Distress Research Project: What Helps Consumer Debtors Help Themselves?
ABI’s Vice President-Research Grants will interview Prof. Emeritus Lois Lupica about the structure, progress and preliminary findings of her ABI Endowment-funded Financial Distress Research Project, which examined the tools and other forms of assistance consumer debtors have been using to improve their financial well-being, and determined which ones have proven to be the most successful.
Moderators
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Hon. Hannah L. BlumenstielU.S. Bankruptcy Court (N.D. Cal.)
Speakers
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Lois R. LupicaCommunity Economic Defense Project
Approaches to Financial Distress in the Agriculture Sector
Agricultural businesses face unique challenges in today’s evolving economic and legal landscape. This panel will explore the key issues shaping agricultural bankruptcies, including the root causes of financial distress for farmers and agricultural enterprises, the role of chapter 12 as a vital restructuring tool, and the range of out-of-court alternatives available to distressed debtors. The panelists also will discuss emerging case law, legislative developments and practical strategies that influence the outcomes of agricultural bankruptcy proceedings, and will provide a comparative analysis of chapter 12, chapter 11 and subchapter V by examining their respective benefits, limitations and procedural considerations for agricultural cases.
Speakers
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Hon. Catherine J. FurayU.S. Bankruptcy Court (W.D. Wis.)
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Krystal R. MikkilineniDentons Davis Brown
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Austin PeifferAg & Business Legal Strategies
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Donald L. SwansonKoley Jessen
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Nancy J. WhaleyOffice of Nancy J. Whaley, Standing Chapter 13 Trustee
Crypto Fraud in Chapter 11: Decoding Crypto Bankruptcies
This panel will explore the intricate landscape of recent crypto-related bankruptcies through a multi-faceted lens. The panelists will examine the fast-paced world of on-chain tracing and flow-of-funds analysis, the unique valuation challenges posed by highly volatile digital assets, and the shifting regulatory environment impacting insolvency proceedings. Illustrative case studies from prominent bankruptcies will ground the discussion, offering practical insights into how legal, financial and technical teams are adapting to these emerging challenges.
Moderators
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Howard A. CohenFox Rothschild LLP
Speakers
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Adam MeislikForce 10 Partners LLC
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Todd R. SnyderPiper Sandler Companies
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Jared M. TullyFrost Brown Todd LLP
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Jason WrightStout Risius Ross, LLC
Using LMEs in Asset Sales
This panel will examine the strategic use of LMEs in the context of asset sales within restructuring frameworks, such as the role of LMEs in facilitating sales, structuring them as conditions to closing, funding LMEs through sale proceeds, or utilizing asset sales as an exit strategy from LMEs or restructuring plans. The panelists will share their insights on the current trends and practical considerations that are shaping these increasingly sophisticated transactions.
Speakers
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Mark B. JoachimPolsinelli
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Jessica LiouWeil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
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Thomas S. KesslerCleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
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Matthew P. SorensonDevelopment Specialists, Inc.
Navigating Ethical Crossroads: Professional Responsibility in Bankruptcy Mediation and Negotiation
This session will examine the complex ethical challenges that arise when mediation and negotiation processes intersect with distressed scenarios, including conflicts between confidentiality requirements and disclosure obligations, navigating fiduciary duties in collaborative settlement discussions (particularly out-of-court RSAs), and managing professional responsibility issues in multi-party bankruptcy mediations. The panelists will provide practical guidance for attorneys, trustees, advisors and mediators on how to balance the informal and confidential nature of mediation with the heightened ethical and fiduciary standards required in insolvency contexts. Attendees will gain valuable insights into best practices for maintaining ethical compliance while effectively utilizing mediation/negotiation as a tool for resolving disputes and facilitating insolvency issues.
Moderators
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Hon. Judith K. FitzgeraldTucker Arensberg, PC
Speakers
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Kara E. CasteelASK LLP
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Hon. Roberta A. ColtonU.S. Bankruptcy Court (M.D. Fla.)
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Robert M. FishmanAlgon Group LLC
The Art of Fraud Litigation: Navigating the Path from Discovery to the Courtroom
This interactive panel will take a practical approach to exploring best practices in bankruptcy litigation, with a particular emphasis on fraud-related claims. Using hypothetical fact patterns, the panelists will guide attendees through the key phases of contested litigation — from the initial investigation and assessment of potential claims to courtroom strategy and trial execution. Topics will include evaluating causes of action and defenses, drafting effective complaints, managing motion practice, and employing persuasive techniques in the courtroom, including opening statements, witness examination and the presentation of evidence. Whether dealing with traditional bankruptcy disputes or complex fraud allegations, attendees will gain valuable insights into prosecuting and defending litigation in the bankruptcy context.
Moderators
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Dana L. Robbins-BoehnerBurr & Forman LLP
Speakers
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Aneca E. LasleyIce Miller LLP
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Lisa S. TsaiReid Collins & Tsai LLP
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Anne VanderkampAlixPartners LLP
UCC Liens in Consumer Bankruptcy
This panel will explore common (and uncommon) examples of UCC liens in consumer cases. The panelists will discuss goods covered by Article 9, perfection issues, valuations and chapter 7 redemption issues, and will analyze key cases that are shaping the UCC landscape.
Moderators
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Patrick HrubyBrock & Scott, PLLC
Speakers
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Robert M. LawlessThe University of Illinois College of Law
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William J. SchumacherWinthrop & Weinstine, PA
Refreshment Break
The Global Evolution of Crypto Regulation: What's Next, and How Cross-Border Bankruptcies Might Be Affected
This panel will discuss the fast-changing landscape of crypto regulation across different jurisdictions, and the effects it is having on crypto-focused bankruptcies both here and abroad.
Moderators
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Joanna D. CaytasPorter & Hedges, LLP
Speakers
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Nicholas FoxMourant Ozannes
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Stacy A. LutkusMcDermott Will & Emery LLP
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Lauren TangVirtus Law LLP
Navigating Legislative Shifts: The Effects on Health Care Companies
Congressional budget decisions and executive actions are increasingly shaping the bankruptcy landscape for health care companies. This panel will examine how proposed Medicaid cuts, pharmaceutical reforms and the sweeping 2025 megabill are affecting financial distress, restructuring strategies and creditor dynamics in the sector. The panelists will explore the legal and operational implications of these legislative shifts, and how stakeholders are adapting in a rapidly evolving policy environment.
Moderators
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Hon. Laurel Myerson IsicoffU.S. Bankruptcy Court (S.D. Fla.)
Speakers
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Dan CarpenterGibbins Advisors, LLC
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John S. MairoGibbons P.C.
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Mark R. OwensBarnes & Thornburg LLP
Deconstructing the Code: Spotlight on § 362
Section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code is one of the most frequently litigated — and often misunderstood — provisions in bankruptcy practice. This session will take a deep dive into the automatic stay, exploring its scope, application and termination. The panelists will analyze key distinctions among the subsections of § 362 and how they interact with other provisions of the Code. Attendees will gain practical insights into effective strategies for obtaining relief from stay, including grounds for relief beyond lack of adequate protection, and will learn how to navigate the procedural and evidentiary requirements for efficiently and cost-effectively securing or confirming relief from the stay.
Moderators
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Jeffrey S. FraserAlbertelli Law
Speakers
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Caleb ChaplainU.S. Bankruptcy Court
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Kara K. GendronMott & Gendron Law
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Hon. John T. GreggU.S. Bankruptcy Court (W.D. Mich.)
Workshop: A Deep Dive on Business Tax Returns
Speakers
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Stephanie J. DrewRubinBrown LLP
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J.P. MarcosAlastar Partners
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Marc B. RossKCP Advisory Group/HBM
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Virginia TateFAI International, Forensic Accounting & Investigations
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Lauren Rose WinneBerkeley Research Group LLC
Margarita Reception
Women’s Reception
ABC Reception
Breakfast
Welcome Address
The Top 10 Cases You Should Be Reading About But Aren’t
In 2024 alone, more than 517,000 bankruptcy cases were filed in the U.S., and bankruptcy judges issued an estimated 521 reported decisions, plus another 1,241 unreported decisions. How many of those cases and issues are you familiar with? You might know what the Supreme Court did in Purdue Pharma, what the Third Circuit did in Boy Scouts, what the Fourth Circuit did in Bestwall, and what bankruptcy courts are doing in cases like Red River Talc, Celsius and FTX, but do you know the latest trends in equitable tolling, chapter 5 avoidance claims and conversion rights? Bill Rochelle and this panel of esteemed bankruptcy judges will be holding a lively discussion of a few critical-but-under-the-radar decisions that you should be reading about but likely are not. You won’t want to miss this educational and eye-opening conversation!
Moderators
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Bill RochelleAmerican Bankruptcy Institute
Speakers
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Hon. Daniel P. CollinsU.S. Bankruptcy Court (D. Ariz.)
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Hon. Christopher M. LopezU.S. Bankruptcy Court (S.D. Tex.)
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Hon. Laurel Myerson IsicoffU.S. Bankruptcy Court (S.D. Fla.)
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Hon. Sage M. SiglerU.S. Bankruptcy Court (N.D. Ga.)
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Hon. Elizabeth S. StongU.S. Bankruptcy Court (E.D. N.Y.)
Break
Criminal Exposure in Bankruptcy Cases
This panel, featuring a former U.S. Attorney, bankruptcy trustee and examiner, will cover such key topics as mail/wire fraud, concealment of assets, false statements, perjury and the Fifth Amendment as they relate to crimes in bankruptcy to help keep bankruptcy practitioners and their respective clients out of trouble.
Moderators
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Michael E. HastingsWoods Rogers Vandeventer Black PLC
Speakers
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John P. FishwickFishwick & Associates
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Craig M. GenoLaw Offices of Craig M. Geno, PLLC
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Jolene E. WeeJW Infinity Consulting LLC
Networking Break
ABI National Ethics Task Force Examines Hot Topics
Join members of ABI’s 2012-13 National Ethics Task Force as they update their 2013 Final Report on bankruptcy ethics best practices with this lively panel discussion on current hot topics, including required (and recommended) estate professional disclosures, independent directors, access to justice and artificial intelligence.
Moderators
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Michael P. RichmanRichman & Richman LLC
Speakers
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Richard P. CarmodyAdams and Reese LLP
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Susan M. FreemanWomble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP
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Edward T. Gavin IVGavin/Solmonese LLC
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Nancy B. RapoportWilliam S. Boyd School of Law, University of Nevada
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Hon. Elizabeth S. StongU.S. Bankruptcy Court (E.D. N.Y.)
Adjourn


Rates
EARLY BIRD (by 9/26/25)
REGULAR (9/27/25-11/7/25)
LATE (after 11/8/25)
* There will be a $50 fee added to all on-site registrations.
** Includes a one-year membership for first-time members only — a $499 value!
You must be an ABI member to attend. Membership is individual and
nonrefundable. If your ABI membership has expired, select the member rate
and add in your ABI membership-renewal fee.
*** This rate is available only to full-time consumer debtor attorneys. Members
registering at this rate will be designated as consumer debtor specialists in
ABI’s online membership directory for consumer conference rates.

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