Inside ABI April 2025

I still cannot believe it has been a year already since the 2024 Annual Spring Meeting (ASM). As we once again get ready to descend on Washington, D.C., for our annual event later this month, I want to take this time to reflect on the past year, thank those who made it possible, and look forward to our future.

First, none of this is possible without the understanding and support of my incredible wife, Christine. She has attended more conferences in the past year than she thought was humanly possible. But then again, she has been a trooper for the past 18 years and has become the integral centerpiece of not just the Ward family, but the ABI Family. The love and support of our kids — Liz and her husband Kevin (remember the mind-blowing speech Liz gave at ASM 2024!), Dan and Zak — as well as our extended family, make this journey worth it. I also need to thank my fellow shareholders and colleagues at Polsinelli. Their moral, and monetary, support made this dream achievable, especially Shanti M. Katona (Wilmington, Del.) and Randye B. Soref (Los Angeles), who all too often over the past year (or maybe decade??) were left filling in for me as I addressed my ABI duties, but they also attended ABI conferences at my side (not to mention the dozen Polsinelli attorneys that took over ASM last year!). I appreciate Polsinelli’s support of ABI since I joined the firm 17 years ago, and I am proud that we are now an ABI Executive Partner.

I also need to thank ABI and its staff for making this possible. I will miss my two-year run of weekly ABI President’s calls, first as ABI President-Elect alongside Soneet R. Kapila of KapilaMukamal, LLP (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), and this past year with the next leader of ABI, Hon. Bruce A. Harwood (ret.). I am grateful to ABI Executive Director Amy Quackenboss and ABI Chief Operating Officer (and AI guru) Karim Guirguis for providing weekly updates, from the status of conference planning, to member committee updates, to discussions of ABI’s future. I know ABI will be well cared for with Judge Harwood and new ABI President-Elect Stephen D. Lerner of Squire Patton Boggs (Cincinnati), but what will I do with my Thursday mornings now?!? Maybe more Peloton? (Don’t forget to follow me @Word2Ward.)

It is not just ABI’s senior leadership that makes this organization special; it is the entire organization and its staff. My monthly President’s Columns would not have been possible without the insight, and patience, of Managing Editor Elizabeth A. Stoltz. I wanted to take advantage of the monthly platform for ABI President in the Journal, and the staff made sure that I lived up to my appearance in each Journal during my term, including ABI Senior Editor Carolyn M. Kanon. Be sure to check out those past columns at abi.org/abi-journal. I also deeply appreciate the work of Director of Communications James H. Carman, Director of Membership Christoper Thackston and Public Affairs Officer John Hartgen, especially the wonderful work he does in getting ABI and its endeavors covered by outside media. I have talked about the Partner programs (abi.org/about-us/partners) and the splendid work of Director of Business Development and Partner Programs Barbara Grant Bereskin, Partner Program Relationship Manager Yasmin Agudelo, Business Development Coordinator Megan Loper and Business Development Sales Manager Sharisa L. Sloan.

What about our event planners, who put on 30-plus conferences per year, not only domestically but last year in Mexico City and London, and this year in Colombia and Germany? Led by Director of Conferences and Events Jennifer Guirguis, and guided by Meeting Planners Allyson Donohue, Maureen Ball, Julia Macnamara, Charlotte Ringle and Katie Stanish, it is utterly amazing how it all comes together. To use a cliché, no one wants to see how the sausage is made, but being able to see behind the scenes and the work and dedication of ABI’s staff was truly heartwarming and is the keystone of the ABI Family.

This is not to exclude others on ABI’s staff who dedicate their time and effort into making this organization what it is. The ABI Family starts from within and grows from there. While I may be stepping away from being the captain of this ship, the ship will continue to sail (I can see a meme of Judge Harwood saying, “I am the Captain now!” LOL!).

The list of thank yous can go on forever, including our volunteer members who serve on the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Management Committee and member committees, and who speak at conferences and write articles for the ABI Journal — the list goes on. We are the organization that we are because of our volunteer members, and they deserve our recognition.

If you have attended ABI conferences this year, you have seen me give the opening remarks. By my count, my ABI year started at ASM in Washington, D.C., and continued to the New York City Bankruptcy Conference in Manhattan and the Central States Bankruptcy Workshop in Chicago; I met with ABI’s staff at their headquarters in Alexandria, Va., then went to the Northeast Bankruptcy Conference & Consumer Forum in North Falmouth, Mass.; Southeast Bankruptcy Workshop in Naples, Fla.; Mid-Atlantic Bankruptcy Workshop in Annapolis, Md.; Southwest Bankruptcy Conference in Las Vegas; Health Care Program in Nashville, Tenn.; TMA Annual program in Philadelphia; Delaware Views from the Bench in Wilmington, Del.; and International European Insolvency Symposium in London; then capped off the year with the Winter Leadership Conference in Scottsdale, Ariz. At each of these conferences, I got to meet many people I would not have met if not for my role in ABI’s leadership. I enjoyed getting to meet our members and hear their ABI stories.

If you were in attendance at any of these events, you also heard me talk about ABI’s future. I used the phrase “gray hairs and no hairs” quite frequently to describe an aging membership (as a no-hair, I get a pass here), and that in order to succeed, we need to attract and support our new and young members. We now have eight classes of “40 Under 40” (read about past honorees at abi40under40.org), many of whom are in ABI leadership positions and incredibly active in the organization. This is something we should all be proud of and continue to support into the future.

Without increasing the number of our young members by adding law clerks, law students and junior associates, we will not have the pipeline to succeed into the next generation. I am confident that us older members will continue to encourage our newer members to become active in ABI and help prepare them for their futures as restructuring professionals by imbuing in them a deep understanding of bankruptcy, restructuring and insolvency law. Equally important is developing a network of other professionals interested in ensuring the success of not only ABI, but the restructuring industry as a whole. Be sure to encourage all of the young colleagues in your office to join ABI at abi.org/membership.

We are heading to D.C. later this month for ASM (register at abiasm.org) in dynamic times — the likes of which most of us have never experienced. What will this environment mean for the restructuring industry? Time will tell, but our industry has always adapted and reacted to change, whether it was to the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act, the Great Recession, or inflation and a higher-interest-rate environment. This is what separates restructuring professionals from our nonbankruptcy colleagues: we are always adapting to situations and solving problems. I am excited to see how ABI and its members provide guidance to our country and its business environment during trying times.

Before I step aside and pass the oversized gavel to Judge Harwood, I would like to one last time express my gratitude to ABI and its membership. You trusted me to lead this organization for the past year and to continue as Immediate Past President, then as Board Chair before moving on and allowing new blood to have their seats at the table. It is truly an honor. I have been practicing bankruptcy and restructuring law for 25 years, and to say that I was ABI President from 2024-25 will always bring a smile to my face and hold a special place in my heart.

I love the ABI Family and the support and opportunities it has provided me during my career. I hope that other members feel as strongly about ABI as I do. As I have said several times over the past year, ABI provides second-to-none educational resources and networking opportunities to its members. There are many outstanding restructuring organizations in the U.S. and beyond, but ABI is the preeminent organization for bankruptcy, restructuring and insolvency education and opportunities. I personally thank each and every one of our members for making that so.

I look forward to seeing many of you April 24-26 at the Marriott Marquis Washington, DC, and at other conferences throughout this year (learn more at abi.org/events). As we have routinely done, the Ward family will continue to use ABI as a platform for our family vacations, and we will all see you at ABI’s Northeast Bankruptcy Conference & Consumer Forum July 14-16 in Bretton Woods, N.H. Again, I am honored to have served you, and I look forward to a bright future for ABI and its members. Godspeed.

Chris Ward is chair of Polsinelli’s Bankruptcy and Restructuring Practice and managing partner of the firm’s Wilmington, Del., office. He previously served as ABI’s Vice President-Development.

ABI, Stetson University Host Annual Paskay Seminar in Sunny Tampa

ABI and Stetson University College of Law hosted the 49th annual Alexander L. Paskay Memorial Bankruptcy Seminar, a memorial CLE program honoring the lifetime achievements of the late Bankruptcy Judge Alexander L. Paskay, Feb. 27-28 at the Tampa Marriott Water Street in Tampa, Fla. About 200 practitioners from throughout the Southeast and beyond took part in the business- and consumer-focused panels and numerous networking opportunities, including an optional dinner hosted by IWIRC Florida and a hockey game at Amalie Arena, where attendees watched the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Calgary Flames 3-0 from a private suite (see the pictures on p. 55). Sponsored by Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP, the event raised money for the ABI Endowment Fund.

The program was packed with timely sessions, including Evidence: Empower, Excellence, Enjoy; PPP: Post-Purdue Pharma; Effective Motion Practice in Bankruptcy Court; Avoidance Actions Update; Student Loans; Restaurant Chains in Chapter 11; Treatment of Personal Property During Bankruptcy; Trustees Come in All Shapes and Sizes; Ethics and Professional Responsibility; and a judicial roundtable. Ross Fishman of Fishman Marketing (Chicago) presented the luncheon keynote, during which he explored the ways in which generative AI is transforming the legal profession. Attendees could earn up to 10.5 hours of CLE/CPE credit, including up to 1.2 hours of ethics.

ABI is grateful for the work of this year’s advisory board, led by Judicial Co-Chairs Hon. Caryl E. Delano of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida (Tampa) and Hon. Corali Lopez-Castro of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida (Miami), and Program Chair Luis E. Rivera II of GrayRobinson, PA (Fort Myers, Fla.). We also thank the following firms for their generous financial support of this year’s program: agencyIP/Sherwood Partners, Inc.; Anthony & Partners; BakerHostetler; Bush Ross, P.A.; Foley & Lardner LLP; GrayRobinson, P.A.; Shutts & Bowen LLP; Stichter, Riedel, Blain & Postler, P.A.; Trenam; Venable LLP; and Wilmington Trust.

Check back at abi.org/events for information on next year’s program as it becomes available.

Texas A&M School of Law Wins 33rd Annual Conrad B. Duberstein National Moot Court Competition

Texas A&M School of Law won the 33rd Annual Conrad B. Duberstein National Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition, held March 1-3 in New York City. The competition is co-sponsored by ABI and St. John’s University School of Law. Fordham University School of Law took second place in the competition, and teams from UC Law San Francisco and the University of Kansas School of Law shared third-place honors. Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law won for Best Brief, and Marissa Wakhu of Texas Southern University-Thurgood Marshall School of Law won the Best Advocate award.

The competition consisted of eight rounds of oral arguments and final rounds. ABI practitioners and academics coached many of the teams, and nearly 200 lawyers and federal judges donated their time and expertise to help judge the event. The fact pattern for the competition focused on two key developments in bankruptcy law: (1) whether 11 U.S.C. § 1322(b)(2) precludes a chapter 13 debtor from modifying the rights of the holder of a secured claim that is secured only by a security interest in real property consisting of both the debtor’s principal residence and income-generating rental property; and (2) whether 11 U.S.C. § 1325(b)(1) allows a chapter 13 debtor to exclude from the calculation of disposable income voluntary, post-petition contributions to his or her 401(k) retirement plan.

Final-round judges for the 2025 competition were Judge Joseph Bianco of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, U.S. District Court Judges Pamela K. Chen and Hector Gonzalez (E.D.N.Y.), and Chief Bankruptcy Judge Alan S. Trust (E.D.N.Y.). Bankruptcy Judges John T. Gregg (W.D. Mich.; Grand Rapids) and Paul R. Hage (E.D. Mich.; Detroit) drafted this year’s fact pattern.

The Duberstein Competition, named for the late Judge Conrad B. Duberstein, a St. John’s alumnus and former ABI director, has grown into the largest appellate moot court competition in the nation. ABI’s Endowment Fund awarded $13,000 in cash prizes for the winners during a gala reception held at the New York Marriott Downtown on March 3.

For more information on the Conrad B. Duberstein National Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition, please visit stjohns.edu/law/academics/centers-institutes/center-bankruptcy-studies/32nd-annual-duberstein-bankruptcy-moot-court-competition.

Numerous ABI members were inducted in March 2025 as Fellows in the 36th Class of the College during the American College of Bankruptcy’s Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. The new inductees are Keith M. Aurzada of Reed Smith LLP (Dallas), an ABI member since 2004; Hon. Martin R. Barash of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California (Woodland Hills), an ABI member since 2002 and a past member of ABI’s Board of Directors; Prof. Laura B. Bartell of the Wayne State University Law School (Detroit), an ABI member since 1999 and past ABI Resident Scholar; Chuck C. Choi of Wagner Choi & Verbrugge (Honolulu), an ABI member since 2001; Ted A. Dillman of Latham & Watkins LLP (Los Angeles), an ABI member since 2009; Jeremy R. Fischer of Drummond Woodsum (Portland, Maine), an ABI member since 2009, a 2017 ABI “40 Under 40” honoree and a member of ABI’s Board of Directors; Prof. Pamela Foohey of the University of Georgia School of Law (Athens, Ga.), an ABI member since 2009 and a 2019 ABI “40 Under 40” honoree; Prof. Michael A. Gerber of Brooklyn Law School (Brooklyn, N.Y.), an ABI member since 1989; Patricia E. Hamilton of Stevens & Brand LLP (Topeka, Kan.), an ABI member since 2015; James R. Irving of Dentons (Louisville, Ky.), an ABI member since 2010, a 2017 ABI “40 Under 40” honoree and a member of ABI’s Board of Directors; Kevin A. Krakora of Getzler Henrich & Associates LLC (Chicago), an ABI member since 2003; Lisa Gonsior Laukitis of Milbank LLP (New York), an ABI member since 2003; Stephanie Crane Lieb of Trenam Law (Tampa, Fla.), an ABI member since 2007 and a 2018 ABI “40 Under 40” honoree; Prof. Diane Lourdes Dick of the University of Iowa College of Law (Iowa City, Iowa), an ABI member since 2020; John S. Mairo of Gibbons PC (Newark, N.J.), an ABI member since 2003; Ainat M. Margalit of Legal Aid Chicago (Chicago), an ABI member since 2017; Jennifer M. McLemore of Williams Mullen (Richmond, Va.), an ABI member since 2004 and ABI’s Vice President-Communications & Information Technology; Michael R. Nestor of Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor LLP (Wilmington, Del.), an ABI member since 2000 and co-chair of ABI’s Financial Advisors and Investment Banking Committee; Hon. Daniel S. Opperman of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Michigan (Bay City), an ABI member since 2000; Peter J. Roberts of Seyfarth Shaw LLP (Chicago), an ABI member since 1999 and an associate editor for the ABI Journal; Damian S. Schaible of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP (New York), an ABI member since 2005 and a past member of ABI’s Board of Directors; Sarah A. Schultz of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP (Dallas), an ABI member since 2022; Lisa P. Sumner of Maynard Nexsen, PC (Raleigh, N.C.), an ABI member since 2022; John N. Tedford of Levene, Neale, Bender, Yoo & Golubchik LLP (Los Angeles), an ABI member since 2019; Michael F. Thomson of Greenberg Traurig LLP (Salt Lake City), an ABI member since 2010; Hon. Alan S. Trust of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of New York (Central Islip), an ABI member since 2008; and Matthew L. Warren of Paul Hastings LLP (Chicago), an ABI member since 2010 and an advisory board member of ABI’s Central States Bankruptcy Workshop.

Robert J. Stearn of Richards, Layton & Finger, PA (Wilmington, Del.) has been recognized in the 2025 edition of Benchmark Litigation. He has been an ABI member since 2003.

Two attorneys with McGuireWoods LLP in Richmond, Va., have been included in Virginia Business’s 2024 Legal Elite. Sarah Beckett Boehm has been an ABI member since 2001. Dion W. Hayes has been an ABI member since 1994 and is a member of the advisory board of ABI’s New York City Bankruptcy Conference.

Richard A. Chesley of DLA Piper (Chicago) has received a 2024 Restructuring Leader Award from Global M&A Network. He has been an ABI member since 1999.

Jennifer Barker Lyday of Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC (Winston-Salem, N.C.) has been appointed chair of the Local Rules Committee for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. She has been an ABI member since 2010.

Maria Carr of McDonald Hopkins LLC (Cleveland) has been named a 2025 Rising Star by Ohio Super Lawyers. She has been an ABI member since 2022.

Jordan Krasne of FTI Consulting, Inc. (New York) has been promoted to senior managing director. He has been an ABI member since 2019.

Kortney Otten of Gallagher & Kennedy (Phoenix) has been named a 2025 AzBusiness Leader by AzBusiness. She has been an ABI member since 2018.

Thomas S. Kessler of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP (New York) has been named among the top 25 Rising Legal Stars in Latin America for 2025 by Latinvex. He has been an ABI member since 2018 and is a 2024 ABI “40 Under 40” honoree.

Two attorneys with Wolfson Bolton Kochis PLLC in Troy, Mich., have been included in DBusiness Magazine’s 2025 Top Lawyers list. Michelle H. Bass has been an ABI member since 2017. Scott A. Wolfson has been an ABI member since 2004.

John Elrod of Greenberg Traurig, LLP (Atlanta) has been named to Georgia Trend’s 2024 Legal Elite list. He has been an ABI member since 2011 and is an advisory board member of ABI’s Southeast Bankruptcy Workshop.

Bozena Diaz of Cullen and Dykman LLP (New York) has been appointed to serve as a member of the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on the Tax Court for its 2024-26 term. She has been an ABI member since 2022.

Andrew B. Still of Snell & Wilmer, LLP (Costa Mesa, Calif.) has been elected partner. He has been an ABI member since 2016.

C. Scott Pryor announced that he has retired from the faculty at the Campbell University School of Law (Raleigh, N.C.) as of Dec. 31, 2024. He has been an ABI member since 1992 and served as ABI Robert M. Zinman Resident Scholar in Spring 2013.

Two attorneys with Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP have been promoted to partner. Based in Atlanta, Adam D. Herring has been an ABI member since 2017, is co-chair of ABI’s Ethics and Professional Compensation Committee and is a 2019 ABI “40 Under 40” honoree. Based in Denver, Rachel A. Sternlieb has been an ABI member since 2019 and is an advisory board member of ABI’s Rocky Mountain Bankruptcy Conference.

Jeffrey E. Oleynik of Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard, LLP (Greensboro, N.C.) has been included in Business North Carolina’s 24th edition of “Legal Elite” and recognized as a member of its “Legal Elite Hall of Fame.” He has been an ABI member since 1996.

Lori A. Schwartz has been appointed co-chair of Leech Tishman’s Business Restructuring and Insolvency Practice Group in New York. She has been an ABI member since 2010.

Eric D. Madden of Reid Collins & Tsai LLP (Dallas) was named the 2025 U.S. Bankruptcy Litigator of the Year during the 2025 Benchmark Litigation Awards. He has been an ABI member since 2000 and is a member of ABI’s Board of Directors. William (Bill) T. Reid IV was also shortlisted for U.S. Plaintiff Litigator of Year. He has been an ABI member since 2007 and is based in Austin, Texas. In addition, the firm was a named a finalist for both U.S. Plaintiff Firm of the Year and for U.S. Bankruptcy Firm of the Year.

Aaron M. Williams of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky & Popeo, PC (Boston) has been promoted to member. He has been an ABI member since 2018.

Lorenzo Marinuzzi of Morrison Foerster (Washington, D.C.) has been recognized as an Outstanding Restructuring Lawyer of 2024 by Turnaround & Workouts. He has been an ABI member since 2023.

Gabriel A. Morgan of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP (Houston) has been named among Turnarounds & Workouts’ Outstanding Restructuring Lawyers for 2024. He has been an ABI member since 2023.

Robert C. Furr of Furr Cohen, PA (Boca Raton, Fla.) has been reelected to the board of the American Board of Certification and is chairman of its Long-Range Planning Committee. He has been an ABI member since 1988 and is an advisory board member of ABI’s Alexander L. Paskay Memorial Bankruptcy Seminar.

Stretto announced that it has unveiled Stretto Conductor, a new AI-powered platform designed specifically for bankruptcy case management and communications. ABI members with Stretto include George M. Basharis, Dave Beltran, Melinda Bennett, Jonathan A. Carson, Michael A. Cohen, Anthony Facciano, Dewayne Johnson, Denise Kaloudis, Nicholas R. Kennedy, Robert Klamser, Eric S. Kurtzman, Drew Lockard, James M. Le, Jeph Ledda, Daniel C. McElhinney, Sean McGuire, MaryBeth Robinson, J.W. Song, Brian J. Soper, Cristina M. Terrasini, Angela W. Tsai, Christopher J. Updike, Travis K. Vandell, George Vogl, David S. Watkins, Alexa Westmoreland, Morgan R. Wisbey and Todd Wuertz.

Exciting Things Will Be Happening at ABI’s Annual Spring Meeting This Month; Will We See You There?

ABI’s Annual Spring Meeting (ASM) is close, but there is still time to make plans to attend if you haven’t done so already. In addition to our captivating panels, roundtables, networking opportunities, optional events and other conference staples, this year’s event will also feature an insightful keynote and mesmerizing entertainment!

Make plans to join us April 24-26 at the Marriott Marquis Washington, DC in Washington, D.C., by registering at abiasm.org.

“Full Disclosure” Host and Journalist Roben Farzad to Deliver Keynote

Roben Farzad, an acclaimed journalist, broadcaster and author known for his sharp insights into the intersection of business and culture, will be delivering the keynote during ASM. As the host of the public radio program “Full Disclosure,” he dives into the forces shaping industries, innovation and society. A frequent commentator on MSNBC, he is also a regular presence on “PBS NewsHour” and midday public radio program “Here & Now.” His expertise has been featured across major media outlets, with bylines in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Boston Globe.

Beyond his reporting, Mr. Farzad is the bestselling author of Hotel Scarface, a gripping true story about the infamous hotel that served as the epicenter of Miami’s cocaine trade in the 1970s and ’80s. His career includes serving as a senior writer for Bloomberg Businessweek, a summer reporting fellow for The New York Times and a staff writer for Dow Jones.

Mr. Farzad remains a passionate advocate for journalism’s role in uncovering the stories that shape our world and in driving meaningful conversations. His unique perspective, creative analysis, and ability to connect business with broader cultural trends make him a must-hear voice in today’s media landscape.

Friday Night Dinner Entertainment: Apollo Robbins

Known as “The Gentleman Thief,” Apollo Robbins is a pioneer in the application of deception to real-world environments, using pickpocketing and sleight-of-hand to demonstrate perception management, diversion techniques and self-deception. Now returning to ASM for a third time, he has picked the pockets of more than 250,000 and first made national news as the man who pick-pocketed the Secret Service while entertaining former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. Forbes has called him “an artful manipulator of awareness,” and Wired magazine has written that “he could steal the wallet of a man who knew he was going to have his pocket picked.”

Mr. Robbins has been featured in The New Yorker, New York Times, Los Angeles Times and Wall Street Journal. He also produced and co-hosted the National Geographic program “Brain Games,” which was nominated for an Emmy as an Outstanding Informational Series. In addition, his appearance on “The Today Show” is a YouTube favorite, having garnered more than 7 million views.

Have an Idea for a Topic for an ABI Conference Session? Submit Your Proposal at “Call for Abstracts” Page!

ABI has launched an online portal for professionals to submit proposals for educational sessions at future ABI conferences. Submitters can describe their proposed topic, outline the session’s focus and learning goals, suggest speakers, and provide contact information via the portal’s detailed form at abi.org/call-for-abstract.

All submissions will be reviewed by an internal Education Committee, which will contact the submitter to ask questions as needed and to discuss the status of the proposal. Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Easy as ABC: New Publication Now Available from ABI

Since the publication of the fifth edition of General Assignments for the Benefit of Creditors: The ABCs of ABCs in 2021, there have been significant developments, especially in Delaware and Florida, that provide new direction in those states and offer guidance for other jurisdictions, which may clarify the future path of ABCs. In addition, the Uniform Law Commission is reviewing a final draft Uniform Act that reflects a growing consensus on ABCs, while recognizing the considerably different approaches of the states. This developing consensus is influenced in part by the legislative approach in Florida and the judicial approach in Delaware toward changing how ABCs are conducted, and their effects on participants and stakeholders.

With this update, Past ABI President Geoffrey L. Berman, retired from Development Specialists, Inc. as a senior managing director emeritus, and Robert M. Saunders of Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones LLP (Los Angeles) continue the tradition of this book by providing readers with a concise overview of the current status and potential foreseeable changes in ABCs. As alternatives such as chapter 11 bankruptcies have become prohibitively expensive for many companies, the relative cost-effectiveness of ABCs continues to make them an attractive option. The variety of states’ approaches to ABCs — particularly in California, Delaware, Florida and Minnesota — and the compromises made in crafting the Uniform Law Commission’s draft Uniform Act introduce a dynamism that was not present even as recently as 2021.

The new edition is available for preorder now at the online bookstore (store.abi.org), with print copies available later in April and at the Annual Spring Meeting this month in Washington, D.C. Be sure to log in with your ABI member credentials to secure the member discount.

Access All Current ABI Titles Through ABI’s Digital Book Subscription!

One of the best collections of bankruptcy books is now available as an annual digital subscription! ABI’s bankruptcy library opens the door to a constantly evolving area of the law, and our books are continually being updated by top industry professionals. Auto-renewing annual subscriptions guarantee immediate access to this invaluable resource, which is comprised of fully searchable content that’s always available on any digital device. Convenient pricing plans for individual and institutional subscribers offer immediate and unlimited access to our entire digital library of books — nearly 100 treatises! Plus, you get advanced access to new and revised books as soon as they are published — all included in your annual subscription. Learn more at abi.org/individual-abi-book-subscription!

ABI and ION Analytics’ Debtwire Launch “Women in Restructuring” Podcast to Highlight Leading Women in the Insolvency Industry

ABI and Debtwire have collaborated to launch the Women in Restructuring podcast series to spotlight influential women shaping the insolvency industry. Through engaging interviews, the podcast series highlights important insolvency developments and the career journeys of top professionals.

The inaugural episode featured host Sarah Foss, global head of Legal and Restructuring at Debtwire (a service of ION Analytics), talking with Alice Eaton, deputy chair of the Restructuring Department at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, about key restructuring developments and how Ms. Eaton’s bankruptcy career took shape at an early age.

The second episode was a special International Women’s Day (March 8) edition featuring a discussion between Ms. Foss and Kate Stephenson, a partner in Kirkland & Ellis International LLP’s European Restructuring Group, Ms. Stephenson provides key insights on restructuring plan developments in the U.K. and a few lessons that she’s learned in her international restructuring career.

Listeners can access these and future episodes of the “Women in Restructuring” podcast at wir.podbean.com. The site provides the flexibility of listening to the interview on the page or accessing episodes on a user’s preferred podcast service, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, PlayerFM and Podchaser.

Up-and-Coming Industry Leaders, We Are Looking for You!

Since its inception in 2017, ABI’s “40 Under 40” program has recognized younger insolvency professionals who are committed to the highest standards of achievement at work and in their communities. The outstanding list of 2024 honorees hailed from all practice areas and all regions of the country. The 2025 application period is currently underway and is open to bankruptcy, insolvency and restructuring professionals from around the world who are 40 years old or younger as of Dec. 1, 2025. You need not be an ABI member to be considered, and there is no fee to apply. You can nominate yourself or a colleague, and those who were nominated previously are encouraged to reapply.

Please visit abi40under40.org for more details and to read biographies on past honorees. Applications will be accepted until June 30. Nominees will be judged by a diverse steering committee of insolvency professionals. The selection process is highly competitive; we expect more than 300 nominations this year.

Volo: Get Bankruptcy Court Summaries — Fast!

Volo provides members with the timeliest bankruptcy decisions from the U.S. courts of appeals and bankruptcy appellate courts. Volunteers provide summaries of new opinions within 24 hours of their release, and each summary includes the full text of the opinion, case status, citation and judges involved. You can also subscribe to email alerts from the circuit(s) that interest you the most. Learn more at volo.abi.org.

GlobalInsolvency.com Is Getting an Upgrade!

Globalinsolvency.com, ABI’s go-to site for cross-border news, information and research, is getting a big upgrade. Our massive chapter 15 case database will now be updated in real time from BankruptcyData.com! Each case provides a summary (most cases), circuit, judge and relevant Bankruptcy Code section, as well as a link to the PDF online. The site also features educational materials, firm articles, cross-border news headlines and more. Check it out, or forward it to a colleague!

Subchapter V Experiences to Share? ABI Wants to Hear from You!

ABI is continuing its study of subchapter V, and it needs your help! We are particularly interested in learning more about the real-world impact of subchapter V. So our question is, do you have a story about a distressed business or creditor who has used or benefited from the subchapter, and/or the ways in which the lower debt cap has affected debtors? Any and all responses are welcome. Submit your story at abi.org/subvstories.

Deloitte Becomes an ABI Executive Partner!

Deloitte recently elevated its ABI Partnership to Executive from Capital Partner. They are a dedicated and valued contributor to ABI’s success, with a through focus on serving on Conference Advisory Boards, Committees and the “40 Under 40” program. We love that Deloitte’s logo is prominently displayed on many ABI conference attendee name badges! ABI has been working closely over the past several years with Ryan A. Maupin, who is national leader of Deloitte’s Turnaround & Restructuring Practice.

If your firm would like to become a Partner, please contact ABI Director of Business Development and Partner Programs Barbara Grant Bereskin at bbereskin@abi.org. Please visit abi.org/about-us/partners to get to know ABI’s Presidential, Executive and Capital Partners.

Ramp Up Your Summertime Plans with ABI’s Summer Regionals

ABI’s Summer Regional events provide great opportunities to interact with other restructuring professionals in more intimate and relaxing environments. More details on each event will be posted soon at abi.org/events, but please block off these dates on your calendar and be sure to join us for these family-friendly ABI conferences:

• June 11-13: Rocky Mountain Bankruptcy Conference at The Chateaux Deer Valley in Park City, Utah;
• June 18-20: Central States Bankruptcy Workshop at The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago in Chicago;
• July 14-16: Northeast Bankruptcy Conference & Consumer Forum at the Omni Mt. Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, N.H.;
• July 24-27: Southeast Bankruptcy Workshop at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island in Amelia Island, Fla.;
• Aug. 18-20: Mid-Atlantic Bankruptcy Workshop at Hershey Lodge in Hershey, Pa.; and
• Aug. 25-27: Southwest Bankruptcy Conference at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, Calif.

ABI Endowment Fund Update

33rd Annual Duberstein Competition Held in March

The 33rd Annual Duberstein Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition was held March 1-3 in New York, sponsored by ABI and St. John’s University School of Law. The Anthony H.N. Schnelling Endowment Fund provides cash prizes to the winning team, as well as the second- and third-place teams, best brief and best oralist. Thanks to generous donations, the ABI Endowment was able to once again offer $13,000 in cash prizes to the winners of the annual Duberstein Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition. The winning team received $5,000, while the second-place team was awarded $3,000. The two other semi-final teams each received $1,500, with the best advocate winning $1,000 and the team with the best brief winning $1,000. See the full summary and photos on p. 47.

Sheila Smith Young Woman in Restructuring Scholarship Announced

The ABI Endowent Fund has announced the creation of the Sheila Smith Young Woman in Restructuring Scholarship. Sheila Smith was a leading national authority in the restructuring marketplace and known as an exceptional mentor to young women in her field. She was co-leader of Deloitte’s Corporate Restructuring Group, and she led its New England Financial Advisory Services Practice, as well as working for Gordon Brothers as a senior advisor (among other roles) during her career. She passed away in November 2023 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

The Sheila Smith Scholarship Fund will provide support to female financial restructuring professionals to attend ABI’s Annual Spring Meeting, April 24-26 at the Marriott Marquis Washington, DC in Washington, D.C. Applications will be accepted soon. To donate, please visit abi.org/endowment/giving and select the option to donate directly to the Sheila Smith Scholarship Fund.

Hockey Was the Name of the Game at Paskay Fundraiser in February

Endowment supporters gathered on Feb. 27 (the first day of the Alexander L. Paskay Memorial Bankruptcy Seminar) to watch the Tampa Bay Lightning take on the Calgary Flames from a donated suite at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. A big “thank you” goes to Shumaker Loop & Kendrick LLP/Steve Berman for hosting the event in the firm’s suite, and to everyone who attended this fun event. All proceeds benefited the ABI Endowment Fund.

Space Is Filling Up Fast for Baseball Game at Annual Spring Meeting

The ABI Endowment will be hosting an evening at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., the night before the start of ABI’s Annual Spring Meeting (April 24-26). See two young and talented teams play as the Baltimore Orioles face off against the Washington Nationals on April 23 at 6:45 p.m. in the “Battle of the Beltway”!

Watch young stars take the field, including the Orioles’ Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday and Colton Cowser, and the Nationals’ Dylan Crews, James Wood and MacKenzie Gore, all from a luxury suite, which has been generously donated and is being sponsored by BakerHostetler. Tickets are $300, which includes food and beverages. Sponsorship tickets are $1,000 and include two tickets plus acknowledgment. If your firm would like to sponsor this event, please contact ABI Endowment Manager Erin Green at egreen@abi.org.

Levels of Support for the ABI Endowment

Diamond Level $80,000-$100,000

Platinum Level $65,000-$79,999

Millennium Level $50,000-$64,999

30th Anniversary Circle $30,000-$49,999

Century Council Member $25,000-$29,999

Visionary Member $20,000-$24,999

Legacy Member $15,000-$19,999

Lifetime Member $10,000-$14,999

Benefactor $5,000-$9,999

Sustaining Member $2,000-$4,999

Leadership Club $1,000-$1,999

Donor $100-$999

Donate online at abi.org/endowment. Donations are tax-deductible and can be paid over five years. Contact Erin Green at egreen@abi.org for more information.

January (partial list)

Seth J. Leskanic

Stetson University

St. Petersburg, Fla.

Jordan W. Leu

King & Spalding LLP

Dallas

Dylan M.l Long

Campbell University

Nakina, N.C.

Hon. Mary E. Lopinot

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (S.D. Ill.)

East St. Louis, Ill.

Madison Lowe

University of Alabama

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Christina Madden

Burford Capital

New York

Monica Mahal

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (D. Colo.)

Denver

Karan Manohar

Kent University

Chicago

Jarrod Martin

Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, et al.

Houston

Hon. J. Barrett Marum

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (S.D. Cal.)

San Diego

Claire Marvaso

Bloomberg Law

New York

Jason Mbakwe

Carey Olsen

Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Richard J. McIntyre

McIntyre Thanasides, et al.

Tampa, Fla.

Jacob A. Mertus

The University of Toledo

Toledo, Ohio

David Miller

Paul Hastings LLP

New York

Laura Miller

Cooley LLP

New York

Kate Mills

SC&H Capital

Sparks Glencoe, Md.

Nicholas P. Miner

Seattle University

Seattle

Constance Morrow

Mississippi Dept. of Human Servs.

Jackson, Miss.

Richard Murphy

D.M. Financial

Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Justin Naidu

Maples Group

George Town, Grand Cayman

Doug A. Nail

Parker, Hudson, Rainer & Dobbs

Atlanta

Karen Nevins

CohnReznick LLP

New York

David W. Newman

Office of the U.S. Trustee

Salt Lake City

Darío A. Oscós

Oscos Abogados

Coyoacan, Mexico

Mary (Marybeth) Parrilla

Tampa, Fla.

Fernando Pérez-Correa

Perez Correa Gonzalez

Mexico City

Marissa Pilconis

Cooley LLP

New York

Justin D. Plean

Quintairos, Prieto, Wood, & Boyer

Lake Worth, Fla.

Diane Pressley

Inspira Financial

Oak Brook, Ill.

Matthew Quinn

Univ. System of New Hampshire

West Winfield, N.Y.

Pratik Kumar Raj Ghosh

MoloLamken LLP

New York

Loida Reusi

Blank Rome LLP

New York

Amy Roberts

Alvarez & Marsal North America

Tampa, Fla.

Ian Roberts

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

New York

MaryBeth Robinson

Stretto

New York

Dennis R. Rodriguez

B. Riley Financial

Boca Raton, Fla.

Ana Yaressy Romero

St. John’s University

Bellevue, Wash.

Elizabeth P. Royalty

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (D. Mass.)

Springfield, Mass.

Michaella Rudsky

Brooklyn Law School

Brooklyn, N.Y.

Daniell Rupp

University of New Hampshire

Francestown, N.H.

Alejandro Sainz

Sainz Abogados, SC

Mexico City

Lilian Onyekachi Sampson

Washington and Lee University

Colonial Heights, Va.

Eric R. Schachter

Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP

White Plains, N.Y.

Roy Sexton

Vedder Price PC

Chicago

Arbri Shameti

GLAS

Jersey City, N.J.

Charles Shaw

University of New Hampshire

Concord, N.H. abi