Fifth Circuit Bankruptcy Bench-Bar Conference
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New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Registrar: +1.972.244.3404
E-Mail: cail@cailaw.org
Overview
Join program co-chairs Hon. Meredith S. Grabill, Hon. Stacey G.C. Jernigan, and Hon. Katharine M. Samson and a stellar faculty of judges and practitioners for the Fifth Circuit Bankruptcy Bench-Bar Conference in New Orleans in March of 2026!
Conference Co-Chairs
U.S. Bankruptcy Court
Eastern District of Louisiana
U.S. Bankruptcy Court
Northern District of Texas
U.S. Bankruptcy Court
Southern District of Mississippi
Schedule and Faculty
Wednesday, March 25
5:30–7:00 P.M. - Reception at the Hotel (exact time TBC)
Thursday, March 26
8:00 A.M. - Registration
8:15 A.M. - State By State Breakfasts, with a moderated discussion as part of each breakfast (30 minutes)
Louisiana:
Moderator: The Hon. Stephen Wheelis, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, WDLA, Alexandria, LA
- Brooke Altazan, Stewart Robbins Brown & Altazan, LLC, Baton Rouge, LA
- Leann Opotowsky Moses, Carver, Darden, Koretzky, Tessier, Finn, Blossman & Areaux L.L.C.
Mississippi:
Moderator: Chief Judge Katharine Samson, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, SDMS, Gulfport, MS
- The Hon. Jamie Wilson, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, SDMS, Jackson, MS
- Chief Judge Jason Woodard, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, NDMS, Aberdeen, MS
Texas:
- Chief Judge Stacey G.C. Jernigan, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, NDTX, Dallas, TX Chief Judge Brenda Rhoades, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, EDTX, Plano, TX
- Chief Judge Eduardo V. Rodriguez, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, SDTX, McAllen, TX
- The Hon. Michael Parker, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, WDTX, San Antonio, TX
9:30 A.M. - Welcoming Remarks
9:45 A.M. - Plenary Session (60 minutes) - Unjust Debts
- Professor Tony Casey, University of Chicago Law School, Chicago, IL
- Professor Brook E. Gotberg, BYU Law School, Provo, UT
10:45 A.M. - Break (and move into Breakout Sessions)
11:00 A.M. - First Breakout Sessions (75 minutes)
Business - Is Administrative Insolvency Still a Dirty Word? (To include DIP financing and sales processes/328 engagements)
Moderator: The Hon. Christopher Lopez, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, SDTX, Houston, TX
- Barrett Lingle, White & Case LLP, New York, NY
- David S. Meyer, Vinson & Elkins LLP, New York, NY
- Louis Phillips, Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP, Baton Rouge, LA
- Ryan Omohundro, Managing Director, Alvarez & Marsal Disputes and Investigations, LLC, Houston, TX
Consumer - Emergency News for Debtors with Parent Plus Loans! (And Yes, the DOE Guidelines Are Still Effective for Discharging Student Loan Debt)
- The Hon. John Kolwe, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, WDLA, Lafayette, LA
- Igor Roitburg, Senior Managing Director, Stretto, Irvine, CA
- T.C. Rollins, The Rollins Law Firm, PC, Jackson, MS
12:15 P.M. - Hosted Lunch
Announcement of the Recipients of the Michelle Mendez Award
Luncheon Presentation: New Judges Panel (30 minutes)
Moderator: Chief Judge Michael Crawford, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, MDLA, Baton Rouge, LA
- The Hon. Alfredo R. Perez, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, SDTX, Houston, TX
- The Hon. Brad W. Odell, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, NDTX, Lubbock, TX
1:45 P.M. - Break (and move into Breakout Sessions)
2:00 P.M. - Second Breakout Sessions (60 minutes)
Business - Expert Use of Experts in Small and Mid-Sized Cases
Moderator: The Hon. E. Lee Morris, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, NDTX, Fort Worth, TX
- Bradley L. Drell, Gold, Weems, Bruser, Sues & Rundell, A PLC, Alexandria, LA
- Julie Harrison, Norton Rose Fulbright US, LLP, Houston, TX
- Drew McManigle, Founder/CEO, MACCO Group, LLC, Houston, TX
Consumer - Hot Topics in Chapter 13
- Pam Bassel, Standing Chapter 13 Trustee, Office of the Standing Chapter 13 Trustee for the NDTX, Fort Worth, TX
- Karie Fahrenholz, Chapter 13 Trustee, EDLA, Metairie, LA
- The Hon. Joshua P. Searcy, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, EDTX, Tyler, TX
3:00 P.M. - Break (and move back to Plenary)
3:15 P.M. - Plenary Session (60 minutes) - Privacy Concerns In a Transparent Process
- The Hon. Christopher G. Bradley, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, WDTX, Austin, TX
- Gabriel Brunswick, Associate General Counsel, Kroll Restructuring Administration LLC, New York, NY
- Brad C. Knapp, Troutman Pepper Locke LLP, New Orleans, LA
- James A. McCullough II, Brunini, Jackson, MS
4:15 P.M. - Break
4:30 P.M. - Plenary Session (Legal Ethics: 60 minutes) - Practical & Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence: Should AI Come with Age Restrictions?
- Chief Judge Stacey G.C. Jernigan, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, NDTX, Dallas, TX
- Benjamin Kadden, Lugenbuhl, Wheaton, Peck, Rankin & Hubbard, New Orleans, LA
- Kenric D. Kattner, Haynes and Boone, LLP, Houston, TX / New York, NY
- Deborah M. Perry, Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C., Dallas, TX
5:30 P.M. - Adjourn 1st Day
6:15 P.M – 8:15 P.M. - Optional Event – location TBC
Friday, March 27
8:30 A.M. - Networking Continental Breakfast
9:00 A.M. - Plenary Session (60 minutes)- The Unwritten Law of Corporate Reorganizations: How Hidden Principles & Norms Affect How Distressed Business Are Restructured
- Professor Douglas G. Baird, University of Chicago Law School, Chicago, IL
- Professor Tony Casey, University of Chicago Law School, Chicago, IL
- The Hon. Marvin Isgur, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, SDTX, Houston, TX
10:00 A.M. - Break (and move into breakout sessions)
10:05 A.M. - Third Breakout Sessions (75 minutes)
Business - Clean Up on Aisle 9: Decommissioning Chaos
Moderator: The Hon. Meredith Grabill, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, EDLA, New Orleans, LA
- Anne Burns, Cavazos Hendricks Poirot, PC, Dallas, TX
- Douglas S. Draper, Heller, Draper & Horn, LLC, New Orleans, LA
- Michael D. Rubenstein, Liskow, Houston, TX
- Michael (Mike) D. Warner, Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones, Houston, TX
Consumer - Trustees Operating Businesses Until They Can Be Sold
Moderator: The Hon. Selene Maddox, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, NDMS, Aberdeen, MS
- Craig Geno, Law Offices of Geno and Steiskal, PLLC, Ridgeland, MS
- Dwayne Murray, Trustee, Murray & Murray, LLC, Baton Rouge, LA
- Janet Northrup, Trustee, Hughes Watters Askanase, LLP, Houston, TX
11:20 A.M. - Break (to move back to Plenary)
11:30 A.M. - Plenary Session (Legal Ethics: 60 minutes) - Name That Tune
- Chief Judge Stacey G.C. Jernigan, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, NDTX, Dallas, TX
- Todd Headden, Hayward PLLC, Austin, TX
- The Hon. H. Christopher Mott, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, WDTX, Austin, TX
- The Hon. Mark X. Mullin, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, NDTX, Fort Worth, TX
- Bach W. Norwood, Hayward PLLC, Austin, TX
12:30 P.M. - Concluding Remarks & Adjournment
Hotel Information
Omni Royal Orleans Hotel
621 St. Louis Street
New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
Booking Details
- Please book by 03/04/2025
- Rate Availability: Mar 21, 2026 - Mar 31, 2026
- All reservations must be guaranteed by a valid credit card at the time of booking
- Any guaranteed reservations not cancelled 72 hours prior to the arrival date will be subject to a one night room and tax cancellation fee
- To check availability, click the 'Find Dates' button first (without modifying the search criteria). Then, select your check-in and check-out dates on the calendar to view available room types and rates.
Other Information
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