NABT 2026 Annual Conference: Full Schedule

1:00pm EDT

Opening Remarks

Sunday August 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:30pm EDT

TBA

Sunday August 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:30pm EDT
TBA

General Chapter 7 Track Subchapter V Track Trustee Assistant Track

1:30pm EDT

The Machines are Here: Train, Tame, and Thrive (AI Panel)

Sunday August 9, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm EDT

TBA

AI is everywhere - do you know how to spot it or use it? Join us for an eye-opening session on how artificial intelligence is reshaping bankruptcy practice for attorneys, debtors, and trustees alike, from the alarming surge in AI-hallucinated case law and fictitious statutes showing up in pro se filings to the discovery opportunities those filings may now unlock. You'll walk away with the practical prompting framework and real-world trustee workflows for using AI at every stage of a case - 341(a) prep, live meeting support, preference/fraudulent transfer analysis, and document drafting to support final reports. Whether you're AI-curious or AI-skeptical, this session gives you the tools to work smarter, protect your cases, and stay one step ahead in an era where surface-level sophistication can fool even experienced practitioners.

Speakers

Hon. Daniel P. Collins

Judge, United States Bankruptcy Court

John C. Bircher III

Partner, Davis Hartman Wright

John C. Bircher III was born in Columbia, S.C., on September 23, 1970. At the age of eight, he moved with his family to the ancestral dairy farm in Craven County, N.C. He later entered the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal... Read More →

Lynda T. Bui

Partner, Shulman Bastian Friedman & Bui LLP

Lynda T. Bui is a partner of the Shulman Bastian Friedman & Bui LLP’s bankruptcy department and works in both the Orange County and Riverside offices. Ms. Bui is also a U.S. Bankruptcy Trustee in the Central District of California, having been appointed by the U.S. Trustee in 2010... Read More →

Sunday August 9, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm EDT
TBA

Chapter 7 Track Subchapter V Track Trustee Assistant Track

3:00pm EDT

Express Talks I

Sunday August 9, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT

TBA

Deadlines Matter!—Important Considerations under the Code and Rules:
This presentation provides a comprehensive review of deadlines in Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases, with a focus on the consequences of missing them and the available avenues for relief. The session is designed for Chapter 7 trustees and bankruptcy attorneys who regularly encounter deadline-driven practice issues. The presentation covers the legal standards governing deadline extensions, the critical distinction between jurisdictional and non-jurisdictional deadlines, and practical guidance for trustees administering Chapter 7 estates.

Default Judgements:
Some lawyers think they are entitled to a judgment or order simply because the opposing party failed to answer or respond. But not so fast! This session will discuss how to properly plead a complaint and how to properly serve it to set you up for taking a default judgment in the event of no response, plus discuss the process of obtaining a default judgment.

Speakers

Hon. Cynthia A. Norton

Chief Judge, United States Bankruptcy Court

Chief Judge Cynthia A. Norton graduated summa cum laude from the University of Kansas in 1981 with a double major in French and Art History. She received her law degree from the same institution in May 1984. She clerked for the Hon. John E. Rees of the Kansas Court of Appeals, and... Read More →

Kevin Sink

Managing Partner, Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC

Kevin focuses his practice on bankruptcy and reorganization matters, receivership, commercial transactions, real estate and business litigation. He is certified as a Business Bankruptcy Law Specialist by the North Carolina State Bar and is a Chapter 7 Panel Trustee for the Eastern... Read More →

Sunday August 9, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
TBA

Chapter 7 Track Trustee Assistant Track

4:15pm EDT

Express Talks II

Sunday August 9, 2026 4:15pm - 5:15pm EDT

TBA

Audit/Forms
This session will provide you with best practices to implement to assist in preparing for outside audits and field exams; how to navigate what the audits/field exams cover; and how these practices will ultimately lead to preparing error free TIRs.

Mass Tort Claims in Chapter 7: Considerations for Trustees
Mass Tort claims of Debtors are appearing more frequently in consumer chapter 7 cases and pose unique ethical and legal challenges to administer. This session will provide a thorough guide for Trustees to follow when deciding whether and how to administer a debtor’s Mass Tort claim.

Speakers

Darlene G. Anderson

Director of Trustee Operations, Robert Furr and Marc Barmat Trustees

Darlene G. Anderson is currently the Director of Trustee Operations for trustees, Robert C. Furr and Marc P. Bamat. She also holds the position of Firm Administrator for the law firm, Furr Cohen PA, where she has worked for the past 31 years. Prior to joining Furr Cohen PA, Ms. Anderson... Read More →

Craig R. Jalbert

Principal, Verdolino & Lowey, P.C.

Craig Jalbert is a principal at Verdolino & Lowey, P.C. located in Foxborough, MA. He is a Certified Insolvency and Restructuring Advisor (CIRA). Craig’s 30+ years of experience are in business development; accounting and consulting services; business advisory services; bankruptcy... Read More →

Donald R. Lassman

Principal, Law Office of Donald R. Lassman

DONALD R. LASSMAN is a sole practitioner in Needham, Massachusetts Don has been on the panel of Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustees in Massachusetts since 1995 and is a Fellow in the American College of Bankruptcy.

Sunday August 9, 2026 4:15pm - 5:15pm EDT
TBA

Chapter 7 Track Trustee Assistant Track

6:00pm EDT

President's Circle Reception sponsored by International Sureties (by invitation only)

Sunday August 9, 2026 6:00pm - 7:00pm EDT

TBA

Sunday August 9, 2026 6:00pm - 7:00pm EDT
TBA

Networking-Social Chapter 7 Track Subchapter V Track Trustee Assistant Track

7:30am EDT

Updates to Article 9/12

Monday August 10, 2026 7:30am - 8:30am EDT

TBA

This panel will explore recent and emerging developments under Articles 9 and 12 of the Uniform Commercial Code and their practical impact in Chapter 7 cases. Panelists will review key updates to Article 9 governing secured transactions, with a focus on recent issues that commonly arise in bankruptcy, including merchant cash advances. The discussion will also introduce Article 12, which addresses controllable electronic records, including digital assets, and examine how these provisions interact with existing secured lending and bankruptcy frameworks. Attendees will gain practical insights into how trustees should approach collateral, perfection, and avoidance issues in light of these changes.

Speakers

Ingrid Michelsen Hillinger

Professor, Boston College Law School

Ingrid Michelsen Hillinger is a Professor of Law at Boston College Law School. College of William & Mary. She has taught a variety of commercial law/bankruptcy subjects including Secured Transactions, Business Bankruptcy, Consumer Bankruptcy, Contracts and Payment Systems. She is... Read More →

Andrea O'Connor

Senior Counsel, Shatz, Schwartz & Fentin, P.C.

Attorney Andrea M. O’Connor counsels businesses and individuals regarding their unique financial problems, offering alternative solutions to achieve their goals, relieve financial pressure and regain control over their financial lives. She graduated magna cum laude from Western... Read More →

Monday August 10, 2026 7:30am - 8:30am EDT
TBA

Chapter 7 Track

9:00am EDT

The Trustee's Compass - Steering Clear of Liability Shoals

Monday August 10, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT

TBA

This session will provide a refresher and a case law update on trustee liability issues. We will discuss sources of potential trustee liability including claims by debtors, creditors, third-parties and the government. We will review judicial and quasi-judicial immunity and trustee immunity under the Barton doctrine and the limits of immunity. We will also survey strategies for protecting trustees from personal liability including insurance coverages for the estate and the trustee, defense costs and the limitations of the UST bond.

Speakers

Hon. James Boyd

Judge, United States Bankruptcy Court

James W. Boyd was appointed as a United States Bankruptcy Judge, Western District of Michigan, in May 2014. He current presides over bankruptcy matters in Grand Rapids, Marquette, and Traverse City. Prior to his judicial service, he was a partner with the Traverse City law firm of... Read More →

Kenneth W. Gordon

Chapter 7 Trustee, Kenneth W Gordon

Ken Gordon was appointed in the Western District of New York ( “GO BILLS!”) as a Chapter 7 Panel Trustee in 1996 and is wrapping up his final few cases. He has lectured regularly on bankruptcy topics for NABT and serves on the NABT Conference Planning Committee. Ken lives outside... Read More →

Gary F. Seitz

Partner, Gellert Seitz Busenkell & Brown LLC

Gary is an accomplished attorney with a proven track record of success in matters related to bankruptcy, business finance, transportation and commercial litigation. Gary has special expertise in maritime recovery and vessel arrests.

Gary Seitz served as a Chapter 7 Panel Trustee... Read More →

Monday August 10, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
TBA

Chapter 7 Track

10:30am EDT

Case Law Update Part I

Monday August 10, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EDT

TBA

This year’s conference, once again, will bring you the Annual Case Law Update with our well-regarded panel of judges and practitioners highlighting for you the most recent cases of interest to Trustees. The panel will discuss not only the publicized Supreme Court decisions like Keathley v. Buddy Ayers Construction, Inc., (Argued to the Court on March 24, 2026) that addresses the hotly contested issue of the preclusive effect of not disclosing a claim in a bankruptcy petition but also the lesser known opinions coming out of the Bankruptcy Courts as they grapple with, for example, the epidemic of cases caused by Merchant Cash Advance transactions. There is always something for everyone in the survey of court wide ranging opinions brought to the table by this panel.

Speakers

Hon. Mary Grace Diehl

Judge, United States Bankruptcy Court

Hon. Elizabeth D. Katz

Judge, United States Bankruptcy Court

Judge Elizabeth D. Katz was appointed to the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts on March 13, 2017, and is assigned to the Western and Central Divisions. On April 17, 2018, Judge Katz was appointed to the First Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel. On December... Read More →

Andrea Dobin

Partner, McManimon, Scotland & Baumann, LLC

Andrea Dobin is a partner in the law firm of McManimon Scotland and Baumann, resident in the firm’s office in Trenton, New Jersey. Andrea has served as a Chapter 7 Trustee since 1999 and as New Jersey’s primary Chapter 12 Trustee since 2005. Her practice consists largely of representing... Read More →

Ronald Peterson

Of Counsel, Jenner & Block LLP

A fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy, Ron is a prolific lecturer and writer on bankruptcy and commercial law issues. He contributes to this area of law by his involvement in several initiatives and organizations. Ron served on the panel of the Chapter 7 Trustees for the... Read More →

Monday August 10, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
TBA

Chapter 7 Track

1:00pm EDT

Case Law Update Part II

Monday August 10, 2026 1:00pm - 1:30pm EDT

TBA

Speakers

Hon. Mary Grace Diehl

Judge, United States Bankruptcy Court

Hon. Elizabeth D. Katz

Judge, United States Bankruptcy Court

Andrea Dobin

Partner, McManimon, Scotland & Baumann, LLC

Ronald Peterson

Of Counsel, Jenner & Block LLP

Monday August 10, 2026 1:00pm - 1:30pm EDT
TBA

Chapter 7 Track

1:30pm EDT

Express Talk - Trustee Business Judgement Rule

Monday August 10, 2026 1:30pm - 2:00pm EDT

TBA

In this Express Talks session, Judge Diehl will trace the development of the business judgment rule and explain how it is applied to Chapter 7 trustees. She will review the statutory duties imposed on trustees and examine how courts apply the business judgment standard in bankruptcy matters, including § 363 sales and Rule 9019 settlements. Judge Diehl will also address the doctrine’s limits, the fiduciary constraints that shape trustee decision making, and will illustrate these principles through practical litigation examples and key cases.

Speakers

Hon. Mary Grace Diehl

Judge, United States Bankruptcy Court

Monday August 10, 2026 1:30pm - 2:00pm EDT
TBA

Chapter 7 Track

2:30pm EDT

Following the Money: Forensic Accounting and Expert Evidence for Trustees

Monday August 10, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT

TBA

Trustees routinely encounter commingled funds, incomplete records, and financial statements that do not reflect economic reality—often in cases where estate resources are limited. This panel provides a practical overview of forensic accounting methods used to investigate transfers, trace assets, and identify misstatements in balance sheets and profit-and-loss statements, with a focus on common commingling scenarios involving debtors and spouses or partners. Panelists will also explain how these analytical frameworks can be scaled and applied by trustees in smaller cases without funding for professionals, and will offer a concise, trustee-focused discussion of expert-evidence requirements under Rule 26(a)(2), Federal Rules of Evidence 702 and 703, and Rule 1006, equipping attendees with a working understanding of how expert reports are prepared, evaluated, and admitted.

Speakers

Melissa Davis

CPA, KapilaMukamal, LLP

Melissa Davis is a Partner at KapilaMukamal, LLP, a boutique CPA firm located in South Florida. Melissa provides forensic accounting, litigation support and insolvency advisory services to clients. She has conducted large scale fraud investigations, including forensic and securities... Read More →

Michael Lessne

Attorney, Lessne Hoffman, PLLC

Michael is a bankruptcy and creditors' rights and restructuring attorney and a business and commercial litigator. Michael provides counsel to businesses and individuals in a broad array of bankruptcy and insolvency matters. Michael represents bankruptcy trustees and other fiduciaries... Read More →

Monday August 10, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT
TBA

Chapter 7 Track

3:30pm EDT

UST Liaison Meeting (by invitation only)

Monday August 10, 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm EDT

TBA

Monday August 10, 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm EDT
TBA

Chapter 7 Track

4:00pm EDT

Jeopardy Ethics

Monday August 10, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT

TBA

Get ready for an ethics battle worthy of prime time! Judge Norton will lead this Jeopardy style ethics showdown as moderator and resident ethics guru, with Judges Collins and Gunn (“Team Sharks”) facing off against Trustees Bircher and Garrett (“Team Minnows”). If you’ve ever wanted to test both your Jeopardy instincts and ethical judgment, this session is your chance. The game will challenge your knowledge of the Model Rules of Professional Conduct and the real world ethical duties that arise in bankruptcy practice across a range of practical categories. Expect a lively, fast paced learning and challenging experience—and walk away with memorable insights you won’t forget long after the buzzer sounds.

Speakers

Hon. Daniel P. Collins

Judge, United States Bankruptcy Court

Hon. Elizabeth L. Gunn

Judge, United States Bankruptcy Court

Hon. Cynthia A. Norton

Chief Judge, United States Bankruptcy Court

Monday August 10, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
TBA

Chapter 7 Track Subchapter V Track Trustee Assistant Track

8:00am EDT

Alphabet Soup for Trustees: Stirring up Assets for the Estate

Tuesday August 11, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am EDT

TBA

At a time when bankruptcy filings are at a historical low, this panel will discuss how Trustees may be able to find hidden assets or assets that may be overlooked. They will focus on various consumer causes of action, such as the Trustee pursuing Fair Debt Collection Practices Act violations, consumer suits, Debt Management Companies, mortgage lender fees, and class actions so that Trustees can maximize recovery for the bankruptcy estate. The panel will discuss practical strategies for finding these potential assets and tips on how to maximize the value of them.

Speakers

Hon. Heather Z. Cooper

Chief Judge, United States Bankruptcy Court

Heather Z. Cooper, Chief Judge of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Vermont was appointed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on March 14, 2022. Judge Cooper received her J.D. degree from South Texas College of Law, magna cum laude, in... Read More →

Sarah L. Fowler

Attorney and Chapter 7 Trustee, Blackwell, Burke, Fowler & Rossow, P.C.

Sarah is an attorney and shareholder at Blackwell, Burke, Fowler & Rossow, P.C. Sarah works with a wide variety of clients ranging from financial institutions and asset purchasers to business debtors, shareholders, small business owners, and chapter 7 and chapter 11 bankruptcy trustees... Read More →

Tuesday August 11, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
TBA

Chapter 7 Track Trustee Assistant Track

9:30am EDT

All Things Section 363

Tuesday August 11, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am EDT

TBA

In most asset cases, the trustee will find the need to use, sell or lease estate property to generate funds for the estate. When not operating the business of the debtor, this usually requires the trustee to consider methods of sale and to determine if the trustee is able to sell the subject assets. Most of the enabling legislation is contained in 11 USC 363. This session will review and discuss many of the typical scenarios trustees confront in liquidating the estate assets, including (i) the sale of unique and co-owned assets, (ii) navigating the sale process and securing court approval, and (iii) handling contested issues in sale approval.

Speakers

Hon. Paul M. Black

Judge, United States Bankruptcy Court

Paul M. Black was appointed as United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Western District of Virginia in 2014. He currently serves as Chief Judge of that court. A native of Roanoke, Virginia, Judge Black received his undergraduate degree from Washington and Lee University in 1982, studied... Read More →

Taruna Garg

Partner, Harris Beach Murtha

Taruna is an award-winning commercial litigator who brings more than 20 years of experience to her practice and has a deep understanding of banking and finance. She has successfully prosecuted and defended actions and appeals in state and federal courts, including bankruptcy cour... Read More →

Rick Myers

Of Counsel, McGill Gotsdiner Workman & Lepp PC

Rick Myers was admitted to practice law in Nebraska in 1971. His practice includes service as a chapter 7 trustee and a state court receiver. Rick was first elected to serve as a trustee in 1974 and subsequently was named to the initial panel of private trustees when the Bankruptcy... Read More →

Tuesday August 11, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am EDT
TBA

Chapter 7 Track

10:30am EDT

Updates from the AOUSC/Bankruptcy Administrators

Tuesday August 11, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EDT

TBA

Tuesday August 11, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
TBA

Chapter 7 Track Subchapter V Track Trustee Assistant Track

10:30am EDT

Updates from the EOUST

Tuesday August 11, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EDT

TBA

Tuesday August 11, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
TBA

Chapter 7 Track Subchapter V Track Trustee Assistant Track

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