This Spring, the Bankruptcy Section has been busy on community service initiatives. To highlight several here, the Bankruptcy Section joined forces with the Construction Law section to organize a holiday clothing drive benefiting the Atlanta Mission, which provides assistance to homeless men, women and children. The Bankruptcy Section, joined by the Metro Atlanta Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney Group, organized another community service drive that benefitted the Atlanta Children’s Shelter, which provides free, quality day care, emotional support, an educational curriculum for homeless children, and focused social services for their families. The Bankruptcy Section members generously answered the call and donated essential items that benefited both the Atlanta Mission and the Atlanta Children’s Shelter. Thank you to all who donated!

The Bankruptcy Section also participated in the 2021 March Madness with a CLE event on the topic of “Learning to Litigate in Bankruptcy Adversary Proceedings.” The program was presented by Gregory M. Taube (Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP) and John Mills (Jones Walker LLP). The event was held virtually on March 31, 2021 and was very well attended. The attendees heard from the distinguished panelists on overview of bankruptcy court jurisdiction, rules of procedure applicable in adversary proceedings and substantive issues typically arising in adversary proceedings in individual bankruptcy cases, including determining the dischargeability of particular debts and violations of the automatic stay and discharge injunction.

As part of its participation in the March Madness CLE events, the Bankruptcy Section highlighted its pro bono program that matches volunteer attorneys with qualified litigants in bankruptcy adversary proceedings. The program serves both plaintiffs and defendants, who are parties to adversary proceedings pending before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Georgia. Participation in the program can provide opportunities for younger lawyers to gain experience managing clients, managing cases, preparing for trial and trying cases. If you have an interest in participating in the pro bono program, please contact any of the officers of the board who will provide you with further details on participation in the program.

In June 2021, the Atlanta Bar Bankruptcy Section will be hosting a Virtual Summer Associate Day in conjunction with the Northern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court. The event will consist of a brief hearing simulation followed by Q&A breakout sessions with several bankruptcy judges. If your firm is interested in participating, please reach out to Ashley Champion at ashley_d_champion@ganb. uscourts.gov, who will provide you with further details.

Register Now for the Pollard Award Celebration!

• Registration is now open for the 2020/2021 David W. Pollard Award Program which will be held virtually on Friday, May 21, 2021 from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. honoring M. Regina Thomas, U.S. Bankruptcy Court. 

Board of Directors

The Officers and Board members for the 2020-2021 year are: Chair Bruce Z. Walker (Cohen Pollock Merlin & Small, PC), Vice Chair Gregory M. Taube (Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP), Secretary Doroteya N. Wozniak (James Bates Brannan Groover, LLP), Treasurer Alexandra “CC” Schnapp (United States Bankruptcy Court), Immediate Past Chair Melissa J. Davey (Standing Chapter 13 Trustee); and Members-at-Large Bryan Bates (Parker Hudson Rainer & Dobbs, LLP), Ashley Champion (U.S. Bankruptcy Court), Alaina C. Joseph (King & King Law, LLC), Maria Joyner (Nancy J. Whaley, Standing Ch.12 and 13 Trustee), Taylor Mansell (Shapiro Pendergast & Hasty, LLP), Gai Lynn McCarthy (KPPB Law), and Aimee Pickett Sanders (Alston & Bird, LLP). Contact Us If you have proposals for Bankruptcy Section activities or projects, please contact any of the officers or board members.