On Thursday, January 22, 2020, the Bankruptcy Section kicked off 2020 with its first breakfast for the year. The breakfast focused on the Small Business Reorganization Act and featured a presentation by Nancy J. Gargula (United States Trustee, Regions 10 and 21) and R. Jeneane Treace (Assistant United States Trustee, Region 21). The event was very well attended by over fifty attendees, including several judges, who gathered at the offices of Arnold Golden Gregory, LLP in Midtown Atlanta. It was a highly informative and engaging program that provided an update on the Small Business Reorganization Act from the United States Trustees’s perspective.

On February 7, 2020, the Bankruptcy Section presented its Annual Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Year in Review program at the Capital City Club. Over sixty section members attended the program and enjoyed the opportunity to hear from the distinguished panelists on the latest bankruptcy and commercial law case developments from the last year. The morning session included the Hon. Paul W. Bonapfel (U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Georgia), and the Hon. Mary Grace Diehl (Retired, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Georgia). Panelists were Harris Winsberg (Troutman Sanders, LLP) and Beth Anne Harrill (law clerk for the Honorable Paul W. Bonapfel, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Georgia.) The afternoon session focused on commercial law developments and was presented by C. Edward Dobbs (Parker, Hudson, Rainer & Dobbs, LLP) and Alfred S. Lurey (Kilpatrick Townsend, LLP). The Bankruptcy Section participated in the annual March Madness CLE with a presentation on adversary proceedings and related substantive issues on March 2, 2020 at the State Bar of Georgia. The CLE included an 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. Presenters were John Mills (Taylor | English Duma, LLP) and Gregory M. Taube (Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP). Bankruptcy, Intellectual Property, International Law, and Business and Finance Sections hosted a free joint social on March 5, 2020 at City Tap House Atlanta.

Save the Date

The Bankruptcy Section 2020 David W. Pollard Award & Spring CLE Program will also be held on May 14, 2020, at the Ansley Golf Club.

Board of Directors

The Officers and Board members for the 2019-2020 year are: Chair Melissa J. Davey (Standing Chapter 13 Trustee), Vice-Chair/ Chair-Elect Bruce Walker (Cohen Pollock Merlin Turner, PC), Secretary Gregory Taube (Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP), Treasurer Doroteya Wozniak (James Bates Brannan Groover, LLP), Immediate Past Chair Vania Allen (US Bankruptcy Court Northern District of Georgia), and Members-At-Large Michael Bargar (Arnall Golden Gregory, LLP), Ashley Champion (U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Law Clerk), Alaina C. Joseph (King & King Law LLC), Taylor Mansell (LOGS Network), Gai Lynn McCarthy (KPPB Law), Aimee Pickett Sanders (Alston & Bird, LLP), and Alexandra “CC” Schnapp (United States Bankruptcy Court).