The Bankruptcy Section hosted a lunch and learn event, “A Judges’ Panel: Framing Issues on Appeal” on November 15, 2016 at the United States Courthouse.  More than 50 section members and guests were treated to a judges’ view of bankruptcy appeal issues presented by United States District Judges Orinda D. Evans, William S. Duffey, Jr. Amy Totenberg and Lee Martin May and United States Bankruptcy Judges Paul W.  Bonapfel, Wendy L. Hagenau and Barbara Ellis-Monro.  The section gratefully acknowledges Judge Bonapfel for his assistance with the CLE materials from the 2016 edition of the treatise Chapter 13 Practice and Procedure authored by Judge Bonapfel, Judge W. Homer Drake, Jr. and Adam M. Goodman, Chapter 13 trustee and published by Thomson Reuters.  

The Bankruptcy Section was proud to co-sponsor the Volunteer Recognition and Pro Se Assistance Project Opening Reception at the Georgia State University College of Law on November 29, 2016.  Approximately 50 section members attended this special event.  The evening began with a reception at which the section celebrated the important community service and pro bono initiatives of the Atlanta bankruptcy community.  The event featured the panel presentation: "The Pro Se Party in Bankruptcy: Views from the Bench & Introduction to the Pro Se Assistance Project".  The first half of the presentation focused on the pro se party in court, presented by United States Bankruptcy Judges Paul W. Bonapfel, Mary Grace Diehl, and Lisa Ritchey Craig.  The second half of the presentation focused on the new Pro Se Assistance Project (“PAP”) Center.  The PAP Center will offer free 20 minute legal consultations to pro se parties in bankruptcy in the Northern District of Georgia.  During this portion of the presentation, attendees learned about the PAP Center from the director of the program, B. Summer Chandler of Georgia State University College of Law, and heard from two attorney volunteers who have worked in the Center, Gai Lynn McCarthy from KPPB Law and Lorena Saedi from the Saedi Law Group.  Also participating on the panel was Bill Diehl, JD Candidate, May 2017, Georgia State University College of Law. Mr. Diehl is the law student coordinator for the PAP. 

Registration is now open for the annual Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Year in Review CLE program which will take place on Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at Capital City Club Downtown.  The morning CLE program will focus on the Bankruptcy Year in Review and feature two judges from the Northern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court, the Honorable Paul W. Bonapfel and the Honorable Mary Grace Diehl, Harris Winsberg, Troutman Sanders LLP, and Beth Anne Harrill, Law Clerk to the Hon. Paul W. Bonapfel.  After lunch, the Commercial Law Year in Review, will be presented by C. Edward Dobbs, Parker Hudson Ranier & Dobbs, LLP and Alfred S. Lurey, Kilpatrick Townsend LLP.  For more information, and to register for the CLE program, go to www.atlantabar.org.
Please Save the Dates for the Annual Spring CLE and Pollard Award Luncheon, Thursday, May 11, 2017 at Capital City Club Downtown.
The Officers and Board members for the 2016-2017 year are:  Alison Elko Franklin (Chair), Jeffery Cavender (Chair Elect), Sage Sigler (Secretary), B. Summer Chandler (Treasurer), John W. Mills, III (Immediate Past Chair), Vania Allen, Ron Bingham, Melissa Davey, Gregory Taube, Regina Thomas, Bruce Walker, Doroteya Wozniak (Members at large).  

If you have ideas or suggestions for Bankruptcy Section activities or projects, please contact any of the officers or board members.  We look forward to a great year and welcome your participation.