Fifth Circuit Bankruptcy Bench-Bar Conference
The Fifth Circuit Bankruptcy Bench-Bar Conference is a biennial event organized by The Center for American and International Law, bringing together judges, attorneys, and bankruptcy professionals from the Fifth Circuit. The 2026 conference is scheduled for March 26-27 at the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The conference agenda includes plenary sessions and breakout discussions on topics such as debt and dignity, administrative insolvency, student loans in bankruptcy, and the ethical use of artificial intelligence. Notable sessions feature panels on privacy concerns in bankruptcy proceedings and the unwritten laws of corporate reorganizations.
Attendees will have opportunities for networking during receptions and state-specific breakfasts. The event also includes a luncheon presentation and an optional evening gathering at the House of Blues. Distinguished speakers include Chief Judge Stacey G.C. Jernigan and Professor Douglas Baird.
This conference is ideal for bankruptcy judges, attorneys, trustees, and professionals seeking to stay informed on current issues and developments in bankruptcy law within the Fifth Circuit. It offers a platform for education, discussion, and professional networking.
Speakers(51)
Anne Burns
Attorney at Cavazos Hendricks Poirot, P.C.
Ms. Burns is an attorney at Cavazos Hendricks Poirot, P.C. in Dallas, Texas.
Bach W. Norwood
Attorney at Hayward PLLC
Mr. Norwood is an attorney at Hayward PLLC in Austin, Texas.
Barrett Lingle
Attorney at White & Case LLP
Mr. Lingle is an attorney at White & Case LLP in New York, New York.
Benjamin W. Kadden
Attorney at Lugenbuhl, Wheaton, Peck, Rankin & Hubbard
Mr. Kadden is an attorney at Lugenbuhl, Wheaton, Peck, Rankin & Hubbard in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Brad Knapp
Attorney at Troutman Pepper Locke LLP
Mr. Knapp is an attorney at Troutman Pepper Locke LLP in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Bradley L. Drell
Attorney at Gold, Weems, Bruser, Sues & Rundell, A PLC
Mr. Drell is an attorney at Gold, Weems, Bruser, Sues & Rundell, A PLC in Alexandria, Louisiana.
Brooke W. Altazan
Attorney at Stewart Robbins Brown & Altazan, LLC
Ms. Altazan is an attorney at Stewart Robbins Brown & Altazan, LLC in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Chief Judge Brenda Rhoades
Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge at Eastern District of Texas
Chief Judge Rhoades serves on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Texas in Plano.
Chief Judge Eduardo V. Rodriguez
Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge at Southern District of Texas
Chief Judge Rodriguez serves on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas in McAllen.
Chief Judge Jason D. Woodard
Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge at Northern District of Mississippi
Chief Judge Woodard serves on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Mississippi in Aberdeen.
Chief Judge Katharine Samson
Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge at Southern District of Mississippi
Chief Judge Samson serves on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Mississippi in Gulfport.
Chief Judge Michael A. Crawford
Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge at Middle District of Louisiana
Chief Judge Crawford serves on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Louisiana in Baton Rouge.
Chief Judge Stacey G.C. Jernigan
Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge at Northern District of Texas
Chief Judge Jernigan serves on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas in Dallas.
Craig M. Geno
Attorney at Law Offices of Geno and Steiskal, PLLC
Mr. Geno is an attorney at the Law Offices of Geno and Steiskal, PLLC in Ridgeland, Mississippi.
David S. Meyer
Attorney at Vinson & Elkins LLP
Mr. Meyer is an attorney at Vinson & Elkins LLP in New York, New York.
Deborah M. Perry
Attorney at Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C.
Ms. Perry is an attorney at Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. in Dallas, Texas.
Douglas S. Draper
Attorney at Heller, Draper & Horn, LLC
Mr. Draper is an attorney at Heller, Draper & Horn, LLC in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Drew McManigle
Founder/CEO at MACCO Group
Mr. McManigle is the Founder and CEO of MACCO Group in Houston, Texas.
Dwayne Murray
Trustee at Murray & Murray, LLC
Mr. Murray is a trustee at Murray & Murray, LLC in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Gabriel Brunswick
Associate General Counsel at Kroll Restructuring Administration LLC
Mr. Brunswick is the Associate General Counsel at Kroll Restructuring Administration LLC in New York, New York.
Igor Roitburg
Senior Managing Director at Stretto
Mr. Roitburg is a Senior Managing Director at Stretto in Irvine, California.
Janet Northrup
Trustee at Hughes Watters Askanase, LLP
Ms. Northrup is a trustee at Hughes Watters Askanase, LLP in Houston, Texas.
Julie Harrison
Attorney at Norton Rose Fulbright US, LLP
Ms. Harrison is an attorney at Norton Rose Fulbright US, LLP in Houston, Texas.
Karie L. Fahrenholz
Chapter 13 Trustee at Eastern District of Louisiana
Ms. Fahrenholz serves as a Chapter 13 Trustee for the Eastern District of Louisiana in Metairie.
Kenric D. Kattner
Attorney at Haynes and Boone, LLP
Mr. Kattner is an attorney at Haynes and Boone, LLP in Houston, Texas and New York, New York.
Leann Opotowsky Moses
Attorney at Carver, Darden, Koretzky, Tessier, Finn, Blossman & Areaux L.L.C.
Ms. Moses is an attorney at Carver, Darden, Koretzky, Tessier, Finn, Blossman & Areaux L.L.C.
Louis Phillips
Attorney at Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP
Mr. Phillips is an attorney at Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Michael (Mike) D. Warner
Attorney at Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones
Mr. Warner is an attorney at Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones in Houston, Texas.
Michael D. Rubenstein
Attorney at Liskow
Mr. Rubenstein is an attorney at Liskow in Houston, Texas.
Pam Bassel
Standing Chapter 13 Trustee at Office of the Standing Chapter 13 Trustee for the Northern District of Texas
Ms. Bassel serves as the Standing Chapter 13 Trustee for the Northern District of Texas in Fort Worth.
Professor Brook E. Gotberg
Professor of Law at BYU Law School
Professor Gotberg teaches at BYU Law School in Provo, Utah.
Professor Douglas Baird
Professor of Law at University of Chicago Law School
Professor Baird teaches at the University of Chicago Law School in Chicago, Illinois.
Professor Tony Casey
Professor of Law at University of Chicago Law School
Professor Casey teaches at the University of Chicago Law School in Chicago, Illinois.
Ryan Omohundro
Managing Director, Restructuring & Turnaround at Alvarez & Marsal North America, LLC
Mr. Omohundro is a Managing Director in Restructuring & Turnaround at Alvarez & Marsal North America, LLC in Houston, Texas.
T.C. Rollins
Attorney at The Rollins Law Firm, PLLC
Mr. Rollins is an attorney at The Rollins Law Firm, PLLC in Jackson, Mississippi.
The Hon. Alfredo R. Perez
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge at Southern District of Texas
Judge Perez serves on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas in Houston.
The Hon. Brad W. Odell
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge at Northern District of Texas
Judge Odell serves on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas in Lubbock.
The Hon. Christopher G. Bradley
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge at Western District of Texas
Judge Bradley serves on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Texas in Austin.
The Hon. Christopher Lopez
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge at Southern District of Texas
Judge Lopez serves on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas in Houston.
The Hon. E. Lee Morris
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge at Northern District of Texas
Judge Morris serves on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas in Fort Worth.
The Hon. H. Christopher Mott
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge at Western District of Texas
Judge Mott serves on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Texas in Austin.
The Hon. Jamie Wilson
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge at Southern District of Mississippi
Judge Wilson serves on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Mississippi in Jackson.
The Hon. John Kolwe
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge at Western District of Louisiana
Judge Kolwe serves on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Louisiana in Lafayette.
The Hon. Joshua P. Searcy
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge at Eastern District of Texas
Judge Searcy serves on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Texas in Tyler.
The Hon. Mark X. Mullin
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge at Northern District of Texas
Judge Mullin serves on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas in Fort Worth.
The Hon. Marvin Isgur
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge at Southern District of Texas
Judge Isgur serves on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas in Houston.
The Hon. Meredith Grabill
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge at Eastern District of Louisiana
Judge Grabill serves on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana in New Orleans.
The Hon. Michael Parker
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge at Western District of Texas
Judge Parker serves on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Texas in San Antonio.
The Hon. Selene Maddox
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge at Northern District of Mississippi
Judge Maddox serves on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Mississippi in Aberdeen.
The Hon. Stephen Wheelis
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge at Western District of Louisiana
Judge Wheelis serves on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Louisiana in Alexandria.
Todd Headden
Attorney at Hayward PLLC
Mr. Headden is an attorney at Hayward PLLC in Austin, Texas.
Event Details
- Date
- March 26-27, 2026
- 2 days
- Location
- 🇺🇸 New Orleans, United States
- Omni Royal Orleans Hotel
- Pricing
- $375 - $825
- Audience
- Bankruptcy judges, attorneys, trustees, and professionals within the Fifth Circuit
- CLE Credits
- MCLE Credit will be available
- Attendees
- Over 200 attendees and faculty