Thursday, September 17, 8:55 a.m.–5:20 p.m. AND Friday, September 18, 8:30 a.m.–Noon ET
| MCLE Credit: | 10.0 (Ethics: 1.0) |
| Live-Interactive Credit: | 10.0 |
Live on Site:
Webcast:
Telephone:
Please note: This seminar is not eligible for the Virginia CLE government, new lawyer, pro bono, law student, legal aid, or paralegal discounts.
Join us for the region’s premier advanced bankruptcy law program, offering a unique opportunity to connect and network with judges and leading bankruptcy practitioners in a collegial environment at the The Omni Charlottesville. Gain expert analysis of the year’s most relevant and timely bankruptcy topics and updates on the important decisions rendered during the past year.
You also have the option to attend the 10-hour program virtually via live-interactive webcast or telephone—enjoy this can’t-miss program from the convenience of your home or office and still have the ability to ask questions of the speakers.
BRING YOUR FAMILY!
Discover Charlottesville’s charm at Omni Charlottesville Hotel. Nestled amidst iconic landmarks and the lively University of Virginia campus, the hotel bridges history with modern allure.
Just steps away, Charlottesville’s historic Downtown Pedestrian Mall awaits, with its inviting mix of shops, dining, and cultural gems like art galleries and museums. With UVA and Monticello nearby, this downtown Charlottesville hotel is your perfect base for exploring all the city has to offer.
OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS
We have made room reservations at two hotels. These blocks are available on a first-come, first-served basis and will likely sell out.
Omni Charlottesville Hotel
212 Ridge McIntire Road
Charlottesville, VA 22903
(434) 817-6664
We have a limited number of rooms available at the Omni Charlottesville Hotel (conference location). Make your reservations today by using this link.
If you would prefer to reserve via phone, if you need a reservation for dates before or after the contracted dates (check-in September 16, check-out September 18), or if you need to book more than two rooms, please call Omni Reservations at (800) THE-OMNI for assistance. Reference VA CLE Mid-Atlantic Bankruptcy Seminar.
Reservations must be made no later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
Homewood Suites
2036 India Road
Charlottesville, VA 22901
(434) 244-6200
We also have a room block available at Homewood Suites. Reservations can be made by directly calling the hotel at (434) 244-6200 or by booking online at this link.
Reservations must be made no later than 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 16, 2026.
Registration Deadlines:
| Webcast: | 10 minutes prior to the seminar. If you register for a webcast the day of the seminar, your e-mail receipt will include a link to launch the seminar and download the materials. |
| Telephone: | Online registration ends 10 minutes prior to the seminar Call (434) 979-8253 to register up to one hour prior to the seminar |
| Live on Site: | Online registration ends at 11:59 p.m. the day preceding the seminar Walk-in registration is permitted on a space-available basis |
Cancellation Policy: Cancellation/transfer requests will be honored until 5:00 p.m. the day preceding the seminar. You will, however, be charged $99 if you cancel or transfer your registration to a different seminar after the link to the materials has been e-mailed by Virginia CLE®.
Full refunds or transfers are available up to two days after a webcast in the unlikely event that you experience technical difficulties.
Dietary Restrictions: If you have dietary restrictions and are attending the seminar in person, please email tfitzgerald@vacle.org.
MCLE Credit Caveat: The MCLE Board measures credits by the time you spend in attendance. If you enter a seminar late or leave it early, or both, you must reflect those adjustments accurately in the credits you report on your credit reporting form. A code will be given at the end of the seminar, which must be written on your MCLE form.
Private recording of this program is prohibited.
Can’t Attend?
E-mail distance_ed@vacle.org to be notified when/if this program is made available as an online or USB seminar.
E-mail publications@vacle.org to be notified when/if this program’s seminar materials are made available for sale.
| 8:30 | Registration |
| 8:55 | Announcements and Introductions |
| 9:00 | Recent Developments for Advanced Bankruptcy Practitioners Hon. Kevin R. Huennekens, David Barnes, Esq., Rachel Greenleaf, Esq. This panel will cover the most important recent decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court, the Fourth Circuit, and the District and Bankruptcy Courts within the Fourth Circuit that are likely to influence the practice of both commercial and consumer bankruptcy law. |
| 10:20 | Break |
| 10:35 | Ethics: Hot Topics Hon. Michelle M. Harner, Rachel Erb Jones, Esq., Connor W. Symons, Esq. This panel will address several hot topics in ethics, including issues regarding the need to identify and advise only the client in business workout and bankruptcy matters, the post-discharge and post-plan effective date obligations of counsel, the guardrails needed in the use of artificial intelligence in bankruptcy practice, and the need for fee disclosures and retention applications for related or follow-on engagements. |
| 11:35 | The Important Roles of Financial Advisors in Bankruptcy Practice Peter J. Barrett, Esq., Suzanne Roski This panel will identify how attorneys and trustees can use financial advisors in bankruptcy cases and will discuss examples of how their work has been critically important to accomplishing the clients’ missions. |
| 12:35 | Lunch (provided at the seminar to those attending in person; lunch break for participants attending remotely) |
| 1:30 | Subchapter V Issues David Cox, Esq., Hannah W. Hutman, Esq., Stephen Metz, Esq. This panel will provide a number of practice pointers, cover some of the developing case law, and address numerous other issues arising in Subchapter V cases. |
| 3:00 | Break |
| 3:20 | Concurrent Sessions (those attending in person at the Omni Charlottesville may choose between commercial and consumer breakout sessions on Thursday afternoon specifically designed for practitioners in these areas. Only the commercial sessions will be presented to those attending remotely via webcast or telephone.) |
| Commercial Breakout Topic 1: The Anticipated Rise in the Use of Receiverships and Assignments for the Benefit of Creditors Brandy Rapp, Esq., Suzanne Roski, Dylan Trache, Esq. This panel will address bankruptcy alternatives to liquidating businesses, such as receiverships, and the expected rise of the use of assignments for the benefit of creditors in light of the Uniform Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors Act adopted and being considered for adoption in numerous states. | |
| Commercial Breakout Topic 2: Hot Topics in Commercial Cases Hon. Keith L. Phillips, Tyler P. Brown, Esq., David W. Gaffey, Esq. This panel will discuss out-of-court restructurings known as “liability management exercises,” provide a post-Purdue update on protection and releases of non-debtor third parties in chapter 11 cases, and address a variety of thorny issues in the treatment of unexpired leases and executory contracts. | |
| Consumer Breakout Topic 1: A Feeding Frenzy on Consumer Bankruptcy Issues Hon. Elizabeth L. Gunn, Hon. David M. Warren, Kelly M. Barnhart, Esq., Malissa L. Giles, Esq., Nancy R. Schlichting, Esq. This session will consider new ideas and propositions to change the practice of law in the consumer bankruptcy world. | |
| Consumer Breakout Topic 2: New and Emerging Trends in Consumer Bankruptcy Law Hon. Elizabeth L. Gunn, Hon. David M. Warren, Kelly M. Barnhart, Esq., Malissa L. Giles, Esq. This session will address developing trends in consumer bankruptcy practice, such as the application of Bartenwarfer to existing precedent on the impact of state law judgments on discharge; challenges in the valuation, exemption, collection, and liquidation of uncommon assets, including cryptocurrency; the impact of an expected SCOTUS decision on judicial estoppel; and the potential stay violations resulting from a bank’s refusal to provide online access to accounts after bankruptcy. | |
| 5:20 | Adjourn |
| 5:30 | Reception |
| 8:30 | Litigation Practice Pointers Hon. Rebecca B. Connelly, Hon. Kevin R. Huennekens, Caleb Chaplain, Esq., Maurice B. VerStanding, Esq. This panel will provide advice on how to be successful in presenting and arguing legal and evidentiary matters before bankruptcy courts. |
| 9:25 | U.S. Trustee Panel Michael St. Patrick Baxter, Esq., Nan Eitel, Esq., Margaret K. Garber, Esq. This presentation features a discussion with the Associate General Counsel for Chapter 11 Practice in the Executive Office for United States Trustees and an Assistant U.S. Trustee for Region 4 of important topics and issues for the U.S. Trustee Program in commercial and consumer bankruptcy cases. |
| 10:20 | Break |
| 10:30 | Judges’ Roundtable Hon. Rebecca B. Connelly, Hon. Elizabeth L. Gunn, Hon. Michelle M. Harner, Hon. Kevin R. Huennekens, Hon. Brian F. Kenney, Hon. Keith L. Phillips, Hon. David M. Warren, Roy M. Terry, Esq. (Moderator) These U.S. Bankruptcy Court judges will participate in a lively panel discussion highlighting recent decisions and developments as well as reflections on their views from the bench. |
| 12:00 | Adjourn |
Hon. Rebecca B. Connelly, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Virginia / Harrisonburg
Hon. Elizabeth L. Gunn, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Columbia / Washington, DC
Hon. Michelle M. Harner, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Maryland / Baltimore
Hon. Kevin R. Huennekens, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Virginia / Richmond
Hon. Brian F. Kenney, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Virginia / Alexandria
Hon. Keith L. Phillips, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Virginia / Richmond
Hon. David M. Warren, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of North Carolina / Raleigh
David Barnes, Esq., U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Virginia / Harrisonburg
Kelly M. Barnhart, Esq., Roussos & Barnhart, PLC / Norfolk
Peter J. Barrett, Esq., Kutak Rock / Richmond
Michael St. Patrick Baxter, Esq., Covington & Burling LLP / Washington, DC
Tyler P. Brown, Esq., Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP / Richmond
Caleb Chaplain, Esq., Chaplain Dufraine, PLLC / Harrisonburg
David Cox, Esq., Cox Law Group, PLLC / Lynchburg
Nan Eitel, Esq., Executive Office for U.S. Trustees / Washington, DC
David W. Gaffey, Esq., Whiteford Taylor Preston, LLP / Falls Church
Margaret K. Garber, Esq., Assistant U.S. Trustee / Roanoke
Malissa L. Giles, Esq., Giles & Lambert, PC / Roanoke
Rachel Greenleaf, Esq., U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Virginia / Richmond
Hannah W. Hutman, Esq., Hoover Penrod PLC / Harrisonburg
Rachel Erb Jones, Esq., Office of the Chapter 13 Trustee / Roanoke
Stephen Metz, Esq., Offit Kurman / Bethesda
Brandy M. Rapp, Esq., Whiteford Taylor Preston, LLP / Roanoke
Suzanne Roski, Partner, Oliver Wyman / Richmond
Nancy R. Schlichting, Esq., Flora Pettit PC / Charlottesville
Connor W. Symons, Esq., McGuireWoods LLP / Richmond
Roy M. Terry, Jr., Esq., The Terry Law Firm, PLLC / Richmond
Dylan Trache, Esq., Nelson Mullins / Washington, DC
Maurice B. VerStandig, Esq., The Belmont Firm / Washington, DC
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