process resulted in invitations being offered to 36 professionals to enter the College as our 30th Class of Fellows. Our new Fellows will be inducted at the Annual Meeting on March 15, 2019 in San Diego, California.
The Board of Regents, Judicial Nominating Committee and International Nominating Committee worked hard to bring more diversity and youth to our Fellows. And, I am happy to report that this Class is among the most diverse ever elected to the College. Women represent 39% of the Class (14 invitees) and an equal percentage are age 50 and younger. The Class is comprised of 26 lawyers, 4 judges, 2 law professors, 6 financial advisors or other non-legal professionals and 4 are international. Our international invitees are from Canada, Hong Kong, Mexico and the United Kingdom. You may access the complete list of invitees by clicking here.
The nominations process is demanding and is designed to ensure that our newest invitees are of the highest caliber and more than satisfy the rigorous standards mandated by our bylaws and tradition. We require excellence in their professional service, the utmost in professionalism and integrity and a strong commitment to supporting their professional, civic, religious and/or charitable communities. This year’s invitees clearly represent the best and brightest within the bankruptcy and restructuring profession. You will learn more about them at the induction ceremony.
As you can imagine, there were more than 36 candidates nominated this year. Our very long day in San Antonio involved a thoughtful and careful discussion and debate about each candidate. The nominating packages, as always, were voluminous and complete. And, almost without exception, each nominee presented a compelling case for admission. I am always impressed with the meticulous and serious approach that the Regents and Nominating Committee chairs bring to our deliberations.
From the President
Annual Spring Meeting, San Diego – I know, I know. You already read the Chair’s Column, and Marc Levinson’s got this one covered. But wait, there’s more! In addition to its first-ever change of venue, the College is expanding the schedule to include a joint program with the International Insolvency Institute’s North America Committee on Thursday, March 14, 2019. Our Ninth Circuit Fellow and III member Robbin Itkin is working with Fifth Circuit Fellow and Liaisons Committee Chair John Penn to plan an afternoon educational program followed by what Robbin will only describe as “a really fun dinner on the beach!” (Language is hers, exclamation point is mine.) So especially you East Coasters and Midwesterners who’ve already had an early snowstorm and can use a healthy dose of San Diego sunshine in mid-March, please plan to come out early and join our III friends for something new and different on Thursday afternoon and evening in our great venue at The Del, the day before we kick off our usual festivities with the Friday Circuit Luncheons.
And last of all, best of all, and most of all, we wish you and your families a joyful holiday season and a happy and healthy new year for 2019.
The Board of Regents recently met for an all-day session during NCBJ in San Antonio to consider the election of new Fellows. More than 100 Fellows participated in the nominating process which began immediately following the March 2018 induction weekend. The
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Class 30 Selection Process
Stephen D. Lerner, Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
Chair, Board of Regents