Above and Beyond Welcome to The American College of Bankruptcy Class 37
Jennifer Hagle, Sidley Austin LLP Chair, Board of Regents
After months of hard work and relentless dedication, on behalf of the Board of Regents, it is my great pleasure to welcome an absolutely stellar Class 37 of the American College of Bankruptcy. Each year, the College has the honor of recognizing leaders who have shaped the field of insolvency and restructuring in meaningful and lasting ways. This year’ s 39 inductees( including one Honorary Fellow) are no exception, exemplifying not only excellence in practice, financial advisory services, scholarship, the judiciary and public service, but also the character, leadership, and dedication that define what it means to be part of the College – truly going above and beyond what it takes to become an exceptional practitioner. Selection with Purpose and Rigor The work of the Board of Regents begins the moment we exit the Induction Ceremony in March. The College Bylaws set forth rigorous standards designed to ensure that Fellowship in the American College of Bankruptcy represents one of the highest honors in our field. Candidates are evaluated on several factors: exceptional professional ability, sustained and proven leadership, dedication to ethics and integrity, and meaningful contributions to the development of bankruptcy law and practice. Over the past many months, nomination packets were carefully prepared and reviewed, references
contacted( both within and outside the Circuit) and ultimately the Regents engaged in a thorough, deliberative and spirited discussion at our Fall Board of Regents meeting to ensure that those selected truly embody the mission of the College. A Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion College Leadership has worked intentionally to broaden the pipeline of leadership in our field so that the College reflects the full diversity of the communities in which we live, play and work. We know that diversity— of background, perspective, geography, practice, and life experience— strengthens both the profession and our community. The College continues to invest in outreach programs, mentorship efforts, and inclusion initiatives that help ensure our Fellows represent not only excellence, but the full breadth of talent present across the profession both today and with respect to future restructuring professionals moving through the pipeline.
This year’ s class is one of the most diverse to date, including individuals whose work spans private practice, corporate and financial advisory roles, the judiciary and academia. Forty four percent of the class is female, fifty six percent male and fifty nine percent of the Class is under the age of fifty-four. Three percent of our new Fellows are from academia and twenty four percent are financial advisors / bankers. Nineteen U. S. States, Washington D. C. and Puerto Rico are represented, along with Canada and Colombia.
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