The Atlanta Lawyer January/February 2015 | Page 26
section update
Bankruptcy Section
By M. Regina Thomas
United States Bankruptcy Court
[email protected]
T
he Bankruptcy Section held a breakfast series
presentation, “Firsthand Accounts of Fighting
Bankruptcy Crimes” on Thursday, January 29, 2015
featuring Guy G. Gebhardt, Acting United States Trustee
for Region 21 and Steve Grimberg, Assistant United States
Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. The presenters
discussed criminal procedure aspects of bankruptcy fraud as
set out in Title 18 of the United States Code most commonly
related to concealment of assets or false/incomplete financial
statements. The attendees heard personal accounts of
detection, investigation and prosecution of bankruptcy
crimes. Mr. Gebhardt and Mr. Grimberg also discussed the
relationship between the United States Trustee and United
States Attorney, specifically in the area of
criminal referrals. Our thanks to Alston
& Bird, LLP, and section board member,
Sage Sigler, for hosting this section
member breakfast.
Additionally, our thanks to Jones Day, and
section board member, Brett Berlin, who
generously hosted the breakfast series
event that took place on November 18,
2014 and featured Brian McMahon, PhD.
Future programs are in the works for
the breakfast series which will continue
throughout 2015.
January/February 2015
For the 2014-2015 year, the officers and board members
of the Bankruptcy Section are: Nancy J. Whaley (Chair),
John W. Mills, III (Vice Chair/Chair Elect), Ron C. Bingham,
II (Secretary), Alison Elko Franklin (Treasurer), John A.
“The Year in Review Program has
been a mainstay of the Bankruptcy
Section for over 20 years and is
widely regarded as one of the finest
bankruptcy and commercial law
programs in the country.”
On December 11, 2014, the Bankruptcy
Section held its Annual Bankruptcy and
Commercial Law Year in Review Program at the Capital City
Club. The Year in Review Program has been a mainstay
of the Bankruptcy Section for over 20 years and is widely
regarded as one of the finest bankruptcy and commercial law
programs in the country. The morning session of the program
featured a review of significant developments in consumer and
commercial bankruptcy law in 2014 and was presented by the
Honorable Mary Grace Diehl, United States Bankruptcy Judge
for the Northern District of Georgia, Paul W. Bonapfel, United
States Bankruptcy Judge for the Northern District of Georgia,
Beth Ann Harr ill, Clerk to Judge Bonapfel, and Harris B.
Winsberg of Troutman Sanders. The commercial law section
of the program was presented in the afternoon by Edward C.
26 THE ATLANTA LAWYER
Dobbs of Parker, Hudson, Ranier & Dobbs and Alfred S. Lurey
of Kilpatrick Townsend Stockton. The Bankruptcy Section is
extremely grateful for the participation of these presenters
over so many years and the high quality of their presentations
and written materials. Special thanks for preparation of the
written materials for the program go to Elizabeth Rose and
Nathan Juster, Law Clerks to Judge Diehl, and Leia Clement
and Michael Sullivan, interns for Judge Diehl.
Thomson, Jr. (Immediate Past Chair), Brett J. Berlin, B.
Summer Chandler, Jeffrey W. Cavender, Melissa Davey,
Sage M. Sigler, Howard P. Slomka and M. Regina Thomas
(Members at Large).
If you have ideas or suggestions for Bankruptcy Section
activities or projects, please feel free to contact any of the
officers or board members. We look forward to a great year
and welcome your participation.
The Official News Publication of the Atlanta Bar Association