Bankruptcy Dog

This is a calendar of events of interest to Los Angeles bankruptcy professionals. All start times are Pacific Time. If you would like an event to be posted on "the dog," please send your announcement to J. Scott Bovitz. Include the link to the registration page on your group's web site. Thank you.

 

 

NACBA press release (November 11, 2026)

The National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (NACBA) welcomed President Donald Trump’s signing of H.R. 7730, the Bankruptcy Threshold Adjustment Act, into law on Tuesday, November 10, 2026. The law permanently raises bankruptcy debt limits, expanding access to reorganization for individuals, families, and small businesses. The higher limits are now in effect and apply to bankruptcy cases filed on or after November 10, 2026.

The law establishes a single combined Chapter 13 debt limit of less than $2.75 million and raises the Subchapter V debt limit to $7.5 million. Neither provision has a sunset date.

“For families who have been shut out of Chapter 13 because of their mortgage balance or other debts, this law opens the door to a realistic path forward,” said Richard Nemeth, NACBA President. “It gives more people the opportunity to protect their homes, repay creditors, and regain financial stability. Making these changes permanent gives families and small businesses greater certainty about their bankruptcy options when they need a path to financial recovery.”

 

Western Legal History Journal

Here is a glowing review of the 2026 Western Legal History Journal on the history of bankruptcy law by Hon. Benjamin A. Kahn, Chief United States Bankruptcy Judge, Middle District of North Carolina. Copies of the articles are free in PDF format, at least for now. Hon. Scott C. Clarkson, editor.

 

November 17, Zoom

NCBJ, ABI. Avoiding Accidents at the Intersection of Bankruptcy and Corporate Governance. Hon. Silverstein, Hon. Slade, Hon. Bentley, Prof. Ellias.

 

November 17, in person

Financial Lawyers Conference. Nuts and Bolts. Bankruptcy Litigation Basics, plus Understanding Bankruptcy Injunctions. Golubchik, Sahn, Stang. Century City.

 

November 20, seminar (live and Zoom)

Federal Bar Association. 23rd Annual Bankruptcy Ethics Symposium. Los Angeles (bagels and coffee at live presentation).

23RD ANNUAL BANKRUPTCY ETHICS SYMPOSIUM
November 20, 2026 - 9:00 AM (Registration at 8:30 AM), four hours of CLE including "at least one hour of education addressing civility in the legal profession" and three more hours of pure legal ethics.


Location: Roybal Federal Building, Conference Room 1339 (13th Floor) - Remote Viewing Available (255 East Temple Street Los Angeles, CA 90012)

THREE PROGRAMS: 

  1. Merchant Cash Advances: Ethical Issues Lawyers Can't Ignore
  2. Orange is Not in Your Color Wheel - Ethics for Bankruptcy Attorneys
  3. A Sub V Trustee, a Chapter 13 Trustee's Counsel, and an AUSA Walk Into a Symposium


SPEAKERS: 

  • Honorable Julia W Brand, Chief Judge, United States Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California
  • Professor Nancy B. Rapoport, Garman Turner Gordon Professor of Law, Boyd School of Law, and Affiliate Professor of Business Law & Ethics, Lee Business School, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
  • J. Scott Bovitz, Bovitz & Spitzer
  • Jay Chien, Salvato Boufadel LLP
  • Doug Flahaut, Echo Park Legal, APC and Subchapter V Trustee
  • Keith A. Jones, United States Attorney's Office, Complex & Defensive Litigation Section
  • Steven Mirksy, Mirsky Corporate Advisors
  • John N. Tedford, IV, Levene, Neale, Bender, Yoo & Golubchik L.L.P.
  • Program Chair: Joseph Boufadel, Salvato Boufadel LLP

(1) FBA members $25; (2) Government employees $25 (3) CDCBAA, CLA/ILC, and Bankruptcy Forum members $35; (4) Non-Members $50; (5) Judges and Clerks – Complimentary; (6) Martians - Just show us your spaceship when you arrive

 

December 3-5, conference

American Bankruptcy Institute. Winter Leadership Conference. Palm Desert.

 

December 5, in person

IEBF. Riverside bankruptcy judges' lunch and Consumer Bankruptcy Law Annual Survey. Hons. Brand, Yun, Reyes Bordeaux, Perry Isaacson, Bernatavicius.

 

December 7, party

Los Angeles Bankruptcy Forum, TMA Southern California, Financial Lawyers Conference. Holiday Party. Los Angeles (Drago).

 

December 10, party

Orange County Bankruptcy Forum and Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section of OCBA. Annual Holiday Party. Irvine.

 

February 6, 2027 moot court

American College of Bankruptcy, Ninth Circuit Chapter. Fifth Law Student Bankruptcy Negotiation Competition. UCLA School of Law.

 

February 15, 2027 deadline

The Judicial Conference Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure (Standing Committee) has proposed amendments to their respective rules and requested that the proposals be circulated to the bench, bar, and public for comment. The public comment period ends February 15, 2027.

To view the proposed revisions, reports explaining the proposed changes, as well as information about submitting written comments or testimony at public hearings, please visit the Rules and Policies webpage on the U.S. Courts website at https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/proposed-amendments-published-public-comment.

KATHLEEN J. CAMPBELL
CLERK OF COURT

 

March 12-14, seminar

Financial Lawyers Conference. Annual seminar (commercial law). Prof. Laura Coordes. La Costa.

 

May 13, 2027, conference

California Bankruptcy Forum. Annual Conference. Palm Desert.