Bankruptcy Skills Workshop

This event took place on Friday, June 14, 2025.

To purchase the materials and video, click here.

About the event

The BANKRUPTCY SKILLS WORKSHOP presents useful basics on consumer bankruptcy practice in the Southern District of Florida.

All proceeds from the Workshop will benefit the Louis Phillips Scholarship Fund at the University of Miami School of Law.

Regardless of your level of bankruptcy experience, the Bankruptcy Skills Workshop offers useful information on local practice in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida. The program focuses on where the practice of consumer bankruptcy is going and more complex issues that arise. Panels this year include a Subchapter V, Technology, Ethics, and Court Update.

Approved Florida CLE Credit:
7.5 general CLE credits, including 1.0 ethics, 1.0 technology
and 7.5 certification credits in Business Litigation.

When

Friday, June 14, 2024

Where

University of Miami School of Law
1311 Miller Drive Miami, FL 33136

2024 Agenda

7:30 AM – 8:15 AM

Registration and Breakfast

8:15 AM - 8:30 AM

Opening Remarks

Tara Twomey, Director of the Executive Office for U.S. Trustees

8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
Chapter 7 Practice

Topics include: Best practices for knowing your client, preparing a case for filing, such as appropriate due diligence, potential issues that may arise for a debtor with respect to unique ownership interests and exemptions, and post-filing concerns for the US Trustee.

Steven D. Schneiderman, Trial Attorney at the Office of the United States Trustee
Haven Del Pino, Managing Partner at Del Pino & Granados Law Firm
Paula Martinez, Associate Attorney at Dunn Law, P.A.

Moderated by: Ross Hartog, Partner at Markowitz Ringel Trusty + Hartog and Chapter 7 Panel Trustee

9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Considerations for Litigating in Bankruptcy

Topics include: Service requirements and issues, discovery best practices and common mistakes, witness impeachment, objections, and other tips and tricks in discharge and avoidance action adversary proceedings.

Rilyn Carnahan, JD ’02, Partner, Greenspoon Marder LLP
Erin M. Hoskins
, Associate, Berger Singerman LLP
Bradley S. Shraiberg, JD '97, Founding Partner, Shraiberg Page, P.A.

Moderated by: Hayley G. Harrison, Partner, Wernick Law

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Chapter 13 Practice: A Positive Approach

Topics include: Recent case law impacting the southern district, practice pointers to confirm a chapter 13 plan, discussion of a seemingly objective standard quickly and efficiently to multiple filers, potential new avenues for mortgage loss mitigation, and district updates in connection to past hot topics (now settled) such as balloon payments and safe harbor fee guidelines.

Dana Kaplan, Partner, Kelley Kaplan & Eller
Gianny Blanco, Staff attorney with Nancy K. Neidich, Chapter 13 Trustee for the Miami Division
Neisi Garcia Ramirez, Esq., Brock & Scott, PLLC
Robin Weiner, Esq., Standing Chapter 13 Trustee for Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach County Divisions

Moderated by: Jeffrey S. Fraser, Esq., JD '10, Partner at Albertelli Law

11:45 AM - 12:30 PM
Lunch
12:30 PM – 1:45 PM
Bankruptcy Judges’ View from the Bench—Panel Discussion

This panel will discuss emerging issues in consumer bankruptcy and feature United States Bankruptcy Court Judges from the state of Florida.

The Hon. Scott M. Grossman, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida
The Hon. Corali Lopez-Castro, JD '90, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida
The Hon. Robert A. Mark, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida
The Hon. Mindy A. Mora, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida

Moderated by: Patricia A. Redmond, Esq., JD '79, Director, Bankruptcy Assistance Clinic; Adjunct Faculty, J.D. Program & Robert Traurig-Greenberg Traurig LL.M. in Real Property Development, UM School of Law

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Practice in the Southern District of Florida from the Perspective of the Clerk of Court and Courtroom Deputies

Topics include: Updates on statistics, budget, space and facilities; court operations; recent administrative orders; common efiling deficiencies; and clerk’s office initiatives. A courtroom deputy panel will also review calendaring tips, submission of proposed orders, and digital-audio recording pointers.

Featuring: Joe Falzone, Clerk of Court and Courtroom Deputies, United States Bankrupcty Court Southern District of Florida

3:00 – 4:00 PM

Artificial Intelligence and Ethics: Emerging Issues

Topic: The use (or choice not to) of artificial intelligence in the legal field.

Tara Trevorrow, Law Clerk for The Hon. Mindy A. Mora
Or Cohen Sasson, Law & Technology Fellow, University of Miami School of Law
Eric Ostroff, JD '04, Managing Partner and Chair, Trade Secrets and IP Group at Meland Budwick

Moderated by: Anthony V. Alfieri, Professor of Law; Dean's Distinguished Scholar; Founding Director, Center for Ethics and Public Service and Community Equity Lab, Historic Black Church Program, and Legal Profession Program, University of Miami School of Law

Thank You to Our 2024 Sponsors

GOLD

SILVER

BRONZE

Questions

If you have any questions, please email events@law.miami.edu.

STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS
  • The Hon. A. Jay Cristol, Chief United States Bankruptcy Judge Emeritus, Southern District of Florida (Ret.)
  • Jeffrey Fraser, Esq., Albertelli Law
  • Hayley Harrison, Esq., Wernick Law
  • Daniel N. Gonzalez, Esq., Meland Budwick, P.A.
  • Jerry M. Markowitz, Esq., Markowitz, Ringel Trusty + Hartog
  • Barbara L. Phillips, Esq., Barbara L. Phillips, P.A.
  • Kelly K. Roberts, Esq., Roberts Law, PLLC

Participate in the conversation via Twitter using  #BSWMiami.

All proceeds from the Workshop will benefit the Louis Phillips Scholarship Fund at the University of Miami School of Law.

In Cooperation with
The Bankruptcy Bar Association of the Southern District of Florida
Dade Legal Aid

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