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Thursday, April 9
 

9:00am EDT

Pre-Con: Mind, Money, and Management: The Psychology Behind a Profitable Consumer Practice
Thursday April 9, 2026 9:00am - 2:00pm EDT
This session requires a separate registration from the main convention. This is an add-on session.

Understanding client psychology isn’t just good bedside manner — it’s good business.
This all-day intensive brings together experts in psychology, marketing, and law firm management to explore how emotional intelligence and behavioral insights can transform your bankruptcy practice. From the moment a client picks up the phone to the day they receive their discharge, their fears, shame, and overwhelm influence every decision they make — and every opportunity you have to guide, retain, and serve them.
Through interactive discussion and real-world examples, you’ll learn:
  • How to identify the emotional triggers that drive client behavior — and how to respond to them to build trust and compliance.
  • Why understanding financial trauma and decision-making bias can dramatically improve client communication and conversion.
  • How to apply psychological principles in your marketing to attract ideal clients ethically and effectively.
  • The management techniques that align firm culture, staff tone, and client experience for higher satisfaction — and profitability.
  • Proven ways to turn compassion and consistency into measurable business growth, client referrals, and stronger reviews.
This session is designed for experienced consumer bankruptcy attorneys who want to elevate their practice from transactional to transformational — combining empathy with efficiency, and compassion with profit.
Speakers
avatar for Scott F. Waterman

Scott F. Waterman

Chapter 13 Trustee, Eastern District of Pennsylvania Chapter 13 Trustee Office Reading
Mr. Waterman graduated from Tufts University in 1991 with a dual major in history and political science.  He received his J.D. from Temple University School of Law in 1994. He is a Chapter 13 Standing Trustee for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and his office is located in... Read More →
avatar for Michael Gouveia

Michael Gouveia

Owner, Law Office of Michael Gouveia
Michael Gouveia represents consumer debtors in Riverside, California. This is the fourth time
that he has presented at the NACBA Convention.
Mike teaches newer attorneys as the mentoring chair for the Central District Consumer
Bankruptcy Attorney Association in Los Angeles, CA and a... Read More →
avatar for Kara Gendron

Kara Gendron

Owner, Mott & Gendron Law
Kara K. Gendron is a bankruptcy attorney and co owner of Mott and Gendron Law in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. She has practiced exclusively in bankruptcy law since 2001 and is board certified in Consumer Bankruptcy Law by the American Board of Certification. Kara is also a certified... Read More →
avatar for Reed Allmand

Reed Allmand

Owner, Allmand Law Firm PLLC
avatar for Shawn Orcutt

Shawn Orcutt

Attorney, Law Offices of John T. Orcutt, P.C.
Shawn Orcutt is a consumer bankruptcy attorney based in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he practices in the Eastern District of North Carolina with the Law Offices of John T. Orcutt. Admitted to the North Carolina State Bar in 2011, Shawn focuses his practice on helping individuals... Read More →
Thursday April 9, 2026 9:00am - 2:00pm EDT
Constitution Ballroom B
 
Friday, April 10
 

1:30pm EDT

Subchapter V in the Real World: Strategy, Structure, and Survival
Friday April 10, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm EDT
Subchapter V was designed to make reorganization accessible—but its practical use demands strategic skill. Join experienced Chapter 11 practitioners as they walk through recent cases, best practices in plan drafting, and traps for the unwary. Learn how to balance cost efficiency with procedural compliance and how to position your clients for success from filing through confirmation.
Speakers
avatar for David B. Madoff

David B. Madoff

partner, Madoff & Khoury LLP
David B. Madoff previously practiced with the New York law firm of Hughes Hubbard & Reed and was a partner of Cohn Khoury Madoff & Whitesell LLP in Boston. He received his B.A. in 1985 from Columbia University and his J.D. in 1988 from Boston University School of Law, where he served... Read More →
avatar for John Sommerstein

John Sommerstein

Owner, Law Offices of John F. Sommerstein
John F. Sommerstein has been a member of the Massachusetts Bar since 1989. Since that time a considerable portion of Mr. Sommerstein’s practice has been devoted to bankruptcy work and bankruptcy related matters.  Mr. Sommerstein is a 1985 cum laude graduate of University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a 1989 graduate of Suffolk University Law School where he served as Vice President of the Student Bar Association. Between 2009 and 2011, and again in 2016 through 2018 he served as co-chair of the Boston Bar Association's ("BBA... Read More →
Friday April 10, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm EDT
Constitution Ballroom
 
Saturday, April 11
 

10:30am EDT

Love, Loss, and Liability: How Family Obligations Survive (or Don’t) in Bankruptcy
Saturday April 11, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
Family related debts can create some of the most complex issues in bankruptcy cases. This session breaks down how to distinguish and treat domestic support obligations and property settlements under §§ 523(a)(5), 523(a)(15), and 1328. We will explore how separation agreements, hold harmless clauses, timing of obligations, and chapter choice can determine dischargeability and plan strategy. We will also address how Domestic Violence Protective Orders intersect with bankruptcy filings, including strategies to secure safety and protect sensitive information from an abuser. With real world examples and recent case law, this session equips practitioners to confidently handle family related debts, whether you are representing the payor or the payee.
Speakers
avatar for Jeremy Harn

Jeremy Harn

Attorney, The Law Offices of John T. Orcutt
Jeremy Harn is an associate attorney for the Law Offices of John T. Orcutt. His primary areas of practice are consumer bankruptcy and consumer litigation.  In addition to his work as a Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney, Jeremy has litigated cases involving the Fair Credit Reporting Act... Read More →
avatar for Sarah Beth Withers

Sarah Beth Withers

Attorney, Inner Banks Legal Services
Sarah Beth is the founder of Inner Banks Legal Services, a non-profit law firm committed to bridging the justice gap in Eastern North Carolina. As a Board Certified Consumer Bankruptcy Law Specialist, she focuses on representing consumers in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases... Read More →
Saturday April 11, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
Independence Ballroom

2:00pm EDT

Student Loan Adversary Proceedings and Getting Paid for Them
Saturday April 11, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Student loan discharge litigation can offer life-changing relief for clients—but only if attorneys can structure the work in a way that is sustainable and appropriately compensated. This session demystifies the student loan adversary process while placing special emphasis on how practitioners can get paid for this highly specialized and time-intensive work. Attendees will learn practical fee strategies, including flat-fee models, phased billing, hybrid arrangements, and opportunities for fee-shifting. The session will also cover how to evaluate case viability, set clear client expectations, and document fees to withstand court scrutiny. Whether you are new to student loan litigation or looking to strengthen your current approach, this session will give you the tools to build a profitable and ethical student loan practice while delivering meaningful results for your clients.
Speakers
avatar for Andrew C. Walker

Andrew C. Walker

Walker & Walker Law
Andrew C. Walker graduated Cum Laude from William Mitchell College of Law in 2011, and was admitted to practice law in Minnesota shortly thereafter.He has been working with Walker & Walker Law Offices, PLLC since August 2008.Andrew Walker likes to meet clients at all of the locations.Since... Read More →
avatar for Josh Cohen

Josh Cohen

The Student Loan Lawyer
Joshua Cohen, the Student Loan Lawyer, has been practicing law since 2008, defending and assisting consumers with student loan issues. As the pre-eminent expert on this topic, Josh has been interviewed on Fox and Bloomberg as well as quoted in multiple news articles.
Josh has been receiving calls from people all over the United States seeking his help and in 2011 launched the Student Loan Law Workshop™. These workshops were designed for lawyers to learn about student loans, potential solutions, how to defend consumers from a variety of problems... Read More →
Saturday April 11, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Grand Ballroom
 
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