2026 Southeast Bankruptcy Workshop

The private credit market has grown past $2.1 trillion and continues to expand rapidly, but early signs of stress are emerging. With defaults expected to rise and underwriting potentially loosening, this panel examines key risks, sector trends, and the likelihood of increased restructuring activity over the next 12–24 months.Learning Objectives:Attendees will understand current trends and developments within the rapidly growing private credit market.Attendees will identify indicators of financial stress, increased defaults and potential underwriting concerns affecting private credit portfolios.Attendees will evaluate how emerging market conditions may influence restructuring activity and bankruptcy practice over the next several years.

A “board flip” — reconstituting a company’s board to install creditor-nominated or independent directors — can be a decisive tool in financial distress. This panel explores the legal, strategic and practical considerations behind executing a successful board flip, including governance mechanics, fiduciary duties and key contractual levers. Using real-world examples, the panelists highlight lessons learned, stakeholder dynamics, and actionable strategies to mitigate risk, manage conflicts and preserve value in high-stakes restructuring situations.Learning Objectives:Attendees will understand the legal and governance mechanisms involved in implementing a board flip in a distressed company.Attendees will analyze fiduciary duties, stakeholder interests and conflict-management considerations that arise during board reconstitution efforts.Attendees will evaluate practical strategies for executing board flips while mitigating risk and preserving enterprise value.

In small business cases, controlling administrative costs can make or break a successful outcome. This panel focuses on practical strategies to streamline proceedings, including creative motions and targeted plan provisions designed to reduce estate expenses. The panelists share efficient approaches, cost-saving techniques and real-world examples to help practitioners maximize value while minimizing administrative burden.Learning Objectives:Attendees will identify opportunities to reduce administrative expenses and improve efficiency in small business bankruptcy cases.Attendees will analyze the use of creative motions, targeted plan provisions and other procedural tools to streamline case administration.Attendees will apply practical cost-saving strategies to maximize value for debtors, creditors and other stakeholders.

Financial fraud schemes frequently come to light when businesses are in distress, causing restructuring professionals and bankruptcy courts to deal with the fallout. This panel examines how fraud trends can shift with economic cycles and developing technology, including key moments when misconduct begins to surface, particularly around market peaks and downturns. The panelists discuss various schemes — financial statement misstatements, asset-shifting through multi-tiered entities and Ponzi structures — sharing insights on emerging risks, warning signs, and how practitioners can better anticipate and respond.Learning Objectives:Attendees will understand how financial fraud schemes have evolved in recent years and the unique challenges they present in bankruptcy proceedings.Attendees will identify common indicators of fraudulent conduct and assess the tools available to practitioners for investigating suspicious transactions and structures.Attendees will apply lessons learned from recent fraud cases to develop proactive strategies for protecting estates, creditors and other stakeholders from emerging fraud risks.