Annual Debtor-Creditor Bankruptcy Update Eastern District 2026

  • In-person seminar
  • Webcast seminar
  • Attorney Regulation
  • Creditor and Debtor Law
Up to 7.5 Credit Hours
View schedule and faculty
Annual Debtor-Creditor Bankruptcy Update Eastern District 2026

Co-produced with the Bankruptcy, Insolvency & Creditors’ Rights Section of the State Bar of Wisconsin

Expect the unexpected
A financially distressed client, a contested claim, or a procedural hurdle can quickly reshape your approach to a bankruptcy matter. The Annual Debtor-Creditor Bankruptcy Update Eastern District 2026 brings together judges, and experienced practitioners to examine the latest legal and strategic issues affecting bankruptcy and creditors' rights in Wisconsin.

8:30 am
Real Estate Tax Foreclosures

J. David Krekeler, Theresa Montag, Dawn T. Shaha

  • Want to have corporation counsel on this session
  • Tax rolls
  • When does the tax accrue?
9:20 am
Primer on First Day Motions

Eastern District: Peter T. Nowak, Hon. Katherine Maloney Perhach, Kimberly P. Sebranek, Jennifer Schank

  • Employment of professionals
  • payment of wages
  • critical vendors
  • cash collateral
  • Merchant Cash Advances
  • DIP Financer
10:10 am
Break
10:25 am
Involuntary proceedings and what you need to know

Rebecca R. DeMarb, Seth E. Dizard, Jessica Haskell, Deanne M. Koll

  • Chapter 128
  • bankruptcies
  • receiverships
  • supplemental receiverships
  • partition actions – judicial dissolution
11:15 am
Annual Case Law Update

Eliza M. Reyes, Jennifer Schank, William E. Wallo

12:05 pm
Lunch (on your own)
1:15 pm
Clerk’s Office Update

Eastern District: Sean McDermott, Amanda Sippel

1:35 pm
Judges’ Update

Eastern District: Hon. Rachel M. Blise, Hon. Catherine J. Furay, Hon. G. Michael Halfenger, Hon. Katherine Maloney Perhach

2:35 pm
Break
2:50 pm
Cutting Edge Issues in Chapter 13

Eastern District: Rebecca R. Garcia, Mark Harring, Michael J. Maloney

  • Surrender of collateral post confirmation
  • Must or should interest be paid
  • 1322(b)(2) v. (c)(2) – mortgage modification issues
  • Disclosure of acquired post-petition assets
3:40 pm
Navigating the Ethical Minefield of Representing a Small Business

Kelly M. Smith, Christopher J. Stroebel

  • Identify the client when business, owner, and guarantor interests overlap.
  • Navigate conflict checks, waivers, limited representation, and firm transitions.
  • Address suspected fraud, inaccurate records, and client accusations.
  • Understand counsel’s ethical and disclosure duties in bankruptcy.
  • Apply Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules and relevant case law through an interactive case study.
4:30 pm
Program Concludes
Hon. Rachel M. Blise
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin · Milwaukee
Rebecca R. DeMarb
Swanson Sweet LLP · Madison
Seth E. Dizard
O'Neil Cannon Hollman DeJong & Laing, S.C. · Milwaukee
Rebecca R. Garcia
Chapter 13 Trustee · Oshkosh
Hon. G. Michael Halfenger
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin · Milwaukee
Mark Harring
Standing Trustee for Ch. 12 & 13 · Madison
Jessica Haskell
O'Neil Cannon Hollman DeJong & Laing, S.C. · Milwaukee
Deanne M. Koll
Bakke Norman, S.C. · New Richmond
J. David Krekeler
Krekeler Law, S.C. · Madison
Sean McDermott
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin · Milwaukee
Theresa Montag
Milwaukee City Attorney's Office · Milwaukee
Peter T. Nowak
Swanson Sweet LLP · Oshkosh
Hon. Katherine Maloney Perhach
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the Eastern District of Wisconsin · Milwaukee
Eliza M. Reyes
Richman & Richman LLC · Madison
Jennifer Schank
Fuhrman & Dodge, S.C. · Madison
Kimberly P. Sebranek
Laffey Sebranek Auby & Ristau, S.C. · Madison
Dawn T. Shaha
Outagamie County Corporation Counsel · Appleton
Amanda Sippel
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin · Milwaukee
Kelly M. Smith
Phillip A. Norman PC Attorneys · Brookfield
Christopher J. Stroebel
Stroebel Law LLC · Madison
William E. Wallo
Bakke Norman, S.C. · Eau Claire
Jennifer Schank
Fuhrman & Dodge, S.C. · Madison
Michael J. Maloney
Watton Law Group, S.C. · Milwaukee

Sponsored by

Interested in sponsoring this program? Find out more.

  • Debtor-creditor attorneys
  • Insolvency lawyers
  • Bankruptcy lawyers
  • Bankruptcy trustees
  • General practitioners
  • Stay current on recent updates directly from bankruptcy clerks
  • Gain practical approaches to complex proceedings, including procedural requirements, emerging legal issues, and interactions with the court
  • Strengthen your strategic decision-making with insights from judges, and experienced practitioners on emerging trends
  • Navigate complex proceedings efficiently and avoid common pitfalls
  • Get answers to ethical questions specific to debtor-creditor practice

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