44^th Annual Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Seminar

Sponsored by the Idaho State Bar Commercial Law & Bankruptcy Section

Thursday, February 19 - Saturday, February 21, 2026

**In-Person Attendance Only

The Grove Hotel
245 S. Capitol Blvd.  – Boise

13.0 CLE credits including 1.0 Ethics credits

Registration:

Standard Registration:                 $400

Bankruptcy Section Members:   $350

Paralegals and Court Staff:         $200

Law Students:                               No Cost

Take Advantage of the Section Membership Registration Benefits Now: Join the Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section for only $30.

Join the Idaho State Bar Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section for their 44^th Annual Bankruptcy Seminar that will be held at the newly renovated Grove Hotel.  The seminar will feature nationally recognized speakers on bankruptcy and jurists from the Idaho and Montana bankruptcy bench who will present on various aspects of bankruptcy law and practice.

Don’t forget to book your lodging at The Grove Hotel by January 21^st to get the discounted rate of $209/night. 

Program Agenda

Thursday, February 19, 2026

1:00 p.m.      Welcome & Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel Presentation

2:30 p.m.      Case Law Review

                        Suzanne J. Hickok, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Idaho

                        Carol K. Mills, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Idaho

                        Glory M. Crocco, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Idaho

4:00 p.m.       Break

4:15 p.m.       The Ethics of Television Legal Dramas

                       Joseph N. Pirtle, Idaho State Bar

5:15 p.m.       Adjourn

Friday, February 20, 2026

8:00 a.m.       Breakfast

8:30 a.m.       Bad Boys of Bankruptcy Podcast: Richard Butler

                        Hon. Elizabeth Gunn, United States Bankruptcy Court, District of Columbia

9:45 a.m.       Break

10:00 a.m.     Subchapter V Trustee's Panel

                        Moderator:  Matthew T. Christensen, Ampl?o

                        Gary L. Rainsdon, Subchapter V Trustee - Idaho

                        Matthew W. Grimshaw, Grimshaw Law Group, P.C. - Subchapter V Trustee – Idaho

                        TBD, Subchapter V Trustee – Utah or Montana

11:00 a.m.     Secured Transactions

                        Steven T. Waterman, Dorsey & Whitney LLP

                        Megan Baker, Dorsey & Whitney LLP

                        Aaron R. Bell, Dorsey & Whitney LLP

12:00 p.m.     Hosted Lunch, Annual Awards Presentation and The Creation of the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel

                       Hon. Benjamin P. Hursh, Chief Bankruptcy Judge, District of Montana

1:30 p.m.       Debt’s Grip

                        Deborah Thorne, Ph.D., University of Idaho

                        Pamela Foohey, University of Georgia School of Law

3:00 p.m.       Break

3:15 p.m.       TBD - Could be the Return of Bankruptcy Jeopardy!

4:30 p.m.       Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section Business Meeting & Elections

5:00 p.m.       Cocktail Reception Hosted by Foley & Freeman

Saturday, February 21, 2026

8:00 a.m.       Breakfast

8:30 a.m.       Legislative Update

                        Lucas T. Malek, Malek + Malek

9:30 a.m.       The Case for Doing Debtor Work: Building a Client-Centered Consumer Bankruptcy Practice That Protects Your Staff and Your Sanity

                        Tecla Druffel, Tec Law, PLLC

10:30 a.m.     Break

10:45 a.m.     Bankruptcy Judge’s Panel

                        Hon. Noah G. Hillen, Chief US Bankruptcy Judge, District of Idaho

                        Hon. Brent R. Wilson, US Bankruptcy Judge, District of Idaho

12:00 p.m.    Conference Concludes