Bankruptcy MythBusters: What We Think We Know-and What Is Actually Happening in Commercial and Consumer Cases
Saturday, October 10th, 2026 – 9:45 AM – 10:45 AM
San Diego Ballroom – B
Moderator:
Hon. Jeff Deller
Speakers:
Jane Kim
Suzanna Uhland
Tara Twomey
Melissa Jacoby
Description:
This program examines several commonly held assumptions about bankruptcy law and practice and evaluates whether those assumptions remain accurate in today’s restructuring environment. Using a moderated “MythBusters” format, panelists will explore issues affecting both commercial and consumer bankruptcy cases, including access to bankruptcy relief, who truly controls bankruptcy outcomes, and the extent to which modern restructurings are driven by courts, markets, lenders, and contractual arrangements. Through discussion and debate, participants will examine the tension between statutory doctrine, economic realities, and practical outcomes in contemporary bankruptcy practice.
Bios:
Judge Jeffery A. Deller has served as a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania since 2005 and as Chief Judge from 2013–2018. He serves on the NCBJ Board of Governors, is a former Editor-in-Chief of the American Bankruptcy Law Journal, has taught law for many years, chaired the dean search committee at Duquesne University School of Law, and serves on its Dean’s Advisory Board.
Jane Kim is the managing partner of Keller Benvenutti Kim, a San Francisco-based corporate bankruptcy and restructuring boutique law firm, where she represents debtors in possession, distressed companies, and other parties, in both in-court and out-of-court situations.
Melissa Jacoby is the author of Unjust Debts, a longtime faculty member at UNC-Chapel Hill, and a Faculty Fellow at UNC’s Center for Banking and Finance.
Tara Twomey is the former Director of the United States Trustee Program. Previously, Ms. Twomey served as Counsel to the National Consumer Law Center and the Executive Director for the National Consumer Bankruptcy Rights Center. She is a conferee of the National Bankruptcy Conference and a fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy. She currently serves on the Board of Editors and is a contributing author for Collier on Bankruptcy.
Suzzanne is widely recognized as one of the leading restructuring lawyers in the United States Suzzanne is a fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy and a member of the International Insolvency Institute. Known for her critical thinking on trends within the insolvency space, she is recognized as a Thought Leader for restructuring and insolvency by Who’s Who Legal in affiliation with Global Restructuring Review.