44th Annual Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Seminar (Boise)

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

J. Ford Elsaesser, Elsaesser Anderson, Chtd.

9:45 a.m.       Break

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

Moderator:  Matthew T. Christensen, Amplēo

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

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.       Return of Bankruptcy Jeopardy!

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

5:00 p.m.      Hosted Reception & Annual Awards Presentation

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