ABI Developments

2ND QUARTER 2025

VOL. 12, NO. 2

DEVELOPMENTS
From the ABI Anthony H.N. Schnelling Endowment Fund

Learn Tequila Mixology at ABI Southeast Workshop Fundraiser

The ABI Endowment will be hosting a Tequila Mixology Class on July 26 for registrants of the Southeast Bankruptcy Workshop, being held July 24-27 in Amelia Island, Fla. Come learn how to make three tequila classics: the paloma, apple and spice, and margarita. An expert will guide participants through the cocktail-making process, including the ingredients for each and the steps for formulating a balanced cocktail. Learn the history of cocktails, how to prepare a drink, and terminologies used in making the drinks. A light fare of chips, salsa, guac and queso will be provided.

Individual tickets are $250. Firms donating $800 will receive two tickets to the class and signage at the event, as well as recognition in the ABI Journal and online. Contact ABI Endowment Manager Erin Green if you would like to support the Endowment by sponsoring this event.

GRAB YOUR SEAT!

sponsored by

Endowment Seeks Silent Auction Items for Southeast Workshop

We are currently seeking auction item donations for the Southeast Silent Auction. Whether it’s a product, service, experience or gift card, your contribution will help us make this event a success. All items must be shipped to ABI’s headquarters (99 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 200, Alexandria, VA 22314) to arrive by July 11.

Some of the exciting items we already have for the auction include:

Dinner at ABI Chairman Soneet Kapila’s house
Ole Miss Tickets
ABI Conference Registration
ABI Membership
And more!!!

If you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Erin Green.

ABI’s Research Grants Committee Provides Update on Two Projects

ABI’s Research Grants Committee has announced that two significant Endowment-funded projects are nearing completion.

Prof. Lois R. Lupica’s “Financial Distress Research Project” (FDRP), which has been ongoing since 2012, is nearly done. This study has examined whether financial education and counseling and/or assistance from a lawyer definitively improves the financial health of the unemployed, the underemployed, the working poor and others in financial distress. The final phase of the study involves interviews with as many of the 945 participants as possible to discuss their financial health, including whether and how the assistance provided through the FDRP has led to improvements in financial well-being. These interviews have already yielded some great stories, which Prof. Lupica will share during a presentation at ABI’s 2025 Winter Leadership Conference in Tucson, Ariz.

Also nearing completion is a study undertaken by Profs. Brook E. Gotberg (Brigham Young University School of Law) and Michael D. Sousa (University of Denver Sturm College of Law) that examines what effect, if any, the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion has had on consumer bankruptcies. While Profs. Gotberg and Sousa published their quantitative analysis in the 2019 issue of the ABI Law Review, the final phase of their project involves individual interviews, which they hope to wrap up this summer. ABI’s Research Grants Committee is aiming to present a discussion of this project at ABI’s 2026 Annual Spring Meeting.

ABI also continues to provide funding for the Veterans’ and Service Members’ Task Force, the Duberstein Moot Court Competition, and the Global Rising Scholars Workshop (being hosted by Brooklyn Law School this October).

Lois Lupica

Prof. Lois R. Lupica

Brook Gotberg

Prof. Brooke E. Gotberg

Michael Sousa

Prof. Michael D. Sousa

Join Our Regional Committee(s) and Make a Difference!

As we continue to grow and strengthen our efforts, we’re excited to invite passionate individuals like you to join our Regional Committees. This is a wonderful opportunity to make an impact by shaping programs, initiatives and events that benefit our community and beyond.

Why Join?

Influence Regional Initiatives: Your insights and ideas can help guide key projects.
Connect with Leaders: Collaborate with a diverse group of professionals dedicated to meaningful change.
Make a Difference: Be part of a team committed to advancing our mission and goals.

What’s Involved?
As a committee member, you’ll:

Attend quarterly virtual meetings.
Provide input on regional programming and engagement strategies.
Serve as an ambassador, sharing our mission with your network.

Whether you’re a longtime supporter or newly interested in becoming more involved, we would be thrilled to have your voice at the table. To express your interest or to learn more, please reach out to Endowment Manager Erin Green at egreen@abi.org, and we’ll follow up with next steps.

ABI Founders Society: Another Way to Give to the Endowment

By becoming a member of the ABI Founders Society, you can continue to support the Endowment and ABI for years to come through estate-planning. All the proceeds benefit the ABI Endowment Fund and are 100% tax-deductible. When you include ABI in your estate plan, your generosity helps provide additional funding for the Endowment so that it can continue to support current and future industry members. Please visit the ABI Founders Society for more information. If you have any additional questions, please reach out to Erin Green.

SCAN QR CODE TO DONATE

Levels of Support

Diamond Level
Contributions of $80,000 and above

Platinum Level
Contributions of $65,000 – $79,999

Millennium Level
Contributions of $50,000 – $64,999

30th Anniversary Circle
Contributions of $30,000 – $49,999

Century Council Member
Contributions of $25,000 – $29,999

Visionary
Contributions of $20,000 – $24,999

Legacy
Contributions of $15,000 – $19,999

Lifetime Member
Contributions of $10,000 – $14,999

Benefactor
Contributions of $5,000 – $9,999

Sustaining Member
Contributions of $2,000 – $4,999

Leadership Club
Contributions of $1,000 – $1,999

Donor
Contributions of $100 – $999

Endowment Fund Development Committee

Vice President—Development:
Bradley D. Sharp
Development Specialists, Inc.

Committee Members:
Steven M. Berman
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP

Marchand Boyd
Axos Bank

Dawn M. Cica
Carlyon Cica Chtd.

Eric J. Fromme
Pacheco & Neach, P.C.

Erika F. Johnson
Bayard, P.A.

Kristina M. Johnson
Jones Walker LLP

Donald A. Workman
Workman Attorney at Law

Regional Endowment Chairs

Mid-Atlantic
Chair: Donald A. Workman –
Workman Attorney at Law
Kara Hammond Coyle –
Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP
Charles Forman – Forman Holt
Neil B. Glassman – Bayard, P.A.
Matthew B. Harvey – Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP
Michael R. Herz – Fox Rothschild LLC
Warren Martin – Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, PC
James E. Van Horn – Barnes
& Thornburg LLP

Midwest
Chair: Lisa Vandesteeg – Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC
Daniel A. DeMarco – Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP
Richard S. Lauter – Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP
James A. Lodoen – Spencer Fane LLP
Claire Ann Richman – Richman
& Richman LLC
Sheryl L. Toby – Dykema Gossett PLLC

New England
Chair: Jeffrey T. Varsalone – G2 Capital Advisors, LLC

New York Metro
Co-Chair: Marchand Boyd – Axos Bank
Co-Chair: Elyssa S. Kates – BakerHostetler

Rocky Mountain
Co-Chair: Annette W. Jarvis – Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Co-Chair: Lynne Long – Riveron Consulting, LLC

South
Chair: Kristina M. Johnson –
Jones Walker LLP
Laura Ashley – Jones Walker LLP
Craig M. Geno – Craig M. Geno, PLLC
James R. Irving – Dentons Bingham Greenebaum
Derek F. Meek – Burr & Forman LLP
Emily Taube – Burr & Forman LLP
Mary Tipton Thalheimer –
Rose Law Firm, PA

Southeast
Chair: Steven M. Berman – Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP
Terri L. Gardner – Gardner Law, PLLC
Neil C. Gordon – Arnall Golden Gregory LLP
Jerry Markowitz – Markowitz, Ringel, Trusty + Hartog, P.A.
Jennifer McLemore – Williams Mullen
Jennifer M. Meyerowitz – SAK Management Services, LLC
Edward J. Peterson, III – Stichter, Riedel, Blain & Postler, PA
Lynn Lewis Tavenner – Tavenner & Beran, PLC
Glenn Thompson – Hamilton Stephens Steele & Martin, PLLC

Texas & Southwest
Co-Chair: Jason S. Brookner – Gray Reed
Co-Chair: Scott Van Meter – B. Riley Advisory Services
Jordan A. Kroop – Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones LLP
John D. Penn – Perkins Coie LLP
Thomas J. Salerno – Stinson LLP

West
Chair: Randye B. Soref – Polsinelli
Dawn Cica – Carlyon Cica Chtd.
Larissa Gotguelf – FTI Consulting, Inc.
Victor Owens – East West Bank