Distinguished Law and Business Student Committee

The Distinguished Bankruptcy Law and Business Student program was established by the American College of Bankruptcy to identify and promote prospective leaders in the insolvency and bankruptcy profession.

Committee members review and vet the nominations submitted by law or business school professors or deans, in consultation with their respective Circuit Regents, as appropriate, to select the Distinguished Bankruptcy Law and Business Students. Distinguished Bankruptcy Law Students are selected annually for each Circuit, while Distinguished Business Students are selected annually on a national basis.

The criteria for the selection includes academic excellence, professional accomplishments in bankruptcy or restructuring-related courses and other endeavors while enrolled in school that relate to insolvency issues (e.g., moot court, case competitions, writing competitions, publications, research, participation in relevant community service programs, etc.), participation in relevant community service programs, etc.), a passion for, or intent to practice in, the restructuring and insolvency area, and commitment to public service and pro bono efforts. Additional information.

Elizabeth J. Futrell (Chair)New Orleans, LA

Carolyn A. Bankowski (First Circuit)Boston , MA

Christopher M. Candon (First Circuit)Manchester, NH

D. Ethan Jeffery (First Circuit)Boston, MA

Donald R. Lassman (First Circuit)Needham, MA

Lisa M. Schweitzer (Second Circuit)New York, NY

Richard M. Seltzer (Second Circuit)New York, NY

Adam H. Isenberg (Third Circuit)Philadelphia, PA

Beverly Weiss Manne (Third Circuit)Pittsburgh, PA

Richard C. Maxwell (Fourth Circuit)Roanoke, VA

Lynn Lewis Tavenner (Fourth Circuit)Richmond, VA

Kristina Michelle Johnson (Fifth Circuit)Jackson, MS

Travis Torrence (Fifth Circuit)Houston, TX

A. Todd Almassian (Sixth Circuit)Grand Rapids, MI

Julie B. Teicher (Sixth Circuit)Southfield, MI

Katherine Stadler (Seventh Circuit)Madison, WI

Melissa M. Root (Seventh Circuit)Chicago, IL

Gregory A. Burrell (Eighth Circuit)Minneapolis, MN

Ryan T. Murphy (Eighth Circuit)Minneapolis, MN

Charles D. Booth (Ninth Circuit)Honolulu, HI

Kimberly A. Posin (Ninth Circuit)Los Angeles, CA

Kenneth L. Cannon II (Tenth Circuit)Salt Lake City, UT

John F. Young (Tenth Circuit)Denver, CO

Jayna Partain Lamar (Eleventh Circuit)Birmingham, AL

Nancy Jean Whaley (Eleventh Circuit)Atlanta, GA

Teresa C. Kohl (Distinguished Business Student Representative)West Conshohocken, PA

Elizabeth Tashjian (Distinguished Business Student Representative)Salt Lake City, UT

Distinguished Student Spotlight

Jing Lu, 2024 Third Circuit Distinguished Student

Jing is a 2024 graduate of Delaware Law School, Widener University.  Before receiving her J.D., Jing practiced cross-border transactional law in Shanghai and bankruptcy law in Hangzhou, China.  As a legal intern in the United States, Jing assisted the Chinese government’s delegate for the UNCITAL Model Law conference organized by the United Nations.  Jing is excited about the opportunity to apply her skills and knowledge in an insolvency practice in the United States.  She recently passed the New York Bar exam, making her eligible for admission in any state that has adopted the UBE. You may contact Jing at jing.lu0210@outlook.com.

Jing Lu, 2024 Third Circuit Distinguished Student

Adam J. Schmit, 2024 Fifth Circuit Distinguished Student

Adam is a 2023 graduate of The University of Texas School of Law, where he participated in the Duberstein Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition and was inducted into the Order of Barristers.  He is a 2019 graduate of the University of California, San Diego (Phi Beta Kappa, cum laude). Adam is a term law clerk for the Hon. Shad M. Robinson, United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Texas.  His term expires in the Summer of 2025.  Adam has passed the Texas Bar Exam and is excited about the opportunity to apply his skills and knowledge in an insolvency practice group post-clerkship, ideally in the Houston market.  You may contact Adam at adamjschmit@gmail.com.

Adam J. Schmit, 2024 Fifth Circuit Distinguished Student

Distinguished Law and Business Student Resources

Please click here to submit nominations for Distinguished Law Students.
Please click here to submit nominations for Distinguished Business Students.