About the National Bankruptcy Conference.
The National Bankruptcy Conference is a small, nonpartisan, self-funded group of sixty lawyers, academics, and judges committed to bankruptcy reform.
active members
founded
standing committees
judicial districts, current and former judges
Its purpose, its history, its people.
Mission & values
The Conference’s primary purpose is to advise Congress on the operation of bankruptcy and related laws, and any proposed changes to those laws.
- No interest group’s positionThe Conference does not take positions on behalf of any organization or interest group.
- Consensus across perspectivesIt seeks a consensus of members who represent a broad spectrum of political and economic perspectives, based on their experience as practitioners, judges, and scholars.
- Clients left at the doorConferees are always mindful of their mutual pledge to “leave their clients at the door” when they take part in the Conference’s deliberations.
- Advice without conditionsIts Conferees serve members of Congress, committees, and their staffs as non-partisan technical advisors, without regard to any position the Conference may take.
History
Formed in the 1930s, the Conference has been a resource to Congress on every significant piece of bankruptcy legislation since.
- 1938 · The Chandler ActThe first comprehensive revision of the Bankruptcy Act of 1898, drafted with the help of the Conference’s founders.
- 1978 · The Bankruptcy CodeEnacted after the 1973 proposal of a commission whose core was the Conference’s members.
- 2005 · Reform after the Review CommissionA proposal to protect employees, customers, and trade creditors early in a chapter 11 case.
- 2019 · The Small Business Reorganization ActIncorporating the most important features of the Conference’s small business proposal.
- 2020 · The pandemicLetters to the leaders of Congress on bankruptcy relief during the SARS-CoV-2 crisis.
- 2026 · The work continuesIn support of the Bankruptcy Threshold Adjustment Act, restoring higher debt limits.
How we work
Committees study the questions, the full Conference decides by consensus, and every position goes out on the record.
- A committee takes up the questionStanding committees study their areas of bankruptcy law; for larger projects the Conference forms a working group.
- The full Conference decidesReports and recommendations come before the Conference at its annual and mid-year meetings, and positions are adopted by consensus.
- The position goes on the recordAs a letter or testimony to Congress, or as comments on proposed amendments to the Bankruptcy Rules.
Leadership & officers
The Conference is led by officers and committees drawn from its own members. This is its leadership for 2026.
- Douglas G. BairdChair
- Michelle M. HarnerVice Chair
- Edwin E. SmithTreasurer
- Omar J. AlanizSecretary
- Whitman L. HoltChair, Drafting Committee
- Michael St. Patrick BaxterChair, Legislation Committee
Members
About sixty of the nation’s leading bankruptcy judges, academics, and practitioners. Membership is by invitation only.
- Current MembersAbout sixty of the nation’s leading bankruptcy judges, academics, and practitioners. Membership is by invitation only.
- EmeritusConferees who have taken emeritus status.
- In MemoriamConferees of the National Bankruptcy Conference who have died, most recent first, with the resolutions the Conference adopted in their memory and published obituaries.
Request technical assistance.
Members of Congress, committees, and their staffs can ask for the Conference’s technical assistance on bankruptcy law.