ABA, ABI, ABLJ, ACB, AIC, AIRA, CLLA, IWIRC, NAWJ, NCBJ

A remarkable diversity of organizations in the bankruptcy and insolvency field participate in NCBJ’s Annual Conference, perhaps more than at any other single bankruptcy conference. It is a great place to network and meet colleagues and bankruptcy judges. In addition to NCBJ, organizations presenting educational programs, presenting awards, hosting receptions, convening meetings, or sponsoring breakfasts, lunches or dinners or otherwise participating at this year’s Conference include:

• ABA     American Bar Association
• ABI     American Bankruptcy Institute
• ABLJ  American Bankruptcy Law Journal
• ACB    American College of Bankruptcy
• AIC     American Inns of Court
• AIRA  Association of Restructuring and Insolvency Advisors
• CLLA Commercial Law League of America
• IWIRC International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation
• NAWJ National Association of Women Judges
• NCBJ  National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges

I compiled this information about each organization from their respective websites. The descriptions mostly consist of quoting language from the sites (without quotation marks) but in many cases with some edits.

American Bar Association (ABA)

The ABA has nearly 400,00 members. Its mission is to serve equally its members, the legal profession and the public by defending liberty and delivering justice as the national representative of the legal profession. ABA goals include serving its members, improving the legal profession, eliminating bias and enhancing diversity, and advancing the rule of law.

 American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI)

ABI is the nation’s largest association of bankruptcy professionals, made up of over 12,000 members in multi-disciplinary roles, including attorneys, auctioneers, bankers, judges, lenders, professors, turnaround specialists, accountants and others.

Founded in 1982, ABI plays a leading role in providing congressional leaders and the general public with non-partisan reporting and analysis of bankruptcy regulations, laws and trends. ABI is often called on to testify before Congress, analyze proposed bills, and conduct periodic briefings for congressional committees and legislative staff. ABI is engaged in numerous educational and research activities, as well as the production of a number of publications both for the insolvency practitioner and the dedicated to research and education on matters related to insolvency.

American Bankruptcy Law Journal (ABLJ)

The ALBJ is a peer reviewed journal that publishes learned articles focusing on bankruptcy law and related subjects. It promotes the exchange of ideas about and deeper understanding of bankruptcy issues, particularly among its core audience that includes judges, bankruptcy professionals, academics, legislators and other policymakers.

American College of Bankruptcy (ACB)

The ACB, formed in 1989, has over 800 Fellows. Its mission is to honor and recognize distinguished bankruptcy professionals who are qualified for membership in an effort to set standards of achievement for others in the insolvency community, and to fund and assist projects that enhance the highest quality of bankruptcy practice, including undergraduate and graduate programs related to bankruptcy and insolvency.

American Inns of Court (AIC)

AIC serves a legal profession and judiciary dedicated to professionalism, ethics, civility, and excellence. Its mission is to inspire the legal community to advance the rule of law by achieving the highest level of professionalism through example, education, and mentoring.

The strategic goals of the AIC are:

1. To promote a high-quality member experience.
2. To have a greater impact on the profession.
3. To be a primary resource for mentoring and education focused on professionalism, which includes ethics, civility, and excellence.
4. To be widely recognized as a leader in promoting professionalism, which includes ethics, civility, and excellence.
5. To have effective ongoing communications with members and alumni of the American Inns of Court.
6. To establish a highly effective governance structure and culture.
7. To grow and diversify American Inns of Court revenue streams.

Association of Restructuring and Insolvency Advisors (AIRA)

 AIRA is a nonprofit professional association serving financial advisors, accountants, crisis managers, business turnaround consultants, lenders, investment bankers, attorneys, trustees and other individuals involved in the fields of business turnaround, restructuring, bankruptcy and insolvency.

AIRA’s mission is to unite and support professionals providing business turnaround, restructuring and bankruptcy services; and to develop, promote and maintain professional standards of practice, including a professional certification program.

Seven key AIRA objectives are:

1. To aid members in developing competency in their practice areas
2. To provide training for members entering into and continuing in their practice areas
3. To develop and maintain standards of professional competency
4. To develop and promulgate ethical standards of practice
5. To develop and promulgate financial reporting standards
6. To define and develop roles and responsibilities of financial advisors under the Bankruptcy Code
7. To encourage cooperation among professionals with similar interests

Commercial Law League of America (CLLA)

CLLA [states that it is] the leading, nonprofit professional organization of collections, creditors’ rights and bankruptcy professionals. Since its inception, the CLLA has been associated with the representation of creditor interests, while at the same time seeking fair, equitable and efficient administration of bankruptcy cases for all parties in interest.

CLLA membership is comprised of national and international attorneys who handle commercial law, bankruptcy, insolvency, retail collections, construction law and complex commercial litigation matters. Membership also includes collection agency members, law list publishers, commercial credit professionals, judges, accountants, trustees, turnaround managers and other credit and finance experts.

CLLA membership is divided into practice sections − Creditor’s Rights, Bankruptcy, Commercial Collection Agencies. Young Members − each addressing the specialized needs of their respective constituencies.  Each section elects its own officers and Executive Council, and has a representative on the CLLA Board of Governors.

International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC)

IWIRC is committed to the connection, promotion and success of women in the insolvency and restructuring professions worldwide. Through a global membership of more than 1,200 attorneys, bankers, corporate-turnaround professionals, financial advisors and other restructuring practitioners, members develop a powerful network of contacts, resources, mentors and friends.

Through events and interactive tools, IWIRC offers seminars, intellectual capital, career resources, leadership opportunities and guidance for personal and professional development.

National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ)

Since its formation in 1979, NAWJ has inspired and led the American judiciary in achieving fairness and equality for vulnerable populations.

NAWJ’s mission is to promote the judicial role of protecting the rights of individuals under the rule of law through strong, committed, diverse judicial leadership; fairness and equality in the courts; and equal access to justice.

NAWJ is dedicated to the following ideals:

1. Equal justice and access to the courts for all including women, youth, the elderly, minorities, the underprivileged and people with disabilities
2. Providing judicial education on cutting-edge issues of importance
3. Developing judicial leaders
4. Increasing the number of women on the bench in order for the judiciary to accurately reflect the role of women in the democratic society
5. Improving the administration of justice to provide gender-fair decisions for both male & female litigations

National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges (NCBJ)

NCBJ is an association of the Bankruptcy Judges of the United States which has several purposes: to provide continuing legal education to judges, lawyers and other involved professionals, to promote cooperation among the Bankruptcy Judges, to secure a greater degree of quality and uniformity in the administration of the Bankruptcy system, and to improve the practice of law in the Bankruptcy Courts of the United States.