Webinar: Successfully Navigating COVID Curveballs in Bankruptcy and Debt Collections as a Government Attorney

In the wake of the COVID crisis and wave of large chapter 11 cases filed nationwide, the State and Local Government section presents a webinar to discuss the issues, traps, and tricks that may be of concern and unique to governmental entities and their counsel.  The panel featuring government bankruptcy attorneys and those who regularly represent the government in bankruptcy cases nationwide, will focus on issues facing governments related to PPP Loans, the CARES Act, and limitations on debt collections impacted by COVID.

Presented by the State & Local Government Relations Section

About the Presenters:

MODERATOR: Andrew S. Ballentine, Associate Attorney, DSK Law (de Beaubien, Simmons, Knight, Mantzaris & Neal, LLP)

Andrew Ballentine is an Associate Attorney in the Firm’s Orlando office.  Prior to joining the Firm, Andrew was a Law Clerk for the Honorable Eduardo V. Rodriguez, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Southern District of Texas. Andrew was born and raised in Largo, Florida before he left for Gainesville to attend the University of Florida where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Food & Resource Economics from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.  Additionally, Andrew earned a Master of Arts from the Graduate School at the University of Florida in Agribusiness, during which time he was a graduate assistant for Finance and Investment courses taught by Professor P.J. van Blokland. Andrew received his Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University College of Law.  During law school, Andrew was a member of Law Review and served as a supervising editor.  Andrew was also the Vice President and Treasurer for the school’s Federalist Society chapter, and the school’s liaison to the Orlando Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.  Andrew earned the top grade in Property I and Public International Law. Prior to graduating from law school, Andrew was a financial planner with Nelson Financial Planning and a FINRA registered representative and principal with Nelson Ivest Brokerage Services Inc.  Andrew also serves as the Vice President of Programming for the Orlando Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and the Chair of the State and Local Government Relations Section of the Federal Bar Association. Additionally, Andrew serves on a Federal Bar Association task force charged with determining ways to encourage opportunities for lesser experienced attorneys in federal court.

Tara L. Grundemeier, Capital Partner, Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP

As a bankruptcy partner in Linebarger Goggan Blair and Sampson’s Houston office, Ms. Grundemeier routinely handles complex chapter 11 cases involving millions of dollars of taxes owed to various clients. With more than 17 years of legal experience handling mass bankruptcy litigation in all U.S. Courts, Ms. Grundemeier is a formidable opponent in bankruptcy proceedings. Her expertise in the areas of individual and corporate reorganizations, bankruptcy litigation and creditor’s rights often result in rulings in favor of our clients. Ms. Grundemeier earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology in 1994 and a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science in 1996 from the University of Houston. Ms. Grundemeier later attended Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University, graduating magna cum laude with a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree in 2002. Ms. Grundemeier is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute, the American Bar Association, the Houston Bar Association, the International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation, the State Bar of Texas Bankruptcy Section, the East Texas Bankruptcy Bar Association and a Texas Bar Foundation Fellow. Ms. Grundemeier is the recipient of the Houston Bar Association’s President’s Award for her work as the co-chair (2018-2019) of the Lawyers for Literacy Committee.  She is licensed to practice in the State of Texas and the United States Court for the Southern and Eastern Districts of Texas.

William R. Pursell, Senior Attorney, Assistant General Counsel, Florida Department of Revenue

William R. (Bill) Pursell has served as Senior Attorney Assistant General Counsel with the State of Florida Department of Revenue since 2011.  His undergraduate studies were completed at Stetson University in 1989 where he received his Bachelor Of Arts degree as a double major in Political Science and History.  He received his J.D. from Regent University in 1994.   Bill began in private practice joining the firm of Beal, Anderson & Soto in Tallahassee, FL in 1995.  In 1999 he opened his own practice in Tallahassee and expanding to Gainesville Florida before entering his current practice with the State of Florida.  Bill has trial experience involving State claims related to injury, contract and statute trying cases throughout the State and Bankruptcy courts of Florida.  He has handled appellate work for both private and government matters.  Bill currently serves on the board of the States Association of Bankruptcy Attorneys.

Cory D. Steinmetz, Assistant Attorney General, IRS Compliance Officer – Collections Enforcement, Office of Ohio Attorney General (Dave Yost)

Cory is the IRS Compliance Officer and an Assistant Attorney General with the Collections Enforcement section of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. There he acts as a conduit between the office and the IRS, while also working on various tax and bankruptcy litigation matters. Cory is knowledgeable in the individual and business taxes administered by the Department and has experience with federal and local taxes. Previously, Cory worked as an Attorney in the Office of the Chief Counsel of the Ohio Department of Taxation. He primarily acted as the bankruptcy counsel for the Department, managing the various Ohio tax issues that present themselves in cases filed across the country. In 2018 he became a board member of the States Association of Bankruptcy Attorneys. Cory is licensed to practice law in the State of Ohio and the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio and is a graduate of Capital University Law School.

Registration

Registration will close Tuesday, September 15 at 2PM EST.

Registration Fees

• FBA Member: $0
• Nonmember: $75

Cancellation Policy

No refunds will be made for cancellations received after the close of business on August 14, 2020. No-shows will be billed. Substitutions may be made at any time upon notification. Please contact Ariel White at awhite@fedbar.org with cancellation and/or substitution requests.

CLE

1 CLE Credit (60min state) / 1.2 CLE Credit (50min state)

Credit for these complimentary webinars will be processed/reported within 4-6 weeks of the webinar event date and available for credit in states that allow credit for live webinar presentations. Your bar number must be accurate in our database to receive credit.

Email Communication Policy

By registering for this event, you agree to receive email communications from the Federal Bar Association and affiliated sponsors of the program concerning event details, Continuing Legal Education certification, programming changes, upcoming events, surveys, and post-event communications.

Recording Disclaimer

By registering for an FBA webinar, you agree to the recording of audio and visual content presented during the live event and consent to subsequent use of the recording by the FBA. You agree that the recording is the sole property of the FBA and that the recording may be used by the FBA in any manner in its sole and absolute discretion. This recording may include questions and poll responses provided by you during the live event. If you do not consent to the recording and the FBA’s use of the same, do not register for the event.

If you have any questions regarding this program, please contact Caitlin Rider, Conference Manager.