Agenda 2025

Monday, February 3 — Debtor/Creditor

Planners:

• Kellie Emerson, Staff Attorney, Office of Mark T. McCarty, Chapter 13 Standing Trustee
• Johnathan D. Horton, Wright Lindsey Jennings
• Mary-Tipton Thalheimer, Rose Law Firm
• Amanda Pace Welch, Staff Attorney, Office of Jack W. Gooding Chapter 13 Trustee

CLE: 3 General hours

1:25pm

Welcome

1:30pm –2:30pm

Things You Should Know from a Chamber's Perspective

• Julie Chambers, Staff Attorney for the Honorable Phyllis M. Jones, Chief Bankruptcy Judge, Eastern & Western Districts of Arkansas
• Ellen Womack Court, Staff Attorney for the Honorable Richard D. Taylor, Bankruptcy Judge, Eastern & Western Districts of Arkansas
• Tisha Long, Staff Attorney for the Honorable Bianca M. Rucker, Bankruptcy Judge, Eastern & Western Districts of Arkansas
• Alexandria E. Rook, Staff Attorney for the Honorable Richard D. Taylor, Bankruptcy Judge, Eastern & Western Districts of Arkansas
• Laura R. Westbrook, Staff Attorney for the Honorable Phyllis M. Jones, Chief Bankruptcy Judge, Eastern & Western Districts of Arkansas

2:30pm – 3:30pm

The Supreme Court and Bankruptcy 

• Hon. Ben T. Barry, United States Bankruptcy Judge, Eastern & Western Districts of Arkansas
• Hon. Richard D. Taylor, United States Bankruptcy Judge, Eastern & Western Districts of Arkansas

3:30pm – 3:45pm

Break

3:45pm – 4:45pm

Will This Be Admissible at Trial? What Do the Judges Think?

• Hon. Phyllis Jones, Chief Judge, United States Bankruptcy Court, Eastern & Western Districts of Arkansas
• Hon. Bianca Rucker, United States Bankruptcy Judge, Eastern & Western Districts of Arkansas
• Hon. Richard D. Taylor, United States Bankruptcy Judge, Eastern & Western Districts of Arkansas

4:45pm - 5:45pm

Happy Hour

Sponsored by the Central Arkansas Debtor-Creditor Bar

Tuesday, February 4 — Debtor/Creditor

Planners:

• Kellie Emerson, Staff Attorney, Office of Mark T. McCarty, Chapter 13 Standing Trustee
• Johnathan D. Horton, Wright Lindsey Jennings
• Mary-Tipton Thalheimer, Rose Law Firm
• Amanda Pace Welch, Staff Attorney, Office of Jack W. Gooding Chapter 13 Trustee

CLE: 5 General +1 Ethics hour

8:25am 

Welcome

Breakfast sponsored by Wright Lindsey Jennings

8:30am – 9:00am

Update from the Office of the United States Trustee and the Bankruptcy Court Clerk, Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas

• Linda McCormack, Clerk of Court, United States Bankruptcy Court, Eastern & Western Districts of Arkansas
• Patricia Stanley, Assistant United States Trustee

9:00am – 10:00am

Understanding the Rapidly Changing Practice of Student Loan Law

• Bruce Ralston, Hurst Law Firm

10:00am – 10:15am

Break

10:15am – 11:15am

Payment Fraud: Who's Left Holding the Bag?

• Adrienne Baker,  Wright Lindsey Jennings
• Kim Burnette, Associate General Counsel, Bank OZK

11:15am – 11:30am

Annual Section Meeting in Session Room

11:30am – 12:30pm

Lunch (Provided)

Sponsored by the Rose Law Firm

12:30pm – 2:00pm

What is Subchapter V All About?

• Beverly Brister, Subchapter 5 Trustee
• Jack W. Gooding, Chapter 13 Standing Trustee
• Hamilton M. Mitchell, Chapter 7 Trustee
• Renee Williams, Standing Chapter 12 Trustee

2:00pm – 2:15pm

Break

2:15pm – 3:15pm

Ethical Implications of the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence by Officers of the Court 

Ethics

• J. Douglas Cortés, J.D., LL.M, Director of Business Innovations Clinic, William H. Bowen School of Law
• Terri Day, Visiting Professor of Law, UA Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law

3:15pm – 4:15pm

Practice Pointers and Pitfalls from the Creditors Side

• Branch T. Fields, Lax, Vaughan, Fortson, Rowe & Threet, PA,
• Christopher A. McNulty, Rose Law Firm

Wednesday, February 5 — Track One: Tax Law

Planners:

• Hannah Van Horn, RMP LLP (Little Rock)
• Jessica Witherspoon, Davidson Law Firm

CLE: 5 General Hours  + 1 Ethics Hour

Breakfast, lunch and breaks sponsored by RMP, LLP

8:25am

Welcome

8:30am – 9:30am

2025 Partnership Tax Update

• Jason Thomas, Frost PLLC
  
• Jim Williams, Frost PLLC

9:30am – 10:30am

Tax Controversy/Tax Collection (Federal and Arkansas) 

• Petra Bailey, Wingfield & Corry, PA
• Nicolas Corry, Wingfield & Corry, PA

10:30am – 10:45am

Break

10:45am – 11:45am

Exit Planning: For the Closely Held Business Using Life Insurance

• John Curreri, Financial Advisor, Edward Jones
• Karen Hofmann, Prudential
• Cassie Rector, Edward Jones

11:45am – 1:00pm

Lunch Sponsored by RMP, LLP

12:45pm – 1:00pm

Annual Section Meeting

1:00pm – 2:00pm

Estate and Trust Litigation

• Tim Hutchinson, RMP LLP

2:00pm – 3:00pm

Ethics for the Tax Attorney

• Jessica Witherspoon, Davidson Law Firm

3:00pm  – 3:15pm

Break

3:15pm – 4:15pm

Charitable Giving

• Tony Hilliard, Senior Director of Planned Giving at University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

4:15pm

Happy Hour Sponsored by the University of Arkansas Advancement

Wednesday, February 5 — Track Two: Construction Law

Planners:

• JB Cross, Newland & Associates, PLLC
• Price Feland, Pinnacle Structures, Inc.
• Devon Kalkbrenner, Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C.

CLE: 5.5 General Hours

Breakfast, lunch and breaks sponsored by Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C.

8:20am

Welcome

8:30am – 9:30am

It’s (Probably) Not a Scam: Reviewing and Responding to Payment Redirection Demands Under UCC Assignments

• Allison R. Gladden, Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C.

9:30am – 10:30am

Storm Water Permitting For Construction Projects  

• Jordan Wimpy, Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C.

10:30am – 10:45am

Break

10:45am – 11:45am

Mitigating Mayhem: Insurance and Risk Insights for Legal Professionals

• Cash McMillen, CIC, CRM, Partner, Executive Vice President – Operations, Cashion Company Insurance and Bonding, LLC

11:45am – 1:00pm

Lunch Sponsored by Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C.

12:45pm - 1:00pm

Annual Section Meeting

1:00pm –2:00pm

TBA

2:00pm – 3:00pm

Reflections on One Year at the Contractors Licensing Board 

• James D. Lawson, Executive Director, Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board

3:00pm – 3:15pm

Break

3:15pm – 4:15pm

Equal Employment Rights of Women in the Construction Industry

• Jennifer Bearden, Trial Attorney, EEOC
• Maryna Jackson, Trial Attorney, EEOC
• Gary Sullivan, Assistant Regional Attorney, EEOC

Wednesday, February 5 — Track Three: Paralegal 

Planners:

• Paula Adams, RP, Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C.
• Tiffini Evans, Paralegal, Friday, Eldredge & Clark, LLP
• Monique Fleming, Paralegal to Chief Deputy Attorney General, Arkansas Attorney General’s Office
• Katie Wilson, Legal Assistant, Hyden, Miron & Foster, PLLC

Seating is limited to 20 participants

8:30am

Welcome

Breakfast Sponsored by Friday, Eldredge & Clark, LLP

8:35am – 9:35am

Bankruptcy Chapter 11 Subchapter V Overview

• Heather Martin-Herron, Partner, Wilson Law Group

9:35am – 10:35am

Elder Abuse and Miller Trust

• Brittany Edwards, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Public Protection Division, Arkansas Attorney General’s Office
• Tammera Harrelson, Deputy Attorney General, Arkansas Attorney General’s Office

10:35am – 10:50am

Break

10:50am – 11:50am

Tax Update, Beneficial Owner Reporting, and Estate Planning & Trusts

• Dustin Johnson, CPA, Senior Tax Manager, Frost PLLC 
• Vincent Escobar, Attorney, PWR, PLLC

11:50am – 12:50pm

Probate & Trust Law

• Lori Holzwarth, Attorney, Hyden, Miron & Foster, PLLC

Thursday, February 6 — Probate & Trust Law Track

Planners:

• David Bingham, Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C.
• Caleb Hollinger, Friday, Eldredge & Clark LLP
• Leon Jones, Big Rock Legacy Law Group, Attorneys & Counselors, PLC

CLE: 5 General hours + 1 Ethics hour

Gold Probate & Trust Law Track Sponsor: Simmons Bank Wealth Management

8:25am

Welcome

8:30am – 9:30am

Drafting Trusts for Income Tax Efficiency

• Will Clements, Stephens, Inc.

9:30am – 10:30am

Powers of Appointment : An Established Play in the Estate Planning Playbook

• Jordan Sharp, Friday, Eldredge & Clark LLP

10:30am – 10:45am

Break Sponsored by Simmons Bank Wealth Management

10:45am – 11:45am

In Terrorem Clauses in Arkansas: Drafting Considerations and Recent Case Law Affecting the No-Contest Clauses

• Brady Brown, Rose Law Firm 
• Luke E. Vance, Rose Law Firm

11:45pm – 1:00pm

Lunch Sponsored by Simmons Bank Wealth Management

12:45pm – 1:00pm

Section Meeting

1:00pm – 2:00pm

Ethics Panel: Review of Recent Supreme Court Cases

• Matthew R. House, James, House, Swann & Downing, P.A.
• Tony Hilliard, Senior Director of Planned Giving at University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
• Rufus Wolff, McDaniel Wolff, PLLC

2:00pm – 3:00pm

Practice Management from a Probate Perspective

• Steven McClelland, McClelland Law Firm, P.A.

3:00pm – 3:15pm

Break Sponsored by Simmons Bank Wealth Management

3:15pm – 4:15pm

Legacy Planning

• Jason Files, Pinnacle Legacy Law

Join us for the YLS Reception at The Flying Saucer
on Thursday starting at 5:30 pm!

323 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock, AR 72201

Friday, February 7 — Elder Law Track 

Planner:

• Ashley Stepps, Rippy, Stepps & Associates

CLE: 5 General hours + 1 Ethics hour

8:25am 

Welcome

8:30am - 10:30am

Planning for Inherited Retirement Accounts in 2025 

• Professor Chris Hoyt, University of Missouri (Kansas City) School of Law

Sponsored by Elder, Probate & Trust, and Tax Law Sections

10:30am - 10:45am

Break

10:45am - 11:45am

Retirement Assets in First and Second Marriages: Let the Fun Begin

• Professor Chris Hoyt, University of Missouri (Kansas City) School of Law

Sponsored by Elder, Probate & Trust, and Tax Law Sections

11:45am – 1:00pm

Lunch (Provided)

12:45pm - 1:00pm

Annual Section Meeting

1:00pm - 2:00pm

Legacy Leverage: Strategic Charitable Giving with DAFs and QCDs 

• Ashley Riggin Coldiron, Arkansas Community Foundation

• Heather Larkin, Arkansas Community Foundation

2:00pm - 3:00pm

Does Elder Law + Flat Fees = An Ethics Nightmare? 

• Lisa Shoalmire, Ross & Shoalmire, PLLC

3:00pm - 3:15pm

Break

3:15pm – 4:15pm

Elder Law and Order: Managing Your Practice without Losing Your Mind 

• Steven McClelland, McClelland Law Firm, P.A.