UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

What’s happening?

CFBLA and Legal Community Upcoming Events

·       2027 Membership Now Open – Renew Your Membership Today!

·    October 29, 2026 (Thurs) - CFBLA Kevin E. Mangum Memorial Pro Bono Excellence Award Happy Hour Celebration

·         Nov 4, 2026 – Judge Williamson’s Portrait Ceremony

·         Nov 4, 2026 - IWIRC Dinner - Tampa View from the Bench

·         Nov 5 & 6, 2026 – View from the Bench Series

·         Nov 18, 2026 (Wed) - CFBLA CLE Lunch: Financial Statements in Bankruptcy

·         Nov 20, 2026 (Fri) – Annual Mini-Golf Tournament

·         Dec 9, 2026 (Wed) – CFBLA Holiday Party at Winderweedle, Haines

·  April 8-11, 2026 - SAVE THE DATE NACBA’s 35th Annual Convention

Thursday, October 29, 2026

CFBLA Happy Hour - Kevin E. Mangum Memorial Pro Bono Excellence Award

Join us as we conclude our Celebrate Pro Bono Week festivities with this special happy hour!  This evening, generously sponsored by Yip Associates, will feature the presentation of the Kevin E. Mangum Memorial Pro Bono Excellence Award as we honor outstanding pro bono service within our legal community. 

• Date: Thursday, October 29, 2026

• Time: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

• Location:  Baker & Hostetler
  200 S. Orange Avenue
  Suite 2300
  Orlando, Florida

• Cost: Free

• RSVP: RSVP is required for building security and entry.

thank you for Your Nomination!

Thank you to all who took the time to submit nominations recognizing the exceptional pro bono contributions of our colleagues. Your participation in this process helps us honor those who exemplify the highest ideals of our profession by ensuring access to justice for those in need. 

I am pleased to share with you the following list of nominees for the 2026 Kevin E. Mangum Memorial Pro Bono Excellence Award: 

     Andrew Ballentine
     Michael Paasch
     Sahil Vijay Patel
     Seth Greenhill 

Please join me in commending these attorneys for their outstanding commitment to providing pro bono legal services! 

Award Presentation:

The 2026 Kevin E. Mangum Memorial Pro Bono Excellence Award will be presented to the winner at our CFBLA Happy Hour on October 29, 2026, at Baker Hostetler. Thanks to our happy hour sponsor, Yip Associates, this happy hour will be fully hosted with appetizers and an open bar. We hope you will join us to close out National Pro Bono Week by celebrating our nominees and recognizing this year's award recipient. We encourage you to consider nominating a deserving colleague, or yourself, for this prestigious recognition. CFBLA Pro Bono Award recognizes outstanding contributions to pro bono service in all forms. With its expanded scope, the award now honors efforts beyond its original focus on service to the Middle District pro se clinic.

Sincerely,

Lori Patton, President
Central Florida Bankruptcy Law Association

Thursday & Friday, November 5 & 6, 2026

View from the Bench Series

Wednesday, November 18, 2026

CFBLA CLE Lunch - Financial statements in Bankruptcy

Sponsored by Ewald Auctions

Join us for an informative CLE presented by Danielle Torbert and Michael Shepardson of Cornerpoint Advisors, as they present Financial Statements in Bankruptcy: Spotting Major Red Flags from the Beginning.  

• Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2026

• Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

• Location:  Akerman, 420 S. Orange Ave, Orlando, FL

• CLE:  1 Hour General CLE (pending)

• Cost:  $25 members | $35 non-members

• RSVP:  RSVP by Tuesday, November 17, 2026

Friday, November 20, 2026

CFBLA Second Annual Golf Invitational 

BECOME A SPONSOR! Want to be part of the fun? Grab a sponsorship and help us make this golf outing a hole-in-one! Several sponsorships include complimentary foursomes. All include name recognition!

Wednesday, December 9, 2026

CFBLA Holiday Party

• Time: 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM

• Location:  Winderweedle, Haines, Ward & Woodman, PA
  329 Park Avenue North
  Winter Park, Florida

• Cost: Free