Benjamin Ellison of St. Johns University School of Law Wins ABIs Fifth Annual Law Student Writing Competition

Benjamin Ellison of St. Johns University School of Law Wins ABIs Fifth Annual Law Student Writing Competition

Alexandria, Va.— Benjamin Ellison of St. John's University School of Law won the American Bankruptcy Institute’s Fifth Annual Bankruptcy Law Student Writing Competition. Ellison’s paper, "Is It Possible that After More than 20 Years, the Supreme Court's Dewsnup v. Timm Decision Might Finally Be Overturned?," received the highest overall score from a panel of judges that included ABI Vice President- Publications Lynnette Warman of Hunton & Williams LLP (Dallas), Scott Brown of Lewis and Roca (Phoenix), Bankruptcy Judge Kevin J. Carey (D. Del.) and ABI Resident Scholar Prof. C. Scott Pryor of Regent University School of Law (Virginia Beach, Va.). Ellison will receive a $2,000 cash prize, publication of the paper in the ABI Journal and a one-year ABI membership.

Ashley Champion of Georgia State University College of Law received second place for her paper, “Use it or Lose it: Waiver of Article III Adjudication in a Post-Stern World.” Champion will receive a cash award of $1,250, publication of the paper in a future ABI committee newsletter and a one-year ABI membership. Henry Hildebrand IV, of the University of Tennessee College of Law, received third place for his paper, “Keeping the Car after Bankruptcy: Practical Solutions for Chapter 7 Debtors after BAPCPA.” He will be presented a cash award of $750, publication of the paper in a future ABI committee newsletter and a one-year ABI membership.

Law students submitted papers from January 1 to March 1 for the competition, which focused on current issues regarding matters such as bankruptcy sales, plan confirmation and other topics that involve jurisdiction, litigation or evidence in the bankruptcy courts. All papers were judged on style, substance and relevance. Invotex sponsored the first-place prize, Jenner & Block LLP sponsored the second-place prize and Thompson & Knight sponsored the third-place prize.

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ABI is the largest multi-disciplinary, nonpartisan organization dedicated to research and education on matters related to insolvency. ABI was founded in 1982 to provide Congress and the public with unbiased analysis of bankruptcy issues. The ABI membership includes more than 13,000 attorneys, accountants, bankers, judges, professors, lenders, turnaround specialists and other bankruptcy professionals providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and information. For additional information on ABI, visit www.abiworld.org. For additional conference information, visit http://www.abiworld.org/conferences.html.