NAFER 2026 Annual Conference

A View from the Bench: Judicial Perspectives on the Evolving Practice of Federal Receiverships
This distinguished panel will offer a rare opportunity to hear directly from members of the federal judiciary about the evolving practice of federal receiverships and the issues that increasingly confront courts, receivers, and counsel.
The panel will examine the practical, legal, and ethical considerations that shape the Court’s oversight of a receivership, including the standards and expectations applicable to receivers appearing before the Court. Panelists will discuss the qualities that contribute to an effective receivership, the importance of candor and credibility in proceedings before the Court, and the responsibility of experienced practitioners to help prepare the next generation of receivers for increasingly complex assignments.
The discussion will address several recurring and consequential issues in receivership practice, including the treatment of parallel criminal proceedings, questions of equity and competing interests, the appropriate use of amicus briefs, and considerations that arise during the appellate process. Panelists will also address the role of comprehensive, carefully structured distribution plans in achieving an orderly and equitable resolution of receivership estates.
The panel will further consider the Court’s perspective on fee applications and the manner in which proposed orders can facilitate meaningful judicial review while promoting efficiency and transparency in the administration of receivership estates.
Finally, the panel will examine one of the most significant developments confronting the federal courts and the legal profession: the increasing accessibility and use of artificial intelligence. Judges will share their observations concerning AI-generated pleadings and other filings, the implications for judicial resources and docket management, and the professional and ethical concerns presented by inaccurate or fabricated authorities and other AI-generated content.
This is a rare opportunity to hear directly from the bench about what judges see, what they expect, and what they believe receivers and their counsel should be thinking about as the profession enters its next chapter.