Loyola XI Program Preview
By Mia Blackler*
Friends and Colleagues. It is my pleasure to take the reins from Ben King as your 2026 Chair, and I couldn’t be more excited to take on this role at a time when receiverships are in full force across California (and beyond) in real estate, businesses of all shapes and sizes, health and safety, government enforcement and unwinding the damage done by fraudsters.
As we sail into 2026, there’s no better start to the year for the receivership industry than to come together – to check in with one another to see what new challenges are on the horizon, and to learn from one another as we bring order to chaos, make the tough decisions that others cannot, brainstorm and coordinate resolutions beyond the courts, and look incredibly cool doing it.
There’s a common theme these days: I’m so busy! But that’s no excuse to miss the 2026 Loyola XI Symposium on January 29-30, 2026. https://www.receivers.org/loyola-symposia\. Indeed, it’s all the more reason to join us in Long Beach. As always, the quality of the educational programs will be excellent, and taught by a mixture of seasoned experts with a number of new faces to keep things fresh. It is so important for us to invite and integrate folks who weren’t with us for the rough seas of 2008-2012. If you’re coming to the conference, bring your friend, your co-worker, and your client. We can’t wait to meet and welcome new people.
In terms of the topics we will cover at the seminars, we’ll bring you an economic update to go with fine dining on Thursday evening from Christopher Thornberg with Beacon Economics. About – Christopher Thornberg. Chris will again bring us his unvarnished look at both current trends and what his crystal ball reveals for the global, national and California economies which are virtually guaranteed to keep the receivership industry occupied and energized into 2026 and beyond. After Chris’ presentation, please seek harbor with us for networking at an exclusive after-party reception hosted by Boos & Associates, featuring Jimmy Buffett style entertainment and adult beverages.
Friday will be a full day of seminars, jam-packed with meaningful tips and topics guaranteed to make you taller, leaner, stronger, and above all the best prepared. Here’s what we have in store for you, including:
(a) Aye, Aye Captain! The Judges Panel. Who better to start the conference than the judges who may appoint you and gain valuable insight from those who have moved on to ADR and can share ways for us to improve in our assignments and communications with the courts? Featuring Los Angeles Superior Court Judges Mitchell Beckloff (Ret.), Stephen Goorvitch, Curtis Kin, and Mary H. Strobel (Ret.). Moderated by Oren Bitan, Buchalter.
(b) Turn this ship around! Troubled Waters? Trends in Receivership/Commercial Real Estate. Commercial real estate challenges are not going away. Come dip your toe in the troubled waters, and work through “real time” hypotheticals with attorneys, receivers, brokers and property management to discuss recent sector trends, current sale challenges on the horizon, and how best to maximize a sale structure within different kinds of receiverships. Presented by Ryan Baker, President & CEO, Verax, Anne Beehler, Partner, Holland & Knight, Mia Blackler, Partner, Lubin Olson & Niewiadomski, Pete Kutzer, Managing Partner, Edgewood Reality Partners, Michelle Vives, President, Douglas Wilson Companies, and Todd Wohl, Partner, Braun International.
(c) Who’s steering this thing? Picking the Captain: ABC, CRO, or Receiver. In turbulent markets, distressed companies need the right hand at the helm. This panel explores when an ABC, CRO, or receiver is best suited to steer a troubled enterprise through rough patches. Experienced practitioners will compare and contrast across these models and discuss navigation of the right course in shifting seas. The panel members are Kyra Andrassy, Partner, Raines Feldman Littrell, Jake Diiorio, Managing Director, Stapleton Group, A part of J.S. Held, Matt English, Senior Managing Director, Arch + Beam, Michael Hogan, Partner, Armanino, and Zev Shechtman, Partner, Saul Ewing.
(d) Avoid the corporate icebergs ahead. Provisional Directorships are often misunderstood or undervalued, but in fact they present a highly effective remedy in corporate shareholder disputes. You will learn about the appointment procedure and basis, the legal authority, and the best situations to consider appointing a provisional director over other equitable remedies, bolstered by the panelists’ own success stories. This panel consists of Richard Munro, Chief Executive Officer, Invenz, Laura Petrie, Senior Counsel, Cox Castle, and is moderated by Danielle Mayer, Senior Counsel, Buchalter.
(e) Something to go with your sunset sail? Buds, Booze, Fruits & Nuts: Top Ten Things to Know When Dealing with an Ag, Alcohol or Cannabis Receivership. Join us for a spirited discussion of the many ways a receiver can distill value from distressed agriculture, alcohol and cannabis. This “wine to nuts” discussion will cover liquor licenses, industry trends, international elements, and more. It’s sure to be intoxicating! Featuring Val Banter Peo, Shareholder, Buchalter, Michael Brewer, President, Alcoholic Beverage Consulting Service, Michael Gomez, Attorney, Frandzel, Scott Sackett, Founder & President, Fiduciary Management Technologies, and moderator Scott Moskol, Partner, Blank Rome.
(f) Shall we play a game? There’s none better than Peter Davidson, Senior Partner, Ervin Cohen & Jessup, prolific author of Ask the Receiver and myriad articles in the Receivership News, to lead a spirited discussion with expert receivers to test their knowledge and keep you entertained. Peter will be joined by Richard Ormond, Shareholder, Buchalter, Kevin Singer, Founder & President, Receivership Specialists, and David Statpleon, President, Stapleton Group, a part of J.S. Held.
(g) Better together – when receiverships met bankruptcy. Join Judge Sheri Bluebond, U.S.B.C. for the Central District of California, Caroline Djang, Shareholder, Buchalter, Seth Freeman, Senior Managing Director, GlassRatner, and Uzzi Raanan, Partner, Blank Rome, to discuss how courts handle bar or release orders in two contexts: the Ninth Circuit’s Gina Champion-Cain SEC receivership, where bar orders were upheld as necessary and fair to protect the receivership estate and settle investor claims vs. the Purdue Pharma bankruptcy, where the Supreme Court struck down non-consensual third-party releases shielding the Sackler family.
(h) Icebergs ahead! Ancillary Litigation in Receiverships. It happens in many ways: a receiver takes the helm knowing that the seas will be rough, and other times a receiver may be broadsided by torpedoes from nowhere. This panel will discuss ways to plan for and manage ancillary receivership litigation, including discussion of the typical types of receivership litigation, common ways for a receiver to avoid disputes, tools needed to accomplish litigation goals, and receiver liability traps to avoid. Benjamin King, Partner, Loeb & Loeb, Jackson Wyche, Principal, Receivership Specialists, Krista Freitag, Principal, E3 Advisors.
It’s not just learning to become better receiver professionals and stay current on what is shaping the industry in the coming year, but also it is equally important to maintain our friendships and collegiality within the organization and grow together with new faces. In that regard, we will have plenty of networking receptions and breaks, with good food accompanied by readily flowing drinks and conversations. Since AI isn’t yet ready to replace us, then I look forward to welcoming each of you in January. Mia
*Mia Blackler is a partner with Lubin Olson in San Francisco and Chair-Elect of the California Receiver’s Forum. She is chair of its Creditor’s Rights, Receiverships, and Insolvency service group with an emphasis in commercial real property and financial institutions receivership litigation.