2026 NCBA Connect Agenda

8:30-10:00 a.m.

NCBA Board Meeting and working breakfast

Oceans Ballroom 2

11:00 a.m.

Shotgun Golf Scramble - Sponsored by TRAKAmerica

Start your conference experience by participating in the NCBA Golf Scramble at the prestigious and beautiful Hawks Landing Golf Club at the Marriott World Center.

The cost to participate is $225 and separate registration is required.

We're once again offering Super Tickets to upgrade your golf game with mulligans and to move up one tee box for $60 if you prepurchase or $80 on-site. Proceeds from the Golf Scramble will go to the NCBA Advocacy Support Fund.

10:00 a.m. Bus departs for the Golf Scramble.

Renaissance SeaWorld North Entrance – Lobby Level

2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Pickleball Tournament and Beginner Lessons - Sponsored by Provana

Come out and join the fun at Crush Yard. The cost to participate is $70 and separate registration is required.

Bus departs from the Renaissance SeaWorld North Entrance - Lobby Level at 1:30 p.m.

Crush Yard - 7840 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy, Kissimmee, FL

2:00-6:00 p.m

Registration Desk Open - Sponsored by Pro Asset

Oceans Ballroom Foyer

6:15-7:30 p.m.

Presidents' Welcome Reception - Sponsored by Provana

By invitation only. A special reception to celebrate and honor 2026 Advocacy Support Fund and NCBA PAC donors, committee members, Board of Directors, past presidents, and new members.

Oceans Terrace

7:30-9:00 a.m.

Invitation Only Roundtables

By invitation only for NCBA Member Law Firm Executives and Owners. RSVP required to attend. Breakfast sandwiches will be available to Roundtable attendees from 7:15-7:45 a.m. outside the Coral Ballroom (North end of hotel lobby)

Consistently the highest rated feature of our annual Executive Experience, this unique event will give firm leadership an exclusive opportunity to connect on the business of managing your law firm. You can expect to be at a table with 10-15 other firm executives, participating in a guided but open discussion of real business practice issues.

If you have not received your invitation, please reach out to Liz Terry to request to join.

Coral Ballroom

7:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

Registration Desk Open - Sponsored by Pro Asset

Oceans Ballroom Foyer

8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Client Individual and Group Meetings

By invitation only unless specified Open Meeting.

Group Meetings will be held in the Oceans Ballroom Client Meeting Rooms

8:00-11:00 a.m.

Espresso Bar

Oceans Ballroom Foyer

8:30-9:30 a.m.

SCBA Forum Breakfast Meeting - Sponsored by ProVest

For anyone interested in state advocacy issues.

Crystal Ballroom D

10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

Exhibit Hall Open

Oceans Ballroom Exhibit Hall

10:00-11:00 a.m.

Securing the Supply Chain: End to End Vendor Lifecycle Management

Third parties are essential for business growth and sustainability, but they also introduce significant operational, security and compliance risks. This session provides comprehensive framework for managing the entire vendor lifecycle.

Attendees will learn actionable strategies to safely integrate vendors, ensure ongoing accountability and securely terminate relationships to protect organizational and client assets. 

CLE is pending final state approval for this session.

Speakers: Barbara Nilsen, Blitt and Gaines P.C.; Sarena Gaylor, Couch Lambert LLC; Rebekah Luebcke, Invenio Financial

Location: Oceans Ballroom General Session Room

11:00 a.m.-12:10 p.m.

Bankruptcy Hot Topics

This session will cover a number of emerging hot topics in consumer and business bankruptcy cases. Topics covered will include the standards for dismissing a Chapter 11 case as a “bad faith” filing under § 1112(b) and the widening circuit split on that issue, with a particular focus on the relatively onerous standard applicable in the Fourth Circuit and the recent standard requiring “financial distress” established by the Third Circuit, the Supreme Court’s decision on non-consensual third-party releases in Chapter 11 plans in Harrington v. Purdue Pharma and a survey of recent lower court cases determining what constitutes a “consensual” third-party release (with a comparison of courts permitting “opt out” releases and those requiring “opt in” releases), as well as the rise of the use of AI in bankruptcy cases, including how to deal with consumer debtors using AI in their pleadings and a survey of the various approaches lower courts are employing to police the use of AI and “hallucinated” case citations in bankruptcy court pleadings.

CLE is pending final state approval for this session.

Speakers: Landon Van Winkle, Smith Debnam Narron Drake Saintsing & Myers, L.L.P.; John Sperati, Smith Debnam Narron Drake Saintsing & Myers, L.L.P.

Location: Oceans Ballroom General Session Room

12:10-1:20 p.m.

Lunch in Exhibit Hall - Sponsored by TrueML Products

Oceans Ballroom Exhibit Hall

12:10-1:10 p.m.

Bankruptcy & Replevin Lunch

Open to anyone interested in Bankruptcy and/or Replevin for the Creditors Rights Attorney.

Crystal D

1:20-2:20 p.m.

Debt Terminator: Rise of Non-Lawyer Representatives

Sovereign citizens, self-styled credit repair experts, arbitration advocates, non-profit organizations, and even generative AI are all engaged in conduct that is reserved for licenses attorneys. This session will address lawyers’ ethical responsibilities in such situations and strategies for dealing with such unauthorized practice of law.

Learning Objectives:

• Identifying instances of the unauthorized practice of law.
• Understanding an attorney’s ethical obligations when confronted with UPL.
• Developing strategies to deal with debtor’s use of non-attorney advisors and representatives.
• Developing strategies to deal with AI as the opposing attorney.

CLE is pending final state approval for this session.

Speakers: Lauren Burnette, Messer Strickler Burnette Ltd.; Tomio Narita, Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP.; Manny Newburger, Barron & Newburger, P.C.; Jeff Topor, Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP.

Location: Oceans Ballroom General Session Room

3:30-3:45 p.m.

Break in Exhibit Hall

Oceans Ballroom Exhibit Hall

3:45-5:00 p.m.

Opening General Session and NCBA Annual Meeting

Join us for our annual Meeting and Town Hall to hear from NCBA leadership on the state of the association featuring remarks from NCBA President, Tom Canary of Keith D. Weiner & Associates Co. LPA, President-Elect, Ellie Tami of Gordon, Aylworth & Tami, P.C.; and Treasurer, David Weimer of Kramer & Frank P.C.

The World of AI: From Foundations to Opportunities 

This 60-minute session will focus on establishing a high-level, conceptual foundation as to how AI works and to interact with AI, given the industry’s heightened security expectations. With this foundation in place, we will then investigate legal services-related use-cases and where the practical deployment of Agentic AI is headed.

Speakers: Michael Scott, Scott & Associates, P.C.

Location: Oceans Ballroom General Session Room

5:00-6:00 p.m.

Reception - Sponsored by the Defense Bar

Sponsored by:

Frost Echols LLC

Messer Strickler Burnette, Ltd

The Law Offices of Ronald S. Canter, LLC

Grand Ballroom – Exhibit Hall

8:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m.

After Party Sponsored by ProVest

Join us after the first full day of the conference for an after-dinner party featuring a premium open bar, lite bites and desserts, and a live performance by SWITCH “Rock the Decades” - which covers material from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s - and they do it in costume!

Crystal Ballroom

7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Registration Desk Open - Sponsored by Pro Asset

Oceans Ballroom Foyer

7:45 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

Exhibit Hall Open

Oceans Ballroom Exhibit Hall

7:45-8:30 a.m.

Breakfast in Exhibit Hall - Sponsored by TransUnion

Oceans Ballroom Exhibit Hall

8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Client Individual and Group Meetings

Group Meetings will be held in the Oceans Ballroom Client Group Meeting Rooms

Oceans Ballroom Foyer

8:00-11:00 a.m.

Espresso Bar

Oceans Ballroom Exhibit Hall

8:30-9:30 a.m.

Coerced Debt, Identity Theft, and Credit Reporting: Legal Standards, State Trends, and Practical Guardrails for Creditors, Lenders, and Counsel

Coerced debt and identity theft claims are creating new legal, compliance, and litigation challenges for creditors, lenders, debt buyers, and their counsel. As state laws continue to evolve, practitioners must be prepared to evaluate allegations, respond appropriately in court, and navigate credit reporting obligations under the FCRA. This session will provide a practical overview of how coerced debt claims arise, what documentation may be required to support them, and how counsel can respond when allegations are raised in pleadings, discovery, or even for the first time at trial. Panelists will discuss litigation strategies, evidentiary considerations, emerging state trends, and compliance guardrails designed to balance fraud prevention, victim protections, and client risk management.

Attendees will leave with practical guidance for handling coerced debt and identity theft defenses, preserving the record, coordinating with clients, and aligning litigation and compliance practices with evolving legal and regulatory expectations.

Speakers: Caren Enloe, Smith Debnam Narron Drake Saintsing & Myers, L.L.P.; Anne Thomas, Cavalry Portfolio Services; Nathan Willner, , NCBA (Moderator)

Location: Oceans Ballroom General Session Room

9:30-9:40 a.m.

Break in Exhibit Hall

Oceans Ballroom Exhibit Hall

9:40-10:40 a.m.

Ethics Under Examination: Vital Considerations for Collection Law Firms during a State Examination or Investigation

State regulatory examinations and investigations present unique ethical and professional responsibility challenges for collection law firms. This session will explore key issues that arise when responding to regulator inquiries, managing client and consumer information, maintaining privilege and confidentiality, and navigating interactions with examiners and enforcement personnel, while offering practical strategies to reduce risk and ensure compliance.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this program, attendees will be able to:

• Recognize ethical issues commonly encountered during state examinations and investigations.
• Analyze confidentiality and privilege considerations when responding to regulator requests.
• Understand best practices for engaging with examiners and enforcement personnel.
• Implement practical strategies to reduce regulatory and professional responsibility risks. ETHICS

CLE is pending for final state approval for this session

Speakers: Joann Needleman, Clark Hill; Nicole Strickler, Messer Strickler Burnette Ltd.

Location: Oceans Ballroom General Session Room

11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Emerging AI Use at Law Firms, Vendors: How to Stay Current and Where Should We Have Concerns 

Industry experts will share their real-world experiences exploring and deploying AI tools within their organizations. The discussion will focus on how AI is transforming collections and driving innovation while balancing legal, compliance, and operational risks as well as cover practical approaches to AI governance, emerging regulatory considerations, and how AI is reshaping the role and future of the legal department.

CLE is pending final state approval for this session.

Speakers: Jonathan Goldberg, National Recovery Associates Inc.; Todd Gurstel, Gurstel Law Firm P.C.; Regina Slowey, Barron & Newburger, P.C.; Brandon Speaks, Provana; Jackie Wilson, U.S. Bank

Oceans Ballroom General Session Room

12:00-1:00 p.m.

Lunch in Exhibit Hall – Sponsored by Provana

Oceans Ballroom Exhibit Hall

12:00-1:15 p.m

Defense Bar Lunch

Oceans Ballroom 4

1:30-2:30 p.m.

Who's Responsible When Staff Goes Wrong? Ethics in High-Volume Collections Practice

Effective leadership in a law firm extends beyond case management. It includes the ethical responsibility for supervising attorneys and non-attorney staff. This session examines the professional obligations imposed on managing and supervising attorneys under the Rules of Professional Conduct. Participants will leave with practical guidance for avoiding common ethical pitfalls, and best practices for creating a culture of ethical decision making amongst all staff.

CLE is pending final state approval for this session.

Speakers: Crystal Duplay, Frost Echols LLC; Michael Lewis, Keith D. Weiner & Associates Co., L.P.A.; Brit Suttell, Barron & Newburger, P.C.

Location: Oceans Ballroom General Session Room

2:40-3:40 p.m.

Defense Bar Hot Topics

This session will highlight current and emerging 2026 creditors’ rights law “hot topics” affecting law firms, creditors, and collection professionals. Presenters will offer practical guidance to help law firms identify risk, strengthen policies, supervise technology use, and respond to emerging litigation and regulatory challenges. Attendees will gain practical guidance on identifying risk, responding to claims, strengthening policies and procedures, and anticipating the legal issues law firms are likely to face in the near future.

Session presenters will provide attendees with the latest legal outlook and practical compliance considerations on:

• Ethical AI use in legal practice
• Ambiguous Consumer Requests 
• FCRA "Disputes"
• Identity Theft Challenges 
• TCPA Concerns
• State Compliance trends
• Electronic Communications and Regulation F
• Dealing with AI generated documents and the pro se litigant

CLE is pending final state approval for this session.

Speakers: John Bedard, Bedard Law Group, P.C.; Mitch Williamson, Barron & Newburger, P.C.; Xerxes Martin, Martin Golden Lyons Watts Morgan PLLC

Location: Oceans Ballroom General Session Room

3:30-5:00 p.m.

JST User Group Meeting

JST customers only please.

Crystal D

3:40-4:00 p.m.

Break in Exhibit Hall

Oceans Ballroom Exhibit H

4:00-5:15 p.m.

Client-Only Reception

By invitation only.

Sponsored by:

Oceans Ballroom 4

5:00-6:00 p.m.

Reception - Sponsored by Equifax

Oceans Ballroom Exhibit Hall

7:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Registration Desk Open - Sponsored by Pro Asset

Oceans Ballroom Foyer

7:45 a.m.-11:00 a.m.

Exhibit Hall Open

Oceans Ballroom Exhibit Hall

7:45-8:30 a.m.

Breakfast in Exhibit Hall

Oceans Ballroom Exhibit Hall

8:00-11:00 a.m.

Espresso Bar

Oceans Ballroom Exhibit Hall

8:30-9:30 a.m.

What the Latest Industry Data Means for Collection Law Firms in 2026

The session addresses how shifts in account age, increased debt settlement activity, and evolving consumer behavior affect pleadings, settlement negotiations, dispute handling, and courtroom outcomes. Particular attention is given to documentation standards, supervision of non-attorney staff, vendor oversight, and the use of technology and automation in ways that support ethical practice and defensibility.

Please note this is not a summary of the 2025 TransUnion report. It is an applied analysis of how recent industry data intersects with legal obligations, ethical considerations, and litigation risk management in 2026. Using creditor, agency, and law firm specific findings as context, the discussion examines how collection attorneys can adapt firm operations, case strategy, and client advisory practices while maintaining compliance with federal and state consumer protection laws.

This program focuses on legal analysis, risk mitigation, and professional responsibility considerations relevant to attorneys practicing in collections, creditors rights, and consumer finance litigation.

CLE is pending final state approval for this session.

Speakers: Adam Parks, Adam Parks Inc./Receivables Info; Manny Plasencia, TransUnion; Kevin Spinozza, Pollack & Rosen, PA

Location: Oceans Ballroom General Session Room

9:40-10:40 a.m.

TCPA and Texting Risks: Professional Responsibility, Ethics, & Compliance in DIgital Debt Collection – Sponsored by TrueML Products

The rules governing how collection firms reach consumers by phone, and text have shifted dramatically — from the Supreme Court's decision to strip FCC interpretations of their binding force, to the vacated one-to-one consent rule, to the new "any reasonable manner" revocation standard. This session gives collection lawyers and compliance officers a practical, up-to-date roadmap for TCPA and FDCPA-compliant texting, and pairs risk areas with the professional-responsibility obligations that attach when technology, non-lawyer staff, and consumer data are involved. Attendees leave with actionable compliance controls and a clear view of where ethics rules — not just statutes — create exposure when collection firms engage in digital debt collection.

Learning Objectives:

Apply the current TCPA framework — including the post-McLaughlin loss of FCC deference, the vacated one-to-one consent rule, and the "any reasonable manner" revocation standard — to real-world texting and dialing campaigns.

Build a defensible texting-compliance program that reconciles TCPA, FDCPA/Regulation F, the Safeguards Rule, and carrier (10DLC) requirements, and that survives the pleading-stage scrutiny courts applied in Robertson/Robinson v. TrueAccord.

Identify and manage the professional-responsibility triggers embedded in digital collections — technological competence, supervision of non-lawyer staff and vendors, confidentiality of consumer data, communication with represented parties, and the responsible use of AI tools.

CLE is pending final state approval for this session.

Speakers: Kelly Knepper-Stephens, TrueML; M’Cori Van Ess, Gurstel Law Firm

Location: Oceans Ballroom General Session Room