More. . .

Center Menu

2026 Chicago Judicial Valuation Conference

Center logo

You are invited to the Chicago Judicial Valuation Conference. This two-day event brings together academics, practitioners, and judges to examine and evaluate current valuation practices in financial litigation. 

The question of valuing an asset comes up in merger appraisals, bankruptcy proceedings, and the litigation of most financial transactions. Recent scholarship has highlighted the challenges courts face in applying financial models of valuation as well as the misaligned incentives of parties and experts. This conference will explore solutions to these problems as well as fundamental principles and practices of judicial valuation. 

The conference will be held at the University of Chicago, Gleacher Center, 450 North Cityfront Plaza Drive, in Chicago, IL, on March 19-20, 2026. Registration is required and will close on Thursday, March 12, 2026. 

This course has been approved for 9.0 Illinois MCLE general credit hours. There is no registration fee required to attend the conference; however, guests are responsible for their own travel and accommodation. 

With thanks to our Sponsors

Cornerstone logo

 

Kirkland & Ellis logo
White & Case logo
Ropes & Gray logo

Conference Agenda

  • Thursday, March 19, 2026
    • Breakfast & Registration
      • -
    • Welcome
      • -

      • William H. J. Hubbard, Deputy Dean, Clifton R. Musser Professor of Law and Economics

        Anthony J. Casey, Donald M. Ephraim Professor of Law and Economics and Faculty Director, Center on Law and Finance, University of Chicago Law School

    • Panel 1: General Judicial Practices
      • -

      • Andrew C. Baker, UC Berkeley School of Law

        Judge Meredith S. Grabill (Bankr. E.D. LA)

        Andrew Granato, Yale School of Management

        Kyle J. Kimpler, Paul, Weiss

        Paul Zurek, Cornerstone Research

    • Break
      • -
    • Panel 2: Private Credit & Valuation in the Bargaining Context
      • -

      • Judge Marvin Isgur (Bankr. S.D. TX)

        Jessica S. Li, University of Chicago Booth School of Business

        David C. Smith, University of Virginia, McIntire School of Commerce

        Robert J. Stark, Brown Rudnick

        Amir Sufi, University of Chicago Booth School of Business

    • Lunch
      • -
    • Panel 3: International Valuation Practices
      • -

      • Anthony J. Casey, University of Chicago Law School

        Justice Linda Chan, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, Hong Kong

        Joon Hyug Chung, Seoul National University School of Law, Securities and Futures Commission of Korea

        Judge Young Seok Kim, Changwon District Court Tongyeong Branch, South Korea

        Sebastiaan van den Berg, RESOR, Netherlands

    • Break
      • -
    • Panel 4: Valuing Litigation/Litigation Finance
      • -

      • Douglas Baird, University of Chicago Law School

        Christopher Catalano, Burford Capital

        Christopher Hagale, Lake Whillans

        John Skakun, Sidley Austin LLP

        Kathryn E. Spier, Harvard Law School

    • Reception
      • -
  • Friday, March 20, 2026
    • Breakfast
      • -
    • Panel 5: Bankruptcy Specific Valuation Challenges
      • -

      • Judge Meredith S. Grabill (Bankr. E.D. LA)

        Ben Iverson, Brigham Young University Marriott School of Management

        Young Soo Jang, Penn State University Smeal College of Business

        Alexandra Schwarzman, Kirkland & Ellis LLP

    • Break
      • -
    • Panel 6: Bankruptcy Sales
      • -

      • Edith Hotchkiss, Boston College Carroll School of Management

        Stephen L. Iacovo, Ropes & Gray LLP

        Michael Simkovic, USC Gould School of Law & Justice Chris Sontchi, (Del. Bankr. Ret.; Singapore Court)

        Judge Michael B. Slade (Bankr. N.D. IL)

        James H. M. Sprayregen, Hilco Global

    • Closing Lunch
      • -