A history of BBLA
Business & Bankruptcy Law Association (“BBLA”) was formed by a group of Texas Tech School of Law students in the spring of 2005 and originally named Corporate Restructuring & Bankruptcy Law Society (“CRBLS”). The objective of CRBLS under the leadership of founding President, Camisha Simmons, was to provide students with practical knowledge of corporate restructuring and bankruptcy law.
To
achieve this goal, CRBLS, along with the West Texas Bankruptcy Bar
Association, cosponsored moot court teams that represented Texas
Tech School of Law at the Annual Judge Conrad B. Duberstein National
Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition in New York, New York. Ms. Simmons
was instrumental in providing CRBLS members with this opportunity
and sought networking opportunities with members of local Bankruptcy
Bar Associations and Texas Tech Law Alumni. CRBLS held meetings and
special events that featured distinguished judges and practicing
attorneys who spoke on issues narrowly focused on bankruptcy and
corporate restructuring.
In fall 2006, a change of leadership brought about a name change
when President Daniel Ruiz renamed CRBLS to
Corporate & Bankruptcy Law Society (“CBLS”). This name
change was in response to a majority of the members who expressed
interest in increased organizational exposure to topics related to
corporate law. At the end of his term, Mr. Ruiz was instrumental in
endorsing new leadership
that would further embrace a shift in focus on corporate law, in
addition to bankruptcy law, and overlapping
topics. A final name
change of
Business & Bankruptcy Law Association (“BBLA”) memorializes
the two primary interests of the members.
Under the leadership of President Shatorree Bates, 2007-2008 was a rewarding year for active members. BBLA hosted speaking engagements featuring legal professionals in the field of business, corporate, bankruptcy, tax, and banking law. To ensure that BBLA members stay abreast on the business and bankruptcy industry, Ms. Bates implemented a Student Advisory Committee dedicated to provide members with national and global updates via emails, committee reports, oral presentations, and panel presentations. Chairpersons appointed to this committee and Faculty Advisors are continually committed to facilitating educational and research opportunities for the benefit of all BBLA members.
BBLA is headed toward another successful year under the leadership of President Teresa Duong during the 2008-2009 term. Ms. Duong previously served as the Business Chair for BBLA's Student Advisory Committee in 2007-2008. Her experience also includes managing a commercial real estate leasing corporation; working for two Dallas law firms that handle corporate/business, real estate, civil ligation, and bankruptcy matters; and externing with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Regional Counsel's Office in Fort Worth, Texas.
BBLA's current objective is to provide members with the opportunity to broaden their exposure by providing research reports and encouraging their involvement in BBLA activities that make it possible to reach the foregoing goals, build their résumé by relaying opportunities for practical experience, and build their network by providing knowledgeable speakers in the industry.
BBLA will continue to cosponsor moot court teams to participate in the annual Duberstein National Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition in New York. BBLA also hopes to provide its members with an additional opportunity to participate in the Administrative Law Moot Court Competition in Austin, Texas. While the bankruptcy competition provides practical experience for bankruptcy litigation, the administrative law competition provides litigation experience in state regulation of publicly licensed business professionals.
By taking advantage of BBLA sponsored activities, research reports, and competitions, BBLA members empower themselves with legal knowledge, practical experience, and networking opportunities to gain meaningful insight and increase their access to employment in any business, corporation, or bankruptcy law related career.
