Call for Papers - 6th International and Comparative Law Insolvency Symposium

The 6th International and Comparative Law Insolvency Symposium will be held on 6–7 November 2026 (Friday and Saturday) at Drake University Law School in Des Moines, Iowa.

The Symposium will be co-organised by Prof. Christoph Henkel (Drake University Law School), Prof. Adrian Walters (IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law), Prof. Laura Napoli Coordes (Arizona State University, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law), and Dr. Eugenio Vaccari (Royal Holloway, University of London). The previous symposium, hosted by Royal Holloway in 2024, brought together scholars and practitioners from more than 15 countries and proved to be an outstanding forum for international and comparative insolvency scholarship.

The event will feature a keynote address by The Honorable Michelle Harner, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Maryland and Editor-in-Chief of the American Bankruptcy Law Journal. In addition, at least one panel will include judges and practitioners with significant experience in cross-border insolvency. The organisers are also seeking to secure the participation of John J. Ray III, Drake alumnus and Chief Recovery Officer of the FTX bankruptcy.

The Symposium will be free of charge for all participants.

Scholars and practitioners working in the broad field of international, comparative, and cross-border insolvency and restructuring law are invited to express interest in presenting their work. Academics of all levels, fellows, post-doctoral and graduate students, as well as practitioners are eligible to submit paper proposals. Submissions from early career researchers (ECRs) are highly encouraged. To submit an entry, interested participants should send a short abstract (max. 750 words) together with the author's name, title of the paper, institutional affiliation, contact information and brief biographical note (max. 200 words). Recently published work, as well as works in progress, are welcome, and the Symposium is intended to provide a supportive environment for workshopping and discussion.

Expressions of interest must be submitted to Professor Christoph Henkel (christoph.henkel@drake.edu) no later than 31 March 2026.

Further details will be shared with selected participants in due course.

Eugenio Vaccari is a Senior Lecturer in Law, Royal Holloway, University of London

Christoph Henkel is Richard M. and Anita Calkins Distinguished Professor of Law, Drake University Law School

Adrian Walters is a Professor of Law, IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law

Laura N Coordes is a Professor of Law, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University