2026 ILCBA Spring Seminar
Creditors Rights:
Procedures and Enforcement
Monday, February 16, 2026 8:45 AM - 3:30 PM | Virtual via Zoom
Approved for 5 CLE Credits &
1 Professional Responsibility Credit
The Illinois Creditors Bar Association invites you to attend our 2026 Spring Seminar on Monday, February 16!
Join your peers for an interactive and informative program, featuring insights from experienced practitioners and members of the judiciary. If you're looking to expand your expertise, this seminar is for you.
Spring Seminar Speakers
Session: Introduction to the New IL Receivership Act
Samuel H. Levine, Of Counsel
Downey & Lenkov LLC
Samuel Levine’s practice covers a broad spectrum of activities in the area of real estate litigation, including construction disputes, mechanics liens and bond claims, commercial mortgage foreclosures and other proceedings to enforce creditors’ rights, real estate title disputes and bankruptcy matters.
Samuel has extensive experience representing title insurance companies and their insureds in complex title claims and real estate title actions. He also advises and represents lenders, note purchasers and servicers in loan workouts, collateral enforcement proceedings, and actions against guarantors, providing strategic counsel to protect their interests and resolve disputes effectively.
Session: Recent Amendments to Enforcements, Exemptions & New Citation Forms
Robert G. Markoff, Attorney/Senior Counsel
Markoff Law LLC
Robert G. Markoff, has practiced commercial and consumer collections, and judgment enforcement law for 49 years. Bob began his legal career at Teller Levit & Silvertrust in 1976 before founding Markoff Law in 1980. Bob is a retired partner and currently serves as Senior Counsel at Markoff Law and Teller Levit. He was the founding president of the Illinois Creditors' Bar Association (ILCBA) and past President of the National Creditors' Bar Association (NCBA). Since 1995, Bob has served as General Editor and primary author of the IICLE publication, Creditor's Rights in Illinois, His is also a past Chair of the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE). Bob has written or helped negotiate every legislative update to the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure in the area of judgment enforcement since 1996. He currently serves on the Illinois Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission's Consumer Debt Committee and Small Claims Forms Subcommittee.
Session: Natural Hair and the Law: the IL Crown Act
TiShaunda McPherson, Principal Attorney
JEM Law Advocates, P.C.
TiShaunda McPherson is a seasoned employment and education attorney, with over 20 years of experience addressing institutional, regional and systemic discriminatory practices, with specialized expertise in Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, the ADA and Section 504. A dedicated advocate for individuals facing or impacted by civil rights violations, TiShaunda is renowned for her ability to achieve successful results for her clients and providing visionary leadership in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice. Storied professional accomplishments aside, TiShaunda jokingly refers to herself as a career student: earning a bachelor’s, two masters’, and a juris doctor degree. At Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, her passion for civil rights law grew and she developed incredible legal acumen as Executive Articles Editor for the Journal of Law and Social Policy, judicial extern to the Honorable Joan B. Gottschall, Poverty Law Clerk for the Bluhm Legal Clinic, and legal research intern at Equip for Equality.
Session: The Basics of Body Attachments
David J. Axelrod, Owner
David J. Axelrod & Associates
David Axelrod received his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois, and received his JD from IIT/Chicago Kent College of Law. An attorney for more than 45 years, his practice focuses on Mechanic Liens and creditor’s rights, specializing in post-judgment collection proceedings. His clients include medical providers, contactors, landlords, and other attorneys. David has been a member of the ILCBA since 1995, and served as a member of Executive Board from 1995 to 2020.
Session: The Nuts & Bolts of Practicing in Courtroom 1501
Hon. Alon Stein, Circuit Judge
Circuit Court of Cook County
Alon Stein took the bench on December 2, 2024. After serving briefly in the Traffic Division, Judge Stein was assigned to Courtroom 1501 of the First Municipal District of the Circuit Court of Cook County, where he also works closely with the Arbitration Center of the Circuit Court of Cook County. Prior to becoming a judge, Alon Stein was in private practice as a litigator and trial attorney. He tried many cases and argued before the supreme courts of Wisconsin and Indiana. Judge Stein received his undergraduate degree, cum laude, from The University of Illinois at Chicago and his law degree from The University of Wisconsin Law School, where he was managing editor of The Wisconsin Law Review. Judge Stein is admitted in Illinois, Wisconsin and Arizona.
Session: Transforming 2025 Compliance Lessons
into 2026 Success
Kelly Knepper-Stephens, Chief Legal Officer
TrueML
Kelly Knepper-Stephens is the Chief Legal Officer at TrueML, where she integrates legal strategy into the fabric of business innovation. A specialist in the intersection of FinTech and consumer protection, Kelly drives risk mitigation and public policy strategy by weaving complex regulations into actionable business solutions. She previously served on the Board of Directors for the Receivables Management Association International (RMAI) and continues to share her expertise as an ACA-Certified Instructor. Her regulatory influence includes serving as a Small Entity Representative for federal rulemakings and as a former Steering Committee member for the Consumer Relations Consortium. Recognized as a leader in her field, Kelly was named one of the Top 100 Women in FinTech in 2022 and has been honored multiple times as one of the most powerful women in the collections industry.
AND
Lauren Valenzuela , Gen. Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer
Lauren Valenzuela serves as the General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for TrueML Products and Shared Services, where she is recognized as a creative thought leader in the FinTech industry. With over a decade of leadership experience, Lauren is a specialist in the Accounts Receivable Management (ARM) space and a Certified Receivables Compliance Professional. She is a frequent contributor to major industry platforms, including ACA International and RMAI, where she provides expert commentary on complex compliance topics. Her impact on the field has earned her several prestigious honors, including being named a Top 50 Receivables Professional and recognized as a 2023 “Move Maker” by Women in Consumer Finance. Lauren is widely known for her ability to balance rigorous regulatory standards with innovative, collaborative business solutions.
Session Title: TBD
Hon. Michael J. Chmiel
22nd Judicial Circuit / State of Illinois
Judge Michael J. Chmiel was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago and graduated from the University of Notre Dame and the University of Illinois College of Law. After clerking for the late United States Bankruptcy Judge Richard DeGunther in Rockford, he engaged in the private practice of law, largely focusing on commercial law and litigation including bankruptcy, and local government law. He was appointed by the Supreme Court of Illinois as a Circuit Judge in 2005, and then elected as a Circuit Judge in 2006 in the new Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit. He was also appointed by the Supreme Court to its first MCLE Board in 2005 and then elected as its Treasurer; since then, he has also been appointed by the Court to its Security Committee, its Commission on Elder Law, and the AI Task Force of the Illinois Judicial Conference.
Thank you to our current sponsors!
Silver Sponsors
Sponsorship Opportunities
All Sponsorships include your linked Name/Logo in the digital seminar program book (sponsor level indicated). Book is permanently saved/searchable in the ILCBA Members-Only Online Resource Library.
$750 - GOLD SPONSOR
$500 - SILVER SPONSOR
$250 - BRONZE SPONSOR
Questions about this Event's Sponsorship Opportunities? Contact ilcba@corpevent.com
Interested in an Annual Sponsorship or Vendor Advertising? Click Here for more details or contact ilcba@corpevent.com
Registration
Member $95 Retired/Non-Licensed Member $0 Retired/Licensed/Actively Practicing Judge Member $50
Non-member $125Law Clerk/Student $65
Member Recording $95
Join ILCBA as a New Member to Receive a Seminar Discount!
Register for the Seminar and contact ilcba@corpevent.com to receive a code for a $30 discount when applying ($105 discount from the Member Rate.)
** Financial Assistance Policy
** Assistance in the form of waivers of registration fees, reduced fees, or discounts, is available to any interested attorneys by submitting a written request to ilcba@corpevent.com not less than 14 days prior to the seminar date.
Terms & Conditions
