The International Women's Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC), the premier international, networking and professional growth organization for women in the restructuring and insolvency industries, is pleased to announce the 2016 finalists for its 6th Annual "Rising Star" Award. The five finalists are:

Eloise Fardon -- Fardon is an attorney with Stephenson Harwood in Hong Kong and has been a member of the Hong Kong Network since 2013. Her areas of practice include insolvency and restructuring, general commercial litigation and regulatory litigation. She currently serves as Immediate Past Chair of the Hong Kong Network and continues to contribute and provide assistance to the Hong Kong Network Board and Co-Chairs. Yvonne Chong and Aisling Dwyer, current Hong Kong Co-Chairs stated that "Eloise has been a pivotal member of the Hong Kong Network Board throughout her tenure and has brought great energy, enthusiasm and new ideas to her respective positions on the Hong Kong Network Board."

Valerie Batner Peo --  Batner Peo  is an attorney with Buchalter Nemer P.C. in San Francisco and has been a member of the Northern California Network since 2010. She is a member of the Insolvency and Financial Solutions practice group at Buchalter Nemer, where her practice includes representing secured and unsecured creditors, with a particular emphasis on bankruptcy issues specific to the enterprise software industry. She currently serves as Co-Chair of the Northern California Network. IWIRC Northern California Board Members, Shawn Christianson and Lisa Lenherr commented, "She [Valerie] believes passionately in IWIRC's mission of enhancing the professional status of women in the insolvency and restructuring profession."

Cara M. Porter - Porter is a law clerk to the Honorable Alan Jaroslovsky in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Santa Rosa, California and has been a member of the Northern California Network since 2014. "Cara has taken the time to mentor and guide the many term law clerks and externs who have shared our chambers," said Judge Jaroslovsky. Cara currently serves as Co-Chair of the Northern California Network and has been a representative to the Regional Planning Committee since September 2014. Jeanine Kim, IWIRC member, further stated, "Cara is someone deeply committed to service."

Alexandra "CC" Schnapp - Schnapp is a law clerk to the Honorable C. Ray Mullins in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Atlanta, Georgia and has been a member of the Georgia Network since 2011. She is committed to service and is actively engaged in the local bankruptcy community through such activities as the coordination of the Bankruptcy Section of the Atlanta Bar Association's CARE Program (Credit Abuse Resistance Education). CC currently serves as Co-Chair of the Georgia Network and has also served on IWIRC International's Programs Committee. Per Cara Porter, "In the short time I have known CC, and despite residing on opposite coasts, I have repeatedly seen her devotion to IWIRC and its mission."

Amanda Steele - Steele is an attorney with Richards, Layton & Finger in Wilmington, Delaware and has been a member of the Delaware Network since 2010. She focuses her practice on corporate bankruptcy, restructuring and other insolvency matters, routinely represents both creditors and debtors in all aspects of chapter 11 cases, and has worked on some of the biggest debtor cases in the country. Evelyn Meltzer, IWIRC Regional Programming Director, said, "Amanda has been instrumental in using her numerous contacts in the insolvency industry to raise sponsorship funds for the conference [IWIRC at The Shore]." Amanda currently serves as Social Co-Chair of the Delaware Network and has been actively involved in IWIRC at The Shore since 2015.

The IWIRC Rising Star Award is bestowed upon an IWIRC member with 8 or less years of experience in her respective field; who has made considerable contributions to her professional success and displayed a high-level of commitment to advancing IWIRC's mission-enhancing the professional status of women in the insolvency and restructuring profession-at the local, national and/or international levels.

The talented group of finalists were chosen from nominees from IWIRC networks around the world that include attorneys, bankers, turnaround advisors, claims and noticing agents and other restructuring industry consultants and professionals who are actively engaged in the restructuring industry.

The 6th Annual "Rising Star" Award will be awarded at a luncheon that will take place during IWIRC's 23rd Annual Fall Conference in San Francisco, California, October 26, 2016. Registration for IWIRC's 23rd Annual Fall Conference and more information can be found here.

IWIRC is committed to the connection, promotion, and growth of women in insolvency and restructuring professions worldwide. Since 1994, IWIRC has been connecting women worldwide through a global membership of more than 1,400 attorneys, bankers, corporate-turnaround professionals, financial advisors, and other restructuring practitioners. The organization provides its members with relationship-building, educational, career enhancement, and promotional opportunities.