Our Story
Founded by Hon. William L. Norton, Jr. — one of America's most respected bankruptcy jurists — Norton Institutes has been the gold standard in bankruptcy CLE since 1983.
"The trademark of the Norton seminars is that they provide an advanced level of discussion of current bankruptcy law issues in a relaxed atmosphere."
Norton Institutes Mission
Section 01
Norton Institutes on Bankruptcy Law, Inc. was founded by Hon. William L. Norton, Jr., the author of Norton Bankruptcy Law and Practice. Judge Norton served as a Bankruptcy Judge in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Georgia from 1971 to 1985.
He first published Norton Bankruptcy Law and Practice, (3rd Edition) in 1982 — a treatise that has since expanded to nine volumes in its third edition and remains the definitive reference for bankruptcy practitioners across the United States.
Shortly after the publication of the treatise, Norton Institutes was founded to conduct annual legal seminars nationwide — bringing together the contributors to the treatise for live, advanced discussion of the most pressing issues in bankruptcy law.
Judge Norton appointed to the bench
Norton Bankruptcy Law & Practice first published
Norton Institutes founded
Current edition of the treatise
Section 02
Hon. William L. Norton, Jr. is appointed U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the Northern District of Georgia, beginning a distinguished judicial career that would shape American bankruptcy law.
Judge Norton publishes the first edition of Norton Bankruptcy Law and Practice — the definitive treatise on U.S. bankruptcy law, now in its third edition spanning nine volumes.
Shortly after the treatise's publication, Norton Institutes is established to conduct annual legal seminars nationwide, beginning with four inaugural institutes across the country.
The Pacific Bankruptcy Law Institute (San Francisco), Western Mountains Bankruptcy Law Institute (Jackson Hole), Northeast Bankruptcy Law Institute (Quebec), and Corporate Counsel Bankruptcy Law Institute (Washington, DC) hold their first sessions.
Norton Institutes continues to set the gold standard in bankruptcy CLE, bringing together the nation's leading jurists and practitioners each year in Nashville, Tennessee.
Section 03
For over four decades, the Norton approach has remained consistent: bring the best minds in bankruptcy law together in an environment that encourages genuine dialogue.
01
Every seminar is designed for experienced practitioners. We go beyond the basics to tackle the most complex and current issues in bankruptcy law.
02
The Norton trademark is an intellectually rigorous yet genuinely relaxed environment — where open dialogue between judges and lawyers flourishes naturally.
03
Our faculty are drawn from the Contributing Editors to Norton Bankruptcy Law and Practice — retired federal judges and the nation's foremost bankruptcy practitioners.
04
All seminars qualify for Continuing Legal Education credit, keeping practitioners current with the latest developments in bankruptcy law and practice.
Section 04
Managing Director
Partner, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP · Nashville, Tennessee
The seminars are managed by William (Bill) L. Norton III, a member of the law firm of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLC, Nashville, Tennessee. Bill Norton is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt Law School and practices in the commercial finance area, focusing primarily on creditors' rights and insolvency law.
He is a business bankruptcy specialist, a Fellow with the American College of Bankruptcy, and teaches bankruptcy law as an Adjunct Professor at Vanderbilt University School of Law. He is the current Editor in Chief for Norton Bankruptcy Law and Practice, published by Thompson Reuters, the Norton Annual Survey of Bankruptcy Law, the Norton Bankruptcy Law Adviser, and the Norton Dictionary of Bankruptcy Terms, and is the co-author of the Creditors Rights Handbook and the Exemptions Handbook.
Business Bankruptcy Specialist
Fellow, American College of Bankruptcy
Adjunct Professor, Vanderbilt Law
Editor in Chief, Norton Bankruptcy Law & Practice
