Reflections on Journey, Learning and Paying It Forward – Acceptance Remarks for the Emory Law 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award

For twenty-five years, the Emory Bankruptcy Developments Journal at Emory School of Law has honored changemakers in the restructuring field with its Distinguished Service Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Emory marks the occasion by publishing the Tribute remarks in the Journal.

The following pages, excerpted from Volume 42, Issue 3 of the Journal published in July 2026, include introductory remarks from Jackson Brown, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal and The Honorable Michelle M. Harner, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Maryland followed by the acceptance remarks of our founder and leader, Jack Butler.

This tribute recognizes Jack’s lifetime achievements as a dealmaker, thought leader and mentor, and coincides with Birch Lake’s tenth anniversary as a private capital and advisory firm committed to partnering with founders, entrepreneurs, and businesses to unlock growth and create lasting value.

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