Sara joined the firm in 2000, concentrating her practice in bankruptcy law and financial restructuring, with special emphasis in creditor rights, preferential transfer and fraudulent conveyance law, reclamation rights and deepening insolvency; commercial transactions; utility law; banking law; and electronic stored-value card law. She has represented secured and unsecured creditors in large and complex Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases, and has developed a national bankruptcy practice. She has also handled large preference and fraudulent conveyance actions in numerous jurisdictions throughout the United States, defending creditors in many of today’s largest Chapter 11 cases; including, the Chrysler, Enron, Tower Automotive, Federal Mogul, Collins and Aikman, Delphi, Dana, Calpine, Smurfit Stone, Lyondell Chemical Company, Circuit City, Flying J, Nortel, RadioShack, Toys R Us, hhGregg, Macaroni Grill, Westinghouse, Sports Authority, Eastern Airlines, American Airlines, Ryan International Airlines and Aloha Airlines bankruptcy cases. Sara has also served as a mediator in preference claim actions.
Sara has represented utility companies, logistics and transportation companies, chemical companies, health care clients, manufacturers, suppliers, banks, and electronic gift card issuers.
Sara leads the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity’s Mentorship program for all of Frost Brown Todd’s offices in participating cities, and assists with the firm’s internship program for Central High School’s Law Magnet program. Sara is also heavily involved in the firm’s training and development of new associates. Sara is a recipient of the Frost Brown Todd Diversity and Inclusion Award (2014), and a two-time recipient of the Frost Brown Todd Mentor of the Year Award (2004 and 2008). She is also a past member of the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee and the past editor-in-chief of the Financial Restructuring Group Newsletter.
University of Louisville, Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, J.D., 1990, magna cum laude, Valedictorian
University of Louisville, B.A. in Political Science, 1986, summa cum laude
In law school, she was the recipient of numerous academic awards, including the Samuel L. Greenebaum Writing Award, and was elected to the Brandeis Society. Sara was also the 1985 and 1986 recipient of the Jean & Eleanor O’Sullivan Award, awarded by the University of Louisville Political Science Department.
United States District Court – W.D. KY, 1990
Sixth Circuit, 1990
Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell®
Frost Brown Todd Diversity and Inclusion Award, 2014
Frost Brown Todd Mentor of the Year Award, 2004 and 2008
American Bar Association
Kentucky Bar Association
Louisville Bar Association, 1990
American Bankruptcy Institute Member
Brandeis Society, Member
Woodcock Society, Member
Pre-Law Mentorship Program, Member
Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, Louisville City Lead
CentreStage Theatre Board, Member
Play Selection, Sub-Committee of Board, Member
Producer’s Club, Member
St. Francis School Diversity Task Force, Member
Training and Development Committee, Member
Diversity & Inclusion Committee, Member
Client Bankruptcy Training: Frequent presenter of Bankruptcy 101
Co-Author: The Toolbox for Managing Your Financially Troubled Customer, Sara L. Abner and Olivia K. Snider; Kentucky Trucker, Official Publication of Kentucky Trucking Association, July 2018
Speaker: Women Trailblazers in the Legal Profession, The Speed Museum Cinema, Presentation in connection with RBG Film, Louisville, Kentucky, June 2018.
Co-presenter: Preferences in Bankruptcy
Charles R. Keeton and Sara L. Abner, seminar outline and client advisory.
Co-Author: The Toolbox for Managing Your Financially Troubled Customer, Sara L. Abner and Olivia K. Snider; Kentucky Trucker, Official Publication of Kentucky Trucking Association, July 2018
Editor-in-Chief: Financial Restructuring Group Newsletter, October 2001-present.