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101 top 25 women of law ELIZABETH CRUIKSHANK Cruikshank Ersin, LLC - Attorney - Property Elizabeth Cruikshank ranks helping people, finding solutions to problems, learning new things, and being in court among the best aspects of her job. ese passions make her uniquely equipped to handle the challenges of the mortgage market. Cruikshank sees more of these challenges on the horizon, in the form of a rise in foreclosures, bankruptcies, and evictions. She has also noticed a decline in new homeowners and an uptick in renters. To meet these obstacles, Cruikshank has found education to be the key to staying on top of new legislation. Cruikshank has seen her firm expand from one state to four in the Southeast, as well as increasing their areas of focus to include default work, litigation, and collections, among others. Cruikshank Ersin, LLC, now handles legal needs in Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and Mississippi. While these tasks may seem daunting for some, for Cruikshank it's all part of a lifelong dream. "I have wanted to be an attorney since I was five years old and can't imagine doing anything else. Being a direct descendant of omas Jefferson—I think it is just in my blood," Cruikshank noted. Along with Abby Ersin, Cruikshank founded her firm based on the core principles of always returning phone calls; keeping the client up to date on all pending matters; listening first; working with clients, not against them; and being enthusiastic and passionate about the firm. NUMBER OF YEARS PRACTICING LAW: 16 LEISHA DELGADO Hello Solutions - Owner - Default Servicing "I've always felt proud to be a successful woman in a historically male-dominated industry," said Leisha Delgado, Owner of Hello Solutions. She added that "my passion for the legal aspect of mortgage grew out of a keen interest in the complexities and cyclical nature of the industry. Initially focused on resolving title issues, I developed strong and meaningful relationships in the default servicing space." During her time in the industry, Delgado has become exceedingly familiar with the ongoing volatility in the area of default servicing. She assists her clients in meeting this challenge by developing efficiencies that support scalability and innovation. Delgado noted that the industry can best face 2019 by working to streamline processes through technology and develop partnerships that alleviate distractions, so lenders and servicers can focus on core competencies. No stranger to flourishing in the face of adversity, Delgado survived a battle with stage 3 breast cancer this year amidst growing her business. Her warrior spirit has served her both professionally and personally. "Helping my clients grow their business despite the current climate aligns with my mentality as a breast cancer survivor. I believe integrity, hard work, and customer- centricity go a long way," Delgado said, and it is this determination and passion behind Hello Solutions that has led to her clients' evolving success. NUMBER OF YEARS PRACTICING LAW: 5 MARCY FORD Trott Law, P.C. - Managing Attorney - Mortgage Default, Bankruptcy Marcy Ford counts herself lucky that her job allows her to be both a problem-solver and an advocate. "I still love working the nuanced case that others have given up on and figuring out how to break it down and look at the facts from a legal, compliance, and business-process perspective. Changing processes, filling in technology gaps, or simply increasing training to solve problems is the big payoff for me," Ford said. Ford believes that it is Trott Law's attention to detail, high ethical standards, and employment of some of the brightest legal minds that will ensure the firm's future. She has made it a priority to be present and involved both locally and nationally so that her firm stays abreast of the communications that are vital to success. €e highlight of Ford's career has not been winning an individual case but rather being part of growing and phenomenal practice that has stood the test of time and industry upheaval. "When volumes were high, we certainly faced challenges, but it was when volumes declined, combined with never-before-contemplated compliance standards, that Trott Law's star really shined," Ford said. NUMBER OF YEARS PRACTICING LAW: 25