DS News

102 top 25 women of law JEANETTE F. FRANKENBERG Stern, Lavinthal & Frankenberg, LLC - Managing Member - Full-Service Default, Commercial and Real Estate Transactions, Commercial and Residential Leasing, Bankruptcy, Commercial and Consumer Finance, Evictions, REO, Environmental Law, Land Use and Development, Commercial Litigation Jeanette F. Frankenberg, a leader in the default and REO arena, is the Managing Member of Stern, Lavinthal & Frankenberg, LLC, the only solely woman-owned full-service default law firm in New Jersey. She attributes her success to her strong business acumen, hands-on enthusiasm, and forward-thinking approach in an ever-evolving field. "We continually invest in programming enhancements to create processing efficiencies, quality control checkpoints, and cutting-edge data security. „ese enhancements result in a superior product with a cost savings for our clients," Frankenberg said. Frankenberg is a formidable force in the industry who will never settle for the status quo. She understands servicers' requirements and continuously adapts to meet their needs. Presently, she is pursuing controlled expansion into new jurisdictions beyond New Jersey. „is strategic growth will allow Stern, Lavinthal & Frankenberg, LLC, to bring its experience and innovation to a broader audience without sacrificing quality product and service. NUMBER OF YEARS PRACTICING LAW: 31 MICHELLE GARCIA GILBERT Gilbert Garcia Group, P.A. - Managing Attorney - Real Estate, Business, Probate Michelle Garcia Gilbert told DS News, "It sounds cliche, but helping people, whether it be clients, colleagues, family, or friends, motivated me to become an attorney." While most of her work now involves representing businesses and executives, she continues to handle pro bono cases, especially for special needs adults, the homeless, and military veterans. To Garcia Gilbert, her dedication to her work at the firm is about more than just the ins and outs of the legal practice. "My highlight has a different twist," she said. "I am the mother to six children—five daughters and one son—and my career has allowed me to raise my children in their faith and education." To adjust to today's challenging legal landscape, Gilbert Garcia Group looks for other business opportunities, such as networking with note-buyers and signing up for local referral programs. €ey have also launched other non-law businesses, such as leasing co-working space in a segregated part of their building, and they are looking to set up a commercial kitchen to lease to catering companies. To assist their lender and servicer partners, her firm relies on technology. "€e use of technology to continuously streamline processes in legal proceedings enures to clients seeking to reduce legal expenses while allowing firms to provide the best legal services where needed," Garcia Gilbert said. NUMBER OF YEARS PRACTICING LAW: 32 LISA GORDON Frenkel Lambert Weiss Weisman & Gordon, LLP - Partner-Managing Attorney - Mortgage Default As Partner and Managing Attorney of Frenkel Lambert Weiss Weisman & Gordon, Lisa Gordon is responsible for the daily operation of the mortgage default practice at the firm. As Gordon describes it, this business unit is high volume and labor intense, making it imperative that the firm operates as efficiently as possible. To achieve this, Frenkel Lambert continuously makes significant investments in infrastructure and technology. Client demands, coupled with ever-changing regulatory requirements and case law, force Gordon to continually reassess the firm's operations in order to maximize efficiency. She works with her staff daily to ensure there prepared for any knew changes that come their way. "From the lawyers to the paralegals to the support staff that help make my office run smoothly and efficiently, everyone cares about the level of service we provide to our clients." Whether it be formulating a litigation strategy or developing a procedural process, my staff works together as a team to ensure the best possible outcome," Gordon said. She has practiced in the mortgage default arena for more than 20 years and has found that each year brings new challenges. "Recent statutory changes over the last two years will hopefully bring a new crop of decisions interpreting these new provisions and providing guidance to practitioners. Staying abreast of all relevant decisions and developing solid legal strategies to account for such rulings will be imperative," Gordon said. NUMBER OF YEARS PRACTICING LAW: 24

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