DSNews delivers stories, ideas, links, companies, people, events, and videos impacting the mortgage default servicing industry.
Issue link: http://digital.dsnews.com/i/1532872
March 2025 » thefivestar.com 61 February 2024 F E A T U R E S T O R Y March 2025 T O P W O M E N O F L A W CAMILLE R. HAWK PARTNER/ATTORNEY, WALENTINE O'TOOLE, LLP YEARS PRACTICING LAW: 31 AREAS OF LAW: Real Estate, Creditor Rights, Default Law, Regulatory Issues and Litigation— Banking, Residential, Commercial, SBA, and Agricultural Camille Hawk, one of the region's leading creditors' rights attorneys, offers financial institutions and creditors first-rate representation in the areas of real estate, lending law, and default services, including lending regulations, bankruptcy, title issues, foreclosure, loss mitigation, litigation, closings, eviction, and collections. She is licensed in Nebraska and Iowa and has over 30 years' experience working with creditors. Camille has been published regionally and nationwide. She has presented at the ABI Midwestern Bankruptcy Institute, and at national conferences on REO issues. She has also presented seminars for NBI, Lorman, State Bar Associations, and other industry organizations. Some of her presentation topics include bankruptcy and foreclosure best practices and pitfalls, moratorium holds, ongoing CFPB changes, and agricultural lending. She has helped draft and pass several pieces of creditors' rights legislation related to manufactured homes, lines of credit, HOA/COA statutes, lien releases, Trustees' powers, and post-foreclosure funds disbursement requirements. Believing it is important to give back, Camille is active in professional organizations and serves on various community boards. She is a House of Delegates member, and the current Chair of the following: NSBA Education Committee, NSBA Bankruptcy Section, NSBA Bank Attorneys Section, and the NE Federal Bankruptcy Practice Committee. 2 0 2 5 T O P W O M E N O F L A W RENEAU J. LONGORIA MANAGING MEMBER, SOLE OWNER, DOONAN, GRAVES & LONGORIA, LLC With 35 years of civil and criminal legal expe- rience, Reneau J. Longoria thrives on strategic problem-solving. Longoria is admitted to prac- tice in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Montana, New York, Texas and is pending admission in Vermont. "The most rewarding part of my work is collaborating with both my clients and my team to develop creative, practical, and mutually beneficial solutions," she says. Longoria is an enrolled member of the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe of Montana and active in the Indian law section of the Montana Bar and nationally on Indian Law and creditors rights. She ensures her firm stays resilient through flexibility, talent development, and accountability, helping both employees and clients navigate an evolving legal landscape. As a female attorney, Longoria says she has faced unique challenges, "but those challenges have shaped me into a stronger, more empathetic leader." As an example, she cites her firm's Family Leave policy, first introduced in 2023. "Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, we give employees the traditional 12 weeks but allow them to craft a plan that best supports their needs for both leave and reentry." Among her proudest moments, she highlights this recognition and having her work published in the American Bar Association Journal, January 2025 Urban Lawyer, The Montana Bar Journal and MortgagePoint. Looking ahead to 2025, Longoria sees adaptability as key. "Change is a constant in our industry, but 2025 will be a year where our ability to adapt will be more critical than ever." She emphasizes fostering professional growth to build stronger teams and better service. "Efficiency starts with un- derstanding. The more we truly know borrowers . . . the more effective we can be." 2 0 2 5 T O P W O M E N O F L A W JENNIFER ROGERS MANAGING ATTORNEY, IDEA LAW GROUP, LLC AREA OF LAW: Creditor's rights YEARS PRACTICING LAW: 22 For IDEA Law Group's (ILG) Jennifer Rogers, the most enriching part of the job is the people. "The people that I work with within the industry are definitely enriching my professional and personal life." She values the diverse perspectives of her team and the deep friendships forged over years in the industry. A defining career moment for Rogers was launching IDEA Law Group in 2020 alongside Danette Baldacci—in the middle of a pandemic. "Our aim was to build a women-owned and operated law firm that put an emphasis on a culture that is open, transparent, and values the perspectives and ideas of each member of the team. We have accomplished that." While the legal side was familiar, she had to adapt to the business challenges of running a firm, an experience that has been both exhilarating and rewarding. Looking ahead to 2025, Rogers says she is keeping an eye on regulatory shifts that will shape the mortgage industry. "With a new administration entering the arena, we will see many regulatory changes that mortgage professionals will need to learn about and adapt their business practices to be compliant." She also notes that natural disasters are also influencing lending and default enforcement policies, making industry engagement and education more vital than ever. She ensures ILG stays ahead by fostering industry involvement—through committees, speaking engagements, and publishing white papers. "When an individual from the firm is involved in industry events or groups, they bring those resources and knowledge back and share it with the rest of the team." 2 0 2 5 T O P W O M E N O F L A W