DSNews delivers stories, ideas, links, companies, people, events, and videos impacting the mortgage default servicing industry.
Issue link: http://digital.dsnews.com/i/920498
103 TOP 25 WOMEN OF LAW ERIN LAURITO Managing Member, Laurito & Laurito, LLC "ere is a special relationship built between attorneys and their clients, whether the client is an individual or a large corporation," said Erin Laurito of Laurito & Laurito, LLC who has been practicing for 15 years. Laurito helps her clients navigate regulatory and compliance challenges and finds the most enriching part of her job to be solving problems. "ere is nothing more satisfying to me than being part of a team of amazing people who use their individual strengths to find a solution for our clients that reduces their anxiety or reaches their desired goal," said Laurito. Laurito got her love of problem solving from her father, also an attorney and though she attributes her desire to first practice law to him, her passion for the field deepened as she matured. "At first, I was captured by watching my dad leave for work each day, spending time as a child at his office, and listening to him solve problems. In college, I became very interested in business management and entrepreneurship, and a law firm lent itself to those passions and still does. In law school and after joining the firm, I learned that being a law - yer requires a propensity to analyze problems in certain way, and I believe I have that propensity," shared Laurito. CREDITORS' RIGHTS, CIVIL LITIGATION, STRATEGIC COMPONENT SERVICES NUMBER OF YEARS PRACTICING LAW: 15 MICHELLE A. MIERZWA Partner, Wright, Finlay & Zak LLP Michelle A. Mierzwa has been practicing law for over 19 years and has worked with mortgage lenders and servicers to ensure their compliance with state and federal laws. "I really enjoy helping clients to address new and existing laws through their policies, procedures and systems to ensure compliance and minimize risk of error, violation and liability," Mierzwa said. Starting her career as a litigation and appellate attorney, Mierzwa ranks her first jury trial as one of her most memorable career highlights. "I obtained a 12-0 verdict in favor of the servicer and no one knew I was five months pregnant then," Mierzwa shared. As a young professional processing loan originations Mierzwa was intrigued by lending regulations and title policy exceptions that were the basis for underwriting conditions. "I wanted to learn more about the foundational laws of the industry I 'grew up in' professionally and that's when I decided to study this aspect of the law," Mierzwa said. Looking into the future, Mierzwa feels that regulatory compliance will continue to be a pain point for the industry. "Even as federal regulations may come at a slower pace from the current administration, state regulators and legislators are increasingly interested in following lender and servicer conduct," she said. REAL ESTATE FINANCE COMPLIANCE NUMBER OF YEARS PRACTICING LAW: 19 SARA MILLARD General Counsel and EVP, Arch Mortgage Insurance Company Sara Millard began her career in the financial services sector on the eve of the financial crisis—a decision that proved to be both challenging and fortuitous for her. "As a young attorney, I could demonstrate my abilities earlier in my career than I would have under more favorable circumstances," Millard said. In 2015, she helped her company introduce RateStar SM , a risk-based pricing solution. But it was her work in the team that positioned United Guaranty Corporation for sale to strategic buyers that proved to be the most fulfilling career highlight for Millard. "During this time, my role shifted to include mergers and acquisition activities, and provided an opportunity for me to continue developing as a legal professional," Millard shared. She believes that the mortgage industry is set to leverage data to enhance the due diligence required before closing a loan and streamline consumers' homebuying experiences. "Service providers associated with originating, servicing, and investing in loans must collaborate to fully leverage such advances," Millard said, adding that housing finance reform was a critical, yet uncertain area in legislation. "Uncertainty is a key obstacle to the full return of private capital to the housing market. Legal professionals will have to navigate it and be prepared to change course, if potential legislative and executive actions are implemented in 2018," said Millard, who along with her team is helping her firm navigate these uncertainties and prepare for possible reforms. HOUSING LAW NUMBER OF YEARS PRACTICING LAW: 12