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98 TOP 25 WOMEN OF LAW CRISTINA ARROYO Compliance Counsel, Bayview Loan Servicing, LLC Cristina Aroyo comes from a family of lawyers and always knew that this was a career path that she would follow even though she began her ca- reer in public relations and marketing. "Although I fought the idea of being an attorney, in the back of my mind I always knew it was going to hap- pen. I transitioned to law as I liked the idea being given different types of situations and helping provide solutions," shared Arroyo, who joined the profession at a time when leadership was less diverse. "At the beginning of my career, I had less role models and mentors to relate to, and it was harder to know my career path, a difficulty I think my male counterparts did not have. Al - though there is still work to be done, I feel more women are assuming leadership roles today," Arroyo said. As an in-house compliance counsel, Arroyo enjoys collaborating and partnering with business units to work jointly to implement and operationalize regulations. Considering the year ahead, she believes that in 2018, servicers must customize how they deal with long-term effects of multiple natural disasters. "In addition, 2018 will bring the challenges of the implementation of the remaining CFPB amended rules related to successor in interest and billing statements and the uncertainty of the possible path that large regulators will take if there is a shift in federal regulation," Arroyo said. CREDITOR'S RIGHTS, CIVIL LITIGATION, STRATEGIC COMPONENT SERVICES NUMBER OF YEARS PRACTICING LAW: 11 CYNTHIA (CINDY) BERMAN SVP, Chief Compliance Officer, Freedom Mortgage Corporation In her role as SVP and Chief Complaince Officer at Freedom Mortgage, Cynthia Berman finds the most enriching part of her job is when a project that she's worked hard on comes to fru- ition. "After months of collaborating with senior business leaders and project managers to integrate a new or revised consumer protection law into our loan manufacturing and/or servicing process, it's very satisfying when we implement the change and complete the project," Berman noted. When Berman looks ahead to the challenges mortgage professionals will face in 2018, she notes that the rising interest rates that are predicted will cause shrinkage in loan production and tighter profit margins. In her role at Freedom, Berman has helped the legal/regulatory team work together efficiently to prepare for such changes. "With our current staff of seasoned industry professionals, we are well positioned to operate effectively and con - tinue to deliver high-quality legal support to the Freedom enterprise," she said. Berman is proud is work for Freedom where all employees are valued for their contributions to the company, though when she started her career some co-workers had no experience with a woman attorney. "For the most part, the novelty worked to my advantage as I got visibility and opportunities to demonstrate my professional abilities early on. To overcome challenges, I prepared extensively and worked hard on every project—two habits which have helped me throughout my career," said Berman. REGULATORY COMPLIANCE AND RISK NUMBER OF YEARS PRACTICING LAW: 38 ROSE MARIE BROOK President/CEO, Fabrizio & Brook, PC In her 21 years as a legal professional, Rose Marie Brook has worked with many clients across the country, developing professional and personal relationships on the way. But, it is creating a positive influence on other working women that Brook has really appreciated about her career. "•e occasions when I'm told that I have been a role model to other women who have remained in the workforce while balancing career and family and the knowledge that I have been a positive influence for others gives me a sense of profes - sional satisfaction," Brook said. Providing the best work environment at her law firm and title company ranks high on Brook's list of priorities, and the dedication of her staff helps her to remain prepared for a challenging legal landscape. "Solid relationships and open communication among staff, clients, and colleagues, as well as constant vigilance to the legal and regulatory landscape is imperative to maintain excellence and help our clients do the same," Brook shared. She feels that maintaining a human connection while continu - ing to make advances with technology is one of the major challenges facing the mortgage industry today. "While continuing to automate and streamline processes, it is important not to lose flexibility, compassion and other human elements of service," Brook said. DEFAULT SERVICING NUMBER OF YEARS PRACTICING LAW: 21