CUNNINGHAM 5557 Ann Peake Drive, Fairfax, Virginia 22032 / (703) 869-4296 / mc9c44da@w estpost.net
ATTORNEY-AT-LAW / REAL ESTATE-TITLE EXPERTISE
Experienced Attorney, instructor and leader with 20+ years of experience in real estate law, including: Title, Underwriting, Closings & Post Closing Matters ? Acquisition & Developme nt ? Loan Documentation ? Workouts & Foreclosures ? Contract & Lease Negot iation ? Marketing, Business Development ? Customer Service > Consistent success in improving revenues, profits, volume, and service by util izing the best products and processes. > Build strong relationships with industry professionals, team members, and part ner company representatives. > Synthesize business and legal background in providing value-driven recommendat ions. EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS Juris Doctor - George Washington University - Washington, D.C. - 1988 Bachelor of Arts - Georgia Southern University - Statesboro, GA - 1978 Professional Affiliations: Virginia Bar - Admitted 1988 ? Virginia Bar Associa tion - Real Property Section ? American Bar Association - Real Property, Proba te and Trust Section ? Certified Instructor CE and CLE - Virginia Bureau of In surance and Virginia Bar ? Virginia Land Title Association - Legislative Revie w Committee 2010 ? American Land Title Association ? Northern Virginia Build er Association 1988-1995 PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE CHICAGO TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY (subsidiary of Fidelity National Title Group, In c.) - Centreville, VA - 2005-2010 Vice President / Virginia Agency Counsel Provided training, education, and counsel to Chicago Title's Virginia agents. Fa cilitated transactions through aggressive underwriting and limitation of risk. R eviewed complex title, survey, subdivision and zoning issues for insurability. P rovided authorization and approval to Virginia agents for title coverage up to $ 50 million, preparing recommendations for transactions above $50 million or othe rwise over authority limits. Reviewed financials, budget and loan agreements for credit underwriting. Coordinated title insurance claims with claims department and outside counsel; performed internal underwriting audits for Virginia agents. * Assisted Chicago's Virginia Agents in improving underwriting knowledge through counsel on review of complex title and survey issues, review of financial data for credit underwriting, and authorization of title coverage. * Revised and disseminated underwriting procedures to Virginia agentsin bulletin s andseminars, including mechanics' lien coverage, foreclosures and short sales, and current issues in the industry. * Revised procedures resulting in increased profits and managed Chicago's subsid iary for Trustee services, Alexander Title Agency.
WESTMINSTER TITLE AGENCY, INC. (subsidiary of Toll Brothers, Inc.) - Fairfax, VA
- 2001-2005 Regional Counsel and Acquisitions Manager, Southern Region Provided oversight and legal counsel for settlement operations, managing title a nd settlement issues relating to land assemblages and other land acquisitions. T rained Westminster workforce through sessions that included Customer Service, Te am Building, Organization for More Efficiency, and Managing Change. Located new office space and negotiated lease agreements for numerous sites. Coordinated ins urance, settlements and referral fees in legally-permitted states. * Increased profits without additional expense by the introduction of the Enhan ced and Short Form Policies title products. * Researched and entered new markets [Retail and Refinances], resulting in incre ased profits and expanded annual volume from 720 in 2001 to 2,210 in 2004. * Improved capture rates and builder relations by training Toll Brothers' sales force and construction managers on various settlement matters. * Reduced errors and duplication of processes by revising and implementing new p rocedures. MARILYN C. CUNNINGHAM, P.C. (CROWN SETTLEMENT SERVICES) - Fairfax, VA - 1995-20 05 (1996-2001) President Managed staff comprised of attorney, legal assistant, controller, secretary and part time clerk. Functioned as Approved Attorney and Agent for Lawyers Title and Fidelity National Insurance Companies. Handled foreclosures and REO properties for 2 major lenders. Negotiated leases, construction contracts, loan documentati on, and workouts. * Established a successful law practice and title insurance agency; built a mult i-industry client base that included: Toll Brothers, Westminster Title Agency, Lawyers Title, First Union (now Wachovi a), York Federal Savings and Loan (now Waypoint), New Service, The Peterson Comp anies, The Business Investment Group, Merit Title Company, Reynolds Metal Develo pment, United States Postal Service, Morgan Properties, Cabot Industries, Gepha rt & Smith, HealthCare REIT, Logan's Roadhouse, Inc., Wetherburne Homes, Woodlea Hills, LC and Winchester Homes * Appointed Special Commissioner by the Fairfax Circuit Court to review and appr ove retail/ office/residential project judicial foreclosure subsequently named " Fairfax Corner." LAWYERS TITLE INSURANCE CORPORATION - Fairfax, VA - 1993-1995 Subsidiaries: Real Title Company, Inc., Lawyers Title Realty Services, Inc., Law yers Title Exchange Company, Inc. Vice President & General Counsel Provided oversight and legal counsel to residential retail, resale, and refinanc es, including lawyers and Title Agents throughout Virginia. Led team of 5-15 com prised of attorneys, legal assistants, underwriters and title examiners, (includ ing several who are current industry leaders). Researched software to automate f oreclosure paperwork. Provided assistance and counsel in connection with 1031 ex change subsidiary. Managed high of 360 commercial settlements and 3,600 resident ial settlements. * Recruited to manage various groups and loan / real estate activities required to begin construction of 14-mile Dulles Greenway that involved over 50 different landowners, 5 different governmental or quasi-governmental jurisdictions, $450 million-plus loan and all major title underwriters [Dulles Toll Road Extension-e xtended existing Toll Road-first privately owned Toll Road in Virginia]. * Developed foreclosure subsidiary to expand department services and profits, tr aining attorneys and legal assistants in foreclosure procedures and regulations. * Revised escrow and trustee procedures. ADDITIONAL EMPLOYERS: Shaw Pittman Potts & Trowbridge (currently Pillsbury, Winthrop, Shaw, Pittman LL P) - McLean, VA - 1993 Hazel & Thomas (currently Reed Smith, LLP) - Falls Church, VA - 1987-1993 Kirkpatrick & Lockhart - Washington, D.C. - 1982-1985 Winstead, Sechrest & Minick (formerly Winstead, McGuire, Sechrest & Minick) - Da llas, TX - 1978-1982 PUBLICATIONS/PRESENTATIONS: * The Anatomy of a Real Estate Title, National Business Institute, 2010 * Virginia Foreclosures, DC Land Title Association, 2009 * In-Depth Title Insurance, National Business Institute, 2008 * Resolving Real Estate Title Defects, National Business Institute, 2008 * Title Examinations-Seminar, Lorman Education Services, 2007 * Guest Lecturer-Title Issues in Real Estate Finance, George Mason Law School, 2 007 * Agent Seminars-2006 ALTA Forms, Closing Procedures and Foreclosure Underwritin g; Mechanic's Lien Coverage; Prepared numerous Agency Alerts and Bulletins on to pics such as foreclosures, short sales, fraud, legislative updates, regulatory c hanges and general underwriting reminders, Chicago Title Insurance Company, 2006 -2010 * News at Chicago, VLTA Examiner, Spring-Summer 2005 * Numerous seminars within the Toll Community including understanding the HUD-1, Powers of Attorney, Trusts and Mechanics Lien Agent Procedures; Seminars for W estminster work force on Customer Service, Team Building, Organization for more efficiency and Managing Change, Westminster Title Insurance Company, 2001-2004 * Affirmative Mechanics Lien Coverage, Lawyers Title Insurance Corporation, 1995 * Settlements and Unauthorized Practice of Law, Virginia Land Title Association, 1994 * Keys to Success in a Real Estate Transaction in Virginia, National Business In stitute, 1994 * Real Estate Appraiser Liability to Third Parties, Internal CLE Seminar, Hazel & Thomas, 1992 * Document Control Guide, Internal Manual, Kirkpatrick & Lockhart, 1985