2013 UTA Speaker lineup
 

Cheryl Blomstrom

T. Robert Finlay

Michael Belote

Holly Chisa

Mark S. Blackman

Patric J. Kelly

Benjamin R. Levinson

Spencer Scheer

Joyce Copeland

Lee Raphael

Jim DeLoach

Martin T. McGuinn

Phillip M. Adleson

Ronald D. Roup

EDWARD A. TREDER

Rex C. Anderson

Joe Solseng

Jeffrey J. Todd

Michelle Mierzwa

Chet Sconyers

Michael R. Brooks

Shawn Miller

Chris Pummill

Kathy Shakibi

Cathe Cole-Sherburne

Kristin Schuler-Hintz

Diane Weifenbach

Teresa Shill

Armand Howell

Phillip Silvestri

Jill Habig

Whitney Patross

Eileen Newhall

Michael J. Henderson

J. Albert Garcia

Jermaine Brown

Elizabeth Knight

Phillip M. Adleson, Esq.
Senior Shareholder, Adleson, Hess & Kelly

Mr. Adleson has been a real estate attorney since 1976 and is a licensed California real estate broker. He is the senior shareholder in the law firm of Adleson, Hess & Kelly, a Professional Corporation. He graduated with a Juris Doctor, Cum Laude, from University of Santa Clara School of Law, 1976. Mr. Adleson and his firm are rated “AV” (the highest rating available for both legal ability and ethics) by Martindale-Hubbell, Inc., the oldest and most respected attorney information publication in the country. He has been repeatedly listed in Northern California Super Lawyers magazine in the area of real estate, a designation conferred upon him by San Francisco magazine and by nomination of his peers.

Mr. Adleson is corporate counsel for both the California Mortgage Association (“CMA”) and for the United Trustee’s Association (“UTA”; a multi-state association for the default services industry). Mr. Adleson is a past President and Legislative Chairman for UTA’s predecessor, the California Trustees Association ("CTA") and currently he serves as a director of UTA. Mr. Adleson has represented numerous lenders, trustees, purchasers, sellers, title companies and others in trials, arbitrations, DRE licensee administrative hearings, appeals, amicus curiae briefs, class actions, unfair business practices action and in many other areas involving real estate, lending and foreclosure. Mr. Adleson is a past instructor of real estate and foreclosure classes at DeAnza Community College and San Jose State University and has taught numerous DRE and CLE approved continuing education classes throughout the world. He has also presented legal update programs and seminars for UTA, CMA, the National Business Institute, and bar associations and has been a speaker for CMBA, REOMAC, the California District Attorney’s Associations as well as for numerous other groups. Mr. Adleson is a former attorney for the California Court of Appeal and has testified before the judiciary committees of both the California Assembly and California Senate, in addition to drafting proposed legislation that has ultimately become law in California. He has frequently been retained as a consultant or expert witness in lending, foreclosure and other real estate matters. Mr. Adleson can be reached via telephone (408/341-0234) or via email at padleson@ahk-law.com. [top]

Michelle Mierzwa, Esq.
National Managing Attorney, Butler & Hosch, P.A. California

Michelle Mierzwa has been a real estate attorney since 1998, specializing in the representation of lenders, servicers, investors and foreclosure trustees in the full spectrum of their default servicing needs. Ms. Mierzwa is currently Managing Attorney for Butler & Hosch, P.A. & Liaison between the firm and trustee partner Cal-Western Reconveyance Corporation. Mierzwa is responsible for not only the company's compliance with substantially enhanced state and federal laws, but the management and resolution of litigated matters and the coordination of compliance audits. As National Managing Attorney, Mierzwa also communicates and collaborates with operations and legal departments of clients, including most of the largest mortgage lenders, servicers and investors in the nation.

As a seasoned litigation attorney, Ms. Mierzwa focused her practice on pursuit and defense of default-related litigation, including alternative dispute resolution, dispositive motions, bench and jury trials, and related appeals. Appearing pro hac vice in Arizona, Ms. Mierzwa successfully defended the lender's motion for summary judgment on appeal relating to the interaction of federal bankruptcy law and the lender's state law non-judicial foreclosure rights in the reported case of Kelly v. NationsBanc Mortgage Corporation (2001) 199 Ariz. 284. Prior to law school, Ms. Mierzwa worked in loan origination for several years, including loan processing and government insuring for two national lenders.

Ms. Mierzwa is an active member of the United Trustees Association and the California Mortgage Bankers Association, serving on their Legislative Committees. She is also active in the American Legal and Financial Network, participating in its Foreclosure Mediation Taskforce. She can be reached at MMierzwa@butlerandhosch.com.
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Spencer Scheer, Esq.
Managing Partner, Scheer Law Group, LLP

Spencer Scheer is the Managing Partner of the Scheer Law Group, LLP (" SLG."). He graduated from the University of Massachusetts (B.A., cum laude, 1980), and earned his Juris Doctor Degree from Empire College of Law (1983). After clerking for Alan Jaroslovsky ( Bankruptcy Judge, N Dist of CA), Mr. Scheer worked as Bankruptcy Administrator and In-House counsel for World Savings and Loan Association, a Fortune 500 Company. Mr. Scheer then went on to work for the AV rated Firm of Polk, Scheer & Prober from 1984-2002, becoming a shareholder and Managing Principal in 1993.

Mr. Scheer has received an AV (highest rating) from Martindale-Hubbell. He is an effective and successful litigator and has handled over 200 jury and non-jury trials in State and Federal courts, focusing on creditor and real estate litigation matters. Mr. Scheer has a diverse legal background that allows him to represent and advise SLG lender, mortgage broker, investor and foreclosure trustee clients on a wide variety of legal matters, including: consumer and commercial creditor bankruptcy litigation, real estate litigation, note and trust deed review and litigation, TILA rescission claims, landlord tenant litigation, title insurance litigation, and lender and broker liability matters.

In 2005, Mr. Scheer spearheaded the cooperative efforts of a regional bank, title companies and TIC counsel, resulting in the release of the first known institutional retail Tenant in Common loan program in the State of California. He can be reached via email at sscheer@ScheerLawGroup.com.
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Michael R. Brooks, Esq.

Michael R. Brooks graduated from the University of Southern California Law Center in 1993 where he externed for the Honorable John E. Ryan, United States Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California. In 1990, Mr. Brooks received a B.A., cum laude in Economics from California State University, Long Beach.

After graduation from law school, Mr. Brooks began representing creditors in California. Mr. Brooks' practice over the years focused on creditor's rights and covers a broad range of matters from complex litigation and bankruptcy related matters. Mr. Brooks has been licensed in California since 1993. After obtaining his Nevada law license in 2000, Mr. Brooks and his family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2002. While living in Nevada, Mr. Brooks continued to maintain a California presence during these years. Mr. Brooks is very active in the mortgage servicing industry and is a member of the Board of Directors for the United Trustees Association (UTA).

Mr. Brooks is the Nevada foreclosure certification instructor for the UTA. Further, Mr. Brooks is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and events including the California Mortgage Bankers Association and has been a guest instructor for Lorimar Education. Mr. Brooks can be reached via email at MBrooks@brooksbauer.com.
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Chris Pummill
NDeX West, UTA Education/Conference Chair

Chris Pummill is President of NDeX West, LLC, one of the largest independent trustees in the nation. She has over 30 years of mortgage default experience, specializing in the management of non-judicial foreclosures in California, Nevada and Arizona.

Chris began her career in 1979 working for two of the largest independent trustees in the Northern California area. In 1996, she relocated to Texas where she was appointed Chief Operating Officer for a large independent trustee. In 2005, she took on additional responsibilities for the parent company including the management of the foreclosure, loss mitigation and property valuation departments.

Chris is a member of the California Mortgage Bankers Association, U.S. Foreclosure Network, Mortgage Bankers Association, Texas Mortgage Bankers Association and the United Trustee's Association. She lives in the Dallas area with her husband Steve and enjoys traveling and cooking.
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Kathy Shakibi, Esq.
Attorney, Routh Crabtree Olsen, P.S.

Kathy Shakibi is an attorney with the law firm of Routh Crabtree Olsen, P.S. She graduated from Whittier Law School, cum laude. Kathy has practiced in the mortgage servicing industry exclusively since being admitted to practice in 2005. Kathy represents lenders, servicers, title insurers, and foreclosure trustees in a spectrum of mortgage, foreclosure, lender liability, title dispute and default related litigation. Kathy is an active member of United Trustees Association, and a regular contributor to UTA Quarterly. She can be reached at kshakibi@rcolegal.com. [top]
Cathe Cole-Sherburne
Vice President, Default, Trustee Corps

Cathe Cole-Sherburn serves as Vice President of Default for Trustee Corps. She is responsible for managing, strategic planning and development of the division.

Cole-Sherburn brings over 30 years of all aspects of real estate mortgage default experience to the company. Before joining Trustee Corps, Cathe was with the First American Trustee Servicing Solutions, where she was Senior Vice President. Prior to that, she was with the firm of Routh Crabtree Olsen/Northwest Trustee Services, where she was the Director of Operations and instrumental in setting up the AZ, CA, and HI offices and obtaining the Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae Counsel Designations. Prior to that, she was the Director of Operations for the Law Offices of Steven J. Melmet, Inc., for 14 years, and instrumental in obtaining in the Freddie Mac Designation.

Cathe can be seen as a Moderator and/or Panelist at various industry conferences.
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T. Robert Finlay, Esq.
Co-Founder, Wright, Finlay & Zak

T. Robert Finlay, Esq. is a founding Partner with Wright Finlay & Zak, LLP and a member of the UTA, CMBA, MBA and ALFN. Wright, Finlay & Zak specializes in providing compliance and litigation services to the mortgage industry in California, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Utah and Hawaii. Mr. Finlay is the current Chair of the UTA's Legislative Committee and was its President for 2011 and 2012. He is licensed to practice in all courts in the State of California, including all of the U.S. District Courts within the State of California and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Mr. Finlay can be reached at (949) 477-5056 or via email at rfinlay@wrightlegal.net. [top]
Michael Belote, Esq.
UTA's California lobbyist

Michael Belote is UTA's California lobbyist. He has over twenty-six years experience in representing a variety of clients before the Legislature and state regulators. Before joining California Advocates, Mike worked as a legislative advocate for the California Society of Certified Public Accountants followed by the California Association of Realtors. He has also served as Vice President and Legislative Counsel for the California Land Title Association. In the latter capacities, he gained valuable knowledge in land use and development issues.

Mike's activities in the legislative process have spanned a broad array of issues, including financial services, real estate, health care, the judiciary, and local government. He has been involved in such diverse endeavors as creating new occupational licensing laws, fostering economic development, shaping state tax policy and influencing the budget process.

Mike is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley and the McGeorge School of Law. He is admitted to practice before the state and federal courts in California. He can be reached via email at mbelote@caladvocates.com. [top]
Joyce Copeland
Director of Client/Vendor Relations, Wright Finlay & Zak

Joyce Copeland, Director of Client/Vendor Relations with Wright Finlay & Zak, based in Newport Beach, California, was elected by her colleagues on the Association's Board of Directors to serve as President of the Association for 2013. Ms. Copeland has served as UTA's Chief Financial Officer for the past two years. Previously she was Operations Manager of Barrett, Daffin Frappier Treder & Weiss, LLP where she provided leadership, guidance and direction to operations and legal staff. Joyce has been working in the real estate default sector since 1981. These years have given her practical experience as an independent trustee in a multi-state environment, experience in the default loan servicing environment as well as the legal environment. Joyce has conducted numerous seminars for UTA, including 'Basic Foreclosure 101' and 'Bidding Strategies at the Trustee Sale'. [top]
Cheryl Blomstrom
Founder, Blomstrom Consulting, UTA Nevada Lobbyist

Cheryl Blomstrom serves as UTA's Nevada Lobbyist and is President of Blomstrom Consulting, Inc., a communications and government relations firm based in the state of Nevada.

Her practice includes state legislative and regulatory work as well as local government consulting. She specializes in business issues in particular taxation and also provides customized analysis relating to the political environment in Nevada. She has served her clients in nine regular and ten special legislative sessions.

Cheryl received her education in Nevada including the University of Nevada, Reno majoring in business administration. She also received a certificate in non-profit management from that institution.

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Holly Chisa
Owner, HPC Advocacy, LLC

Holly Chisa is UTA's Washington lobbyist. She is a contract lobbyist, and owner of HPC Advocacy, LLC in Washington State. A partner of Tower Ltd., she and Brad Tower work together to advocate on behalf of several corporate clients and business associations in the Washington State Legislature. She has over 15 years of political experience, including campaign work and individual work as staff with Members of the Washington Legislature and the U.S. Congress. Ms. Chisa can be contacted via HollyChisa@hpcadvocacy.com. [top]
Mark S. Blackman, Esq.
Attorney, Alpert & Barr

Mark S. Blackman is an experienced business and real estate litigator. He represents clients in judicial foreclosures, title and escrow company disputes, creditors' rights in bankruptcy and in manufactured housing and mobile home transactions and litigation.

Mr. Blackman is a former president of the San Fernando Valley Bar Association. He has served as the chair for the Bars annual Law Day programs, which provides free legal services to members of the community. Mr. Blackman is a board member for the California Trustees Association and has served as a member of the Loyola Law School Board of Governors. Mr. Blackman also serves as a member of the Formation Committee for the Woodland Hills-Warner Center area's soon City wide Neighborhood Council.

Before joining Alpert & Barr 12 years ago, Mr. Blackman was an attorney with another San Fernando Valley law firm where he handled all aspects of business and real estate litigation including case intake and review, and preparation of complaints, answers, demurrers, motions for summary judgments/summary adjudication and other discovery.

Mr. Blackman received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California at Los Angeles and his Juris Doctor from Loyola University School of Law in 1985. He is licensed to practice in California and before the United States District Courts for the Central, Southern and Eastern Districts of California.

Mr. Blackman enjoys football and basketball, theater and music. He is married and lives in Woodland Hills, California. He can be reached at via email at mblackman@alpertbarr.com. [top]
Patric J. Kelly, Esq.
Senior Attorney, Adleson, Hess & Kelly, A.P.C.

Mr. Kelly has been a practicing attorney for 32 years, focusing on the fields of bankruptcy and real estate since 1976.  A summa cum laude graduate of Santa Clara University School of Law, he is a founding member of, senior attorney in and shareholder of the law firm of Adleson, Hess & Kelly, A.P.C.  Since 1982, Mr. Kelly has been a speaker at numerous industry seminars, focusing on the subjects of bankruptcy and foreclosure law and related legislation.

He is the author of numerous articles and books relating to the fields of real estate, bankruptcy and foreclosure.  He recently successfully litigated a multi-million dollar case in bankruptcy court entitled In re Cecconi (2007) 2007 Bankr. LEXIS 1323. He has successfully prosecuted or defended numerous appellate cases.  He co-authored the successful amicus brief filed on behalf of the California Trustee’s Association in the landmark case of I.E. Associates v. Safeco (1985) 39 Cal.3d 281 and authored the successful amicus brief in the United States Supreme Court case of BFP v. Resolution Trust Corporation, 511 U.S. 531 (1994).  Other key and landmark appellate cases for which Mr. Kelly has been engaged and won include Ung v. Koehler (2005) 135 Cal. App. 4th 186; Nguyen v. Calhoun (2003); Prudential Home Mortgage v. Superior Court (1998) 66 Cal.App.4th 1236); Abdallah v. United Savings Bank (1996) 43 Cal.App.4th 1101; Apte v. Japra (In re Apte) 96 F.3d 1319 (9th Cir. 1996); Lindsay v. Beneficial Reinsurance Company 59 F.3d 942 (1995) (amicus brief author); City of Cupertino v. Perry; (1988) (unpub); Katz v Peelle Financial (1987) (unpub).

A licensed real estate and mortgage broker since 1979, Mr. Kelly has been an instructor in real estate at San Jose State University and De Anza Community College.  Mr. Kelly’s practice focuses on representation of real property secured creditors in bankruptcy proceedings, real property secured creditors in civil court proceedings, and parties involved in complex real estate and business transactions.  Happily married since 1970 with three grown children, he has coached and played softball since 1988 and enjoys the occasional round of golf.  Mr. Kelly can be reached via email at pjkelly@ahk-law.com. [top]
Benjamin R. Levinson, Esq.

Benjamin R. Levinson has been representing lenders and foreclosure trustees in all Bankruptcy Courts and State Courts in California since 1985. His practice emphasizes creditor bankruptcy representation, lender and receiver representation in state court receivership actions, lender representation in judicial foreclosures and post-foreclosure evictions, and defending lenders, trustees, and third party purchasers in foreclosure-related litigation.

Mr. Levinson is a member of the State Bar of California, the Santa Clara County Bar Association, the American Bankruptcy Institute, the Bay Area Bankruptcy Forum, the San Jose chapter of American Inns of Court solely dedicated to bankruptcy reorganization practice, the California Mortgage Association and the United Trustees Association.

Mr. Levinson has been a seminar speaker for the California Mortgage Association, the California Trustees Association and its successor organization, the United Trustees Association on various bankruptcy topics and foreclosure topics over the last twenty years. In 2005, he authored an article entitled, "BANKRUPTCY ABUSE PREVENTION AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT OF 2005--WHAT DOES IT MEAN AND HOW WILL IT AFFECT LENDERS AND LOAN SERVICERS?" for the quarterly newsletter of the California Mortgage Association.

Published appellate cases that Mr. Levinson has been counsel for the prevailing party include, Pacific Loan Management v. Superior Court, (1987) 196 Cal.App.3d 148; which specifically provided for the right of a foreclosure trustee to interplead surplus funds, and Melendrez v. D & I Investment, Inc., (2005) 127 Cal.App.4th 1238; which held that a bona fide purchaser for value at a trustee's sale could include those persons that regularly bid at such sales and which held that the conclusive presumptions of the Trustee's Deed given to BFP's only apply to the statutory procedures with respect to the default and sale notices and do not apply to other requirements of the foreclosure process.

Mr. Levinson received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Santa Clara in 1984 and his Bachelor of Arts in Law and Society from the University of California Santa Barbara in 1979. He is licensed to practice in the Northern, Eastern, Central, and Southern District Bankruptcy Courts in California and he has extensive experience handling bankruptcy matters in all of these Districts. Mr. Levinson can be reached via email at ben@benlevinsonlaw.com. [top]
Lee Raphael, Esq.
Managing Partner, Prober & Raphael

Lee Raphael is managing partner of Prober & Raphael. Mr. Raphael oversees the firm's bankruptcy practice. Mr. Raphael has extensive experience with bankruptcy, real estate and federal appellate matters.

Mr. Raphael's professional affiliations have included: the Mortgage Bankers Association, American Bar Association, Los Angeles County Bar Association, San Fernando Valley Bar Association, Los Angeles Bankruptcy Forum, United Trustees Association, Central District Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys Association and the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel.

Mr. Raphael has been a panelist on bankruptcy lien strips for both the San Fernando Valley Bar Association and the Central District Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys Association. He also served on the Central District of California Bankruptcy Forms Committee, has taught Real Property law for the Legal Education Conference Center and been a panelist on Central District of California Chapter 13 Local Rule changes for the San Fernando Valley Bar Association.

Mr. Raphael earned his bachelor's degree in Sociology from California State University Northridge and his Juris Doctor from Southwestern University School of Law where he also received the Dean's Scholar Designation. He was admitted to State Bar of California in 1995 and is also admitted to all California Federal District Courts as well as the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Raphael can be reached via lraphael@pprlaw.net.
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Rex C. Anderson, Esq.
The Law Office of Rex C. Anderson

Rex C. Anderson is an AV-rated Arizona attorney whose clients include foreclosure trustees, mortgage loan servicers, and individual investors facing challenges with non-performing real estate loans.

For 17 years, his practice of law has helped lenders find acceptable and quick resolutions to problem loans, and comply with servicing requirements, investor guidelines, and changing laws. His clients benefit from his experience gained while handling over 11,000 Arizona foreclosures and over 9,500 consumer bankruptcy cases for clients that included several of the largest national loan servicers. He can be reached at RCA@RexAndersonLaw.com.
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Jim DeLoach, Esq.
Attorney, Butler & Hosch, P.A.

Jim DeLoach is an attorney with Butler & Hosch, P.A. Butler & Hosch is a preeminent provider of legal services to the mortgage banking industry and provides default services to its clients in 8 states. Jim is licensed to practice law in Texas and in Mississippi. His experience includes over 25 years in mortgage banking, including managing the default division of a major mortgage banking operation and managing the default operation of a major law firm. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Texas Bar Association, and the Mississippi Bar Association. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the United Trustees Association. Jim can be reached at jdeloach@butlerandhosch.com. [top]
Martin T. McGuinn, Esq.
Vice President, Kirby & McGuinn, APC

Martin McGuinn is a real estate and creditors' rights litigator who focuses his practice in the representation of lenders, loan servicers, receivers and trustees in complex bankruptcy, foreclosure and lender liability litigation, including class action suits.

Mr. McGuinn received a Juris Doctor degree from California Western School of Law in 1978, where he was elected to membership in Phi Delta Phi. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northwestern University in 1975. He has written several amicus briefs on behalf of trade associations involving foreclosure and lenders rights. He has been repeatedly listed in San Diego Super Lawyers magazine in the area of real estate, a designation conferred upon him by nomination of his peers.

Mr. McGuinn is admitted to practice before the courts of California; the U.S. District Court for the Southern, Central, Eastern and Northern Districts of California; the U.S. District Court of Arizona; and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He is a member of the San Diego County Bar Association; State Bar of California Real Property Section; United Trustees Association f.k.a. California Trustees Association; Mortgage Bankers Association of America; American Bankruptcy Institute; California Mortgage Association; REO Managers Association; and the California Mortgage Bankers Association.

His professional activities include: Member, Bankruptcy Law Section, San Diego County Bar Association; Member, Board of Directors, 1989-2005, Amicus Brief Chair 1998 to present and State Legislative Chairman, 1989-1992, President, San Diego Chapter 2003-4, Chairperson Legal Resources Committee, United Trustees Association fka the California Trustees Association; Member, Legal Issues Committee, Mortgage Bankers Association; Member, Legal Resource Panel, California Mortgage Association; and Member, Loan Servicing Committee, California Mortgage Bankers Association.

Mr. McGuinn has authored many legal articles for real estate-related publications and is a frequent speaker throughout the United States on matters relating to creditors’ rights, including the February 2003 and 2005 Mortgage Bankers Association Loan Servicing Conference speaking on Avoiding Risk and Responding to a Crisis in the Servicing of Defaulted Real Estate Loans and New Product Lines:  Reverse Mortgages and Interest Only Loans. Mr. McGuinn co-authored for National Business Institute California Foreclosure and Repossession in 1995 and 1999.  He authored  the amicus brief filed on behalf of UTA and other trade organizations in Nguyen v Calhoun (2003) 105 Cal. App. 4th 706 and Bank of America vs. La Jolla Group (2005) 129 Cal. App. 4th 706 and Kachlon vs. Markowitz  (2008) 168 Cal. App. 4th 316.

Most recently, Mr. McGuinn has authored the following articles for the United Trustee’s Quarterly: If You Promise and the Borrower Relies Promissory Estoppel Applies (2010); Anolik vs. EMC Mortgage, Court Clarifies Language which Describes Breaches in the Notice of Default (2005); Using RESPA to Attack the Validity of Foreclosure Sales, the Saga of Wanger vs. EMC Mortgage (2003); “Avoiding Sanctions for Violation of the Automatic Stay While Defending or Prosecuting State Court Litigation” (2001); “Six Angels v. Stuart-Wright Mortgage, Inc. The End of Relief in Mistaken Bid Cases? (2001); “Holding the Lines of Defense in Foreclosure Litigation” (1998).  He can be reached via email at mmcguinn@kirbymac.com. [top]
JOE SOLSENG
Vice-President, Robinson Tait, P.S.

Joe Solseng is vice-president of Robinson Tait, P.S. and a graduate of Columbia University and Seattle University School of Law. Mr. Solseng is licensed to practice in Alaska, Arizona, California, Montana, Nevada, and Washington and has significant trial and litigation experience in all aspects of default-related legal matters. He has been involved in all aspects of Nevada mediations since the program began. [top]

Edward A. Treder
Managing Partner, Barrett Daffin Frappier Tredrer & Weiss, LLP

Edward A. Treder is the managing partner of BARRETT DAFFIN FRAPPIER TREDER & WEISS, LLP located in Diamond Bar, California and was formerly a Senior Attorney at the Law Offices of ROBERT E. WEISS INCORPORATED located in Covina, California. His law firm is affiliated with BARRETT DAFFIN FRAPPIER TURNER & ENGEL, LLP with offices in Addison, Texas, with BARRETT DAFFIN FRAPPIER LEVINE & BLOCK, LLP in Atlanta, Georgia and with NDeX WEST, LLC in Addison, Texas. He holds an AV® Preeminent ™ Peer-Review Rating for Legal Ability and General Ethical Standards from Martindale-Hubbell.

Mr. Tredrer earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, cum laude, with a major in Business Management from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona in June 1981 and a Juris Doctor degree from Pepperdine University School of Law in May 1984.

He has been admitted to the California State Bar since December 1984 and is also is admitted to the United States District and Bankruptcy Courts for the Central, Southern, Northern and Eastern Districts of California, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the United States Supreme Court. He practices law at the trial and appellate court levels in every state and federal court throughout California.

His statewide practice is devoted exclusively to representing mortgage lenders, loan servicers and foreclosure trustees in bankruptcy matters, post-foreclosure evictions, mortgage and foreclosure-related civil litigation defense, title curative actions, asset-forfeiture proceedings, judicial foreclosure and receivership cases, legislative and administrative proceedings, surplus funds distribution and recovery and other legal matters involving mortgage banking and default servicing. His affiliated firms handle non-judicial foreclosures in Texas, California, Nevada, Arizona and Georgia.

He has lectured on topics relevant to his practice areas before industry organizations and bar associations and is a member of the Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of California, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, the United Trustees Association, the California Mortgage Bankers Association, the American Legal & Financial Network, the American Bankruptcy Institute and the Inland Empire Bankruptcy Forum. His firm is a member of the Legal League 100, and his Texas affiliate is a founding member of the USFN. His firm and his Texas affiliate are also Members of the Fannie Mae Retained Attorney Network. [top]
Jeffrey J. Todd, Esq.
Associate Attorney, Brook Bauer, LLP.

Jeffrey J. Todd is an associate attorney with Brooks Bauer LLP. He practices in the areas of civil litigation, criminal law, and bankruptcy.

Mr. Todd attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Law & Society and Global Studies. He also played on the men's basketball team and competed in the NCAA Tournament. Mr. Todd received his Juris Doctorate from the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Following law school, he served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Kathy Hardcastle, then Chief Judge of the Eighth (8th) Judicial District Court of Nevada.

Mr. Todd is admitted to practice in the State of Nevada and in the U.S. District of Nevada. He can be reached at jtodd@brooksbauer.com.
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Chet Sconyers
Vice President of Operations, First American Trustee Servicing Solutions

Chet Sconyers is Vice President of Operations at First American Trustee Servicing Solutions in Westlake, TX, a division of First American Mortgage Services based in Santa Ana, CA. He has been with the company for 16 years. Since February 2010 he has managed the company's overall operations which includes non judicial foreclosure services in California, Arizona, Nevada and Texas. He has managed various other areas of the company's operations since February 1997. Chet has over 27 years of mortgage banking experience with over 24 year's default servicing experience.

He is a graduate of the University of North Texas, Denton, TX with a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree with a specialization in Financial Markets and Financial Institutions. He has been a proud member of the UTA/CTA since 2001. He has attained certification as a Trustee Officer for California Level I and II, Nevada, and Arizona thru the UTA. He can be reached at ccsconyers@firstam.com.
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Shawn Miller
President, Miller Public Affairs

Shawn Miller, President of Miller Public Affairs, has earned the trust of legislators and regulators at the Oregon State Capitol for 19 years. Miller Public Affairs is built upon getting results in a very competitive environment. Shawn enjoys the competition of the legislative process as he enjoyed playing NCAA collegiate and professional soccer before becoming a lobbyist. Shawn lives in Gates with his wife Stephanie and two sons, Gunder and Grey. [top]
Kristin Schuler-Hintz
Partner, McCarthy & Holthus

Ms. Schuler-Hintz is a Partner heading the Nevada offices for the Firm. After graduating from the University of Nevada Las Vegas, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, she obtained her law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1999. While at USD, she received the CALI Award for Excellence in Conflict of Laws and was recognized as one of the best Oral Advocates during her first year of Law School. In addition, she contributed to the Children's Regulatory Law Reporter and was published in the Journal of Contemporary Legal Issues – Issues in California Family Law. Ms. Schuler-Hintz is admitted to bar in the states of California and Nevada and practices primarily in the areas of Bankruptcy and Nevada Mortgage related litigation.[top]
Teresa Shill
Senior Counsel, RCO Legal, P.C.

Teresa Shill is senior counsel at RCO Legal, P.C. Teresa's practice focuses on real estate litigation and creditors' rights in bankruptcy. Teresa's previous experience includes representation of debtors in bankruptcy liquidation and reorganization cases. She also represented clients in family law matters. She can be reached at tshill@rcolegal.com[top]
Armand Howell
Partner, Matheson & Howell

Armand J. Howell is a partner with the firm of Matheson & Howell, P.C.. Mr. Howell has over 16 years experience representing lenders in the areas of foreclosure, bankruptcy, eviction and title related matters. Mr. Howell is admitted in California and Utah. [top]
Diane Weifenbach
Principal and Founder, Law Offices of Diane Weifenbach

Diane Weifenbach is the principal and founder of the Law Offices of Diane Weifenbach located in Anaheim Hills California. She has been an attorney licensed in California for 20 years and is also licensed to practice law in the State of California. Her practice focuses primarily on the representation of secured creditors in Chapter 7, 11, 12 and 13 Bankruptcy cases throughout California and Arizona. She has authored various publications concerning Bankruptcy law and has Spoke at national and local seminars and conferences concerning Bankruptcy matters. In addition to being an attorney, Ms. Weifenbach is a certified CA Senior Foreclosure Trustee and the founder of Attorney Lender Services, Inc. [top]
Phillip Silvestri
Attorney, Malcolm Cisneros

Phillip Silvestri is associated with Malcolm Cisneros. He practices in the areas of civil litigation, bankruptcy and foreclosure mediation.

Phil attended the State University of New York at Fredonia and received a Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies and Philosophy. He received his JD from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Following law school Phil practiced construction defect law before founding Silvestri Gidvani with Neal Gidvani in 2010. The firm was founded to meet the growing needs of creditors in dealing with the Nevada Foreclosure Mediation Program. Since that time Phil has represented creditors in over 1,000 foreclosure mediations.

For the past three years Phil has served as a lender's attorney representative on the State of Nevada Foreclosure Mediation Program Advisory Committee appointed by the Nevada Supreme Court. Phil has also been named a "Rising Star" by SuperLawyers magazine in 2012 and 2013 in the areas of Banking, Bankruptcy/Creditor Rights and Real Estate.

Phil is admitted to practice in the State of Nevada and the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada. He can be reached at psilvestri@mclaw.org. [top]
Jill Habig
Special Assistant Attorney General, Executive Office of California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris

Jill Habig is a Special Assistant Attorney General in the Executive Office of California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris. As a member of the office's senior staff, she advises the Attorney General on key legal issues and policy initiatives. Her work emphasizes consumer fraud, health, education, human trafficking, and civil rights, including issues related to gender and LGBT rights. Ms. Habig was previously a Lecturer in Law at Yale Law School and served on the Affirmative Litigation Task Force at the San Francisco City Attorney's Office, where she worked on the landmark trial challenging Proposition 8. She has served as a law clerk for Judge Dorothy Nelson of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and Judge Edward Chen of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Ms. Habig earned her J.D. from Yale Law School and her B.A. from Georgetown University. [top]
Whitney Patross
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Before law school, Whitney Patross worked on the structured finance team for Thacher Proffitt & Wood in New York. She graduated from Cornell Law in 2010 and came to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in January of 2011. She joined the Regulations division in the Office of Research, Markets and Regulations in July, 2011, and was a member of the team implementing the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act related to Mortgage Loan Servicing. The rules were released in January 2013, since then she has been working on Regulation Implementation. [top]
Eileen Newhall
Staff Director, California Senate Banking and Financial Institutions Committee

Eileen Newhall serves as Staff Director to the Senate Banking and Financial Institutions Committee.  In that role, she analyzes and drafts mortgage and other financial services legislation, staffs legislation for the Chair of the committee, plans and directs informational hearings, and responds to questions from legislators, members of the public, and the press about matters before the Committee.  Working closely with the current and past-chairs of her Committee, Eileen has taken a leading role in advising the Legislature on mortgage-related legislation, and has staffed or significantly influenced close to three dozen chaptered mortgage bills since 2007.  Before joining the Senate Banking Committee in March 2005, Eileen served as a principal consultant with the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee.  She has also worked as a revenue analyst at the California Department of Finance and a research associate at the Public Policy Institute of California.  Eileen has a bachelor’s degree from Brown University, and a master’s degree from the University of Hawaii. [top]
Michael J. Henderson
Associate General Counsel, Freddie Mac

Michael J. Henderson joined Freddie Mac's Single Family Default Management and Litigation Department as an Associate General Counsel in 2012. He manages litigation and legal issues related to Freddie Mac's single family loan and real-estate owned portfolios throughout the nation. He also provides internal policy and procedural guidance regarding judicial and non-judicial foreclosure processes, manages servicer relationships and supervises outside counsel on litigated matters.

Prior to joining Freddie Mac, he worked in private practice for 10 years in both Florida and Washington D.C., specializing in complex litigation matters involving financial services, real estate, title insurance, foreclosures, bankruptcy, and appellate issues. He earned his undergraduate degree from Florida State University in 1996, and obtained his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Stetson University in 2001. Upon graduation, he served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Charles R. Wilson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. He is admitted to practice in Florida, New York, Virginia and the District of Columbia. [top]
Albert Garcia
Counsel, Allied Trustee Services

Albert Garcia is in-house counsel for Allied Trustee Services, an HOA trustee. Mr. Garcia received his Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law and is licensed in California and Texas. He has practiced for more than 20 years in private practice and as in-house counsel. He can be reached at agarcia@alliedtrustee.com. [top]
Jermaine Brown
Assistant Attorney General, Oregon Department of Justice

Jermaine Brown is an assistant attorney general at the Oregon Department of Justice, where he practices consumer protection law. He earned his bachelor's degree from Harvard University in 2002, where he majored in environmental geoscience. Jermaine earned his J.D. from the University of Oregon in 2007. Before joining the Department of Justice in 2009, he served as a law clerk to the Honorable Darleen Ortega of the Oregon Court of Appeals. Jermaine's practice primarily involves consumer debt issues, including foreclosure rescue fraud, credit card debt settlement fraud, and mortgage servicing issues. Jermaine also serves as the Department of Justice's liaison to Mediation Case Manager, the entity that coordinates resolution conferences under the Oregon Foreclosure Avoidance Program. [top]
Elizabeth Knight
President, PLM Lender Services

Elizabeth M. Knight is President of PLM Lender Services, Inc., an independent trustee service which specializes in foreclosures, private investor loan servicing, loan documentation, bulk assignments, reconveyances and REO disposal. Elizabeth has been in the foreclosure and loan servicing field since 1981. She has been in the real estate field (with emphasis on escrow prior to 1981) since 1977. She currently holds the position of Director on the board of the California Mortgage Association as well as Director on the board the United Trustees Association. Elizabeth is a graduate of St. Mary's College with her Bachelor's degree in Business Management. She is a court qualified expert in the field of foreclosure and is a licensed California Real Estate Broker. She is a frequent giver of seminars in foreclosure and loan servicing. [top]
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