Stuart Gordan is a Partner with the law firm McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC.  Based in the firm’s Roswell, GA office, Stuart manages the REO and Closing Dept. operations over the firm’s 16-state footprint.  Stuart has been a Georgia resident for 25 years, following his graduations from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and then the University of Tulsa College of Law.

When the dinosaurs were still among us, Ms. Clark was hunting and gathering real property cases to prepare for the Judicial Update from her vibrantly decorated cave.  Caught in a wrinkle in time, she managed to graduate as a Double Dawg from UGA (English and Law), represent hundreds of fellow travelers in fascinating (to them) disputes and collect some lucky awards, the Pindar being especially cherished.   She expresses gratitude for the long standing patience of the Real Property Institute audiences and their feigned laughter at what passes for her idea of wit.

Donald Campbell is the Owen Cooper Professor of Law at Mississippi College School of Law, where he teaches courses including Ethics and Professional Responsibility, Property, Wills and Trusts, Land Use & Planning, and Construction Law.  He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, and his J.D. summa cum laude from Mississippi College School of Law.  He also received his Ph.D. in Political Science (with an emphasis in judicial politics) from the University of Florida.  Prior to joining the MC Law faculty, Professor Campbell practice law in Jackson, Mississippi, and served as a law clerk for the Honorable Leslie Southwick on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.  He has authored a number of books and articles and co-authored a treatise on legal and judicial ethics in Mississippi with the late Jeffrey Jackson entitled Ethics and Professional Responsibility for Mississippi Lawyers and Judges, published by LexisNexis in 2016.   Donald is also author of a textbook on ethics entitled Professional Responsibility & Ethics: Readings, Notes & Questions with Great Hall Press which is currently in its 7th edition.  He serves as a member of the Mississippi complaint tribunal, which is responsible for hearing trials on ethical misconduct.  He has served on the Ethics Committee of the Mississippi Bar (including as chair) and previously served as Reporter for the Mississippi Code of Judicial Conduct Study Committee.  He is a frequent speaker on ethics to lawyers and judges.

Mark Robinson currently serves as Vice President and Georgia State Counsel for Old Republic National Title Insurance Company.   Prior to joining Old Republic, Mark practiced both as a solo practitioner and as partner in his own firm with multiple offices in Metro Atlanta and surrounding areas.  In his role at Old Republic, Mark provides the Company’s agents, attorneys and their staff with underwriting guidance and advice on a wide variety of title insurance and real estate related matters.

Mark is a graduate of Georgia State University with a BBA in Finance, and he earned his law degree from Emory University School of Law.  Mark is member of the State Bar of Georgia and currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Real Property Law Section.  He is admitted to the Courts of the Northern and Southern Districts of Georgia and is a member of the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States. 

Mark also currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors and Vice President of the Southeast Land Title Association (SLTA).  Mark is a frequent speaker and educational trainer for members of the Georgia Bar and real estate industry professionals. 

Loretta Salzano founded Franzén and Salzano in 1997 to provide practical legal solutions for
mortgage and consumer lenders. The firm has grown to serve banks, real estate brokers, title
companies, law firms, technology companies and others in the real estate and lending industries –
taking pride in its unique ability to navigate a complex tapestry of laws to help clients accomplish their
goals. The firm’s attorneys counsel clients on how to increase their business while remaining within
the confines of the laws of all 50 states plus federal law, including TILA, RESPA, ECOA, HMDA,
FCRA and GLB.
Loretta spends much of her time assessing risks related to marketing, pricing and
compensation. She also drafts and negotiates a variety of transactional contracts, such as warehouse,
loan sale and service agreements; troubleshoots to mitigate damages; and advocates with regulators
before, during and in response to examinations.
Loretta was named a Top Compliance Lawyer by Mortgage Compliance Magazine, is a
Fellow of the American College of Consumer Financial Services Attorneys and serves as Legal
Counsel to the Mortgage Bankers Association of Georgia. She is active in many professional
associations and loves talking the talk for the industry. Loretta is a double Wolverine earning both her
B.A. and J.D. from the University of Michigan.

Edith F. Haney

Judge, Probate Court of Carroll County

Ms. Haney took office January 2, 2019 as Probate Judge of Carroll County at the appointment of Judge John Simpson, Senior Judge of the Superior Court for the Coweta Circuit. She was elected and began serving her own term January 2021 and recently qualified unopposed for a second term. Ms. Haney brings more than 25 years of legal experience to the position, having practiced as a partner with the regional law firm, Tisinger Vance, P.C. specializing in probate and estate planning, real estate and corporate law. Ms. Haney also previously served as In-House Corporate Counsel for a large, multi-state consulting and valuation company; and also as a Founder, Principal and Counsel to Fogo Data Centers, a local technology company, with responsibilities of corporate governance, regulatory compliance, human resources and data privacy and security. She is also a certified, registered neutral for the State of Georgia. Judge Haney serves on the Council of Probate Court Judges and was recently recognized by this organization as an Outstanding New Judge. She is Vice-Chairman of the Carroll County Mental Health Advocates and currently serves as Judge Pro Tem for the Carroll County Mental Health Court. Ms. Haney previously served as a member of Board of Directors of the University of West Georgia Foundation, Past Chairman of the Board of Directors of Circles of West Georgia, a past Chairman of the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce and its’ Leadership Academy and an active member of Midway Church in Villa Rica, Georgia. She is a graduate of the University of West Georgia (B.S.) and of the Walter F. George School of Law, Mercer University (J.D., cum laude), where she began her judicial career as Student Judiciary Chairman and Chief Honor Court Justice, respectively.

Kenneth “Kenny” Stroud serves as Vice President and Southeast Regional Counsel for CATIC where he oversees underwriting for the southeast region.  Kenny received a B.B.A. from Kennesaw State University with a concentration in Economics and Finance.  Kenny worked several years in the insurance and risk analysis fields before enrolling at The University of Georgia School of Law where he obtained his J.D. Prior to joining CATIC, Kenny maintained a successful practice in Metro Atlanta focused on real estate and real estate litigation, estate planning, and bankruptcy and creditor’s rights.  Kenny is a frequent speaker and instructor for CE/CLE events and industry conferences. He is a member of the State Bar of Georgia Real Property Law Section, GRECAA, SLTA, TNLTA, PLTA and FLTA.

Susan McNamara has over 20 years of legal and title industry experience, both in transactions and real estate litigation. Prior to joining First American Title, Susan was a partner in a full-service law ?rm, where her practice included the negotiation and closing of complex real estate transactions. She also served as outside claims counsel where she handled title insurance claims, assisted in coverage decisions under title insurance policies, and prosecuted indemnity claims. Susan is State Counsel in First American’s Georgia Agency Office, and also serves as a mentor in the Company’s Underwriting Bridge program.

Susan graduated from Harding University with a Bachelor of Arts in English and received her Juris Doctor from Mississippi College School of Law.

Nena Mahlum Mills has been with Harding Bell International Inc since August 2012 and currently serves as the Sales and FIRPTA Manager.  She is one of two IRS designated Certifying Acceptance Agents (CAA) for HBI as well as a Registered Tax Return Preparer (RTRP).

Over the last 10 years, Nena and her teams have increased the annual number of FIRPTA cases filed through HBI by 300%, and in 2023 exceeded targets for both FIRPTA and new business revenue by 50%. Affectionately known in the central Florida area as the "FIRPTA Queen", Nena is also an accredited real estate instructor in Florida, who teaches a two-hour two CE credit class to real estate agents titled FIRPTA Plus.

Nena received her Master of Business Administration degree with a Concentration in International Business in 2013 from Webber International University, after simultaneously earning two Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degrees. One with a concentration in Marketing, and the other with a concentration in Accounting.

David L. Gordon is Associate Georgia State Counsel and Vice President with the Georgia office of Chicago Title Insurance Company and Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company.  Mr. Gordon is responsible for underwriting commercial and residential transactions, assisting in claims resolution and claims recovery, and providing education to his Company’s agents and the real estate community.  Mr. Gordon has been a frequent speaker on the subject of title insurance to realtor’s associations, mortgage and lending associations and other professional groups.  He has been a speaker at continuing legal education seminars and has been a guest lecturer at Georgia State University School of Law.  Mr. Gordon received a B. A. degree from Brandeis University and a J. D. degree from the University of Georgia School of Law.  He is a member of the State Bar of Georgia.

Tenise Cook Chung is a litigation partner of Rubin Lublin, LLC. Ms. Chung is a “double dawg”, graduating from the University of Georgia with her Bachelor of Arts in 2002 and her Juris Doctor in 2006. Her primary practice areas include commercial and real estate litigation. She represents clients in a wide variety of complex civil litigation matters, contract disputes, real estate, and quiet title actions in both Georgia and Tennessee. She also serves as a Special Master in several Fulton County real estate matters. Ms. Chung is the current Chair Elect of the Real Property Section of the Georgia Bar. Mrs. Chung is also the co-author of Georgia Real Property Law and Practice (2025 edition) published by Matthew Bender. Mrs. Chung lives in Johns Creek with her husband and 4 children.

Amelia (Amy) H. Huskins, Partner

Duane Morris LLP

1075 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 1700

Atlanta, GA  30309-3929

USA

Phone: +1 404 253 6930

Email: AHHuskins@duanemorris.com

Amy Huskins practices in the areas of commercial leasing, real estate and finance. Her leasing experience includes representation of both landlords (and sublandlords) as well as tenants (and subtenants). She represents buyers, sellers, lenders and borrowers in connection with complex financing transactions, including multi-state and multi-national transactions. She also represents owners and operators of real property, including the permitting, purchasing, selling and licensing of real property.

Ms. Huskins is Immediate Past Co-Chair of the Legislative Subcommittee for the State Bar of Georgia Real Estate Section, working with the State Bar of Georgia regarding all proposed legislation of the State of Georgia relating to real property matters, including the leasing, owning and operating of real property, as well of the lending upon and occupancy of real property. In connection with serving as Co-Chair of the Section's Legislative Subcommittee, she has spoken at events regarding Georgia legislation, federal legislation and other commercial real estate matters, including those in connection with the State Bar of Georgia Advisory Council on Legislation and the Board of Governors of the State Bar of Georgia. She also previously served on the State Bar of Georgia Real Estate Section Subcommittee on Title Standards.

In connection with her prior role as Co-Chair of the Legislative Subcommittee of the State Bar of Georgia’s Real Property Law Section, Ms. Huskins has testified to Georgia House and Senate Committees over the past six years on bills regarding brokers’ listing agreements, recording and savings statutes, and most recently, bills regarding foreign investment in Georgia real estate and bills regarding the practice of law relating to commercial real estate transactions. She has personally drafted several bills, working with teams of bar officers, and also appeared in front of legislative committees on behalf of her firm.

Ms. Huskins also serves as one of the firm's liaisons with and is an active member of the Commercial Real Estate Finance Council (CREF-C), with emphasis on all aspects of CMBS transactions, including, but not limited to, federal and state laws regarding foreign investment in U.S. real estate, and she is currently working with the CREF-C director of national legislation on foreign investment bills in the U.S.

Clients turn to Ellen Smith for help real estate transaction matters (acquisitions, dispositions, build to suit and other leases), navigating land use and zoning, and resolving disputes. Her clients include Fortune 500 corporations, commercial real estate developers, owners and borrowers, and telecommunications and solar companies for advice whether transactional, litigation or regulatory. Ellen is also a leader within Parker Poe, serving as the firm's Atlanta Office Development Partner.

Ellen. W. Smith | Parker Poe 

Elizabeth Story represents clients in real estate litigation with a focus on eminent domain and condemnation. She guides property and business owners through all phases of the eminent domain proceedings, from pre-take acquisitions to special master hearings, mediations, and jury trials. Outside of the context of eminent domain, Elizabeth advises property owners on other private property disputes and litigation related to owning and developing commercial real estate.

Her clients include a wide range of landowners and large and small businesses, including real estate investors and trusts, shopping center developers, restaurant franchisors and franchisees, car dealerships, owners and operators of hotels and convenience stores, and owners of other commercial and mixed-use properties.

Elizabeth has served as the president of the Georgia Association for Women Lawyers (GAWL) Foundation, which plays a leading role in encouraging philanthropy by women lawyers for the benefit of the greater Georgia community. She has also served on the board of the Georgia Association for Women Lawyers and on Parker Poe's Community Service Committee.

Earlier in her career, Elizabeth was a staff attorney for the Superior Court Judges of the Cherokee Judicial Circuit. She has also built legal experience providing services to Atlanta Public Schools, the Family Justice Clinic in Athens, Georgia, and the Northeastern Judicial Circuit Public Defender’s Office in Gainesville, Georgia.

As the Founding and Principal Attorney for Battle Law P.C., Michèle Battle brings over three decades of legal experience and expertise to the Metro-Atlanta community. Battle Law offers services related to zoning, land use, and permitting, and transactional commercial real estate. Michèle has had the opportunity to serve on the Executive Committee for the Real Estate Section of the State Bar of Georgia and was the Vice President of Education for the Commercial Real Estate Women of Atlanta, Inc. Because of her stellar reputation and results oriented approach, she was honored as one of Georgia Trend’s 40 Under 40 Rising Stars in 2001 and received the 2001 Local and National CREW Career Development Award, along with the 2001 Local CREW Networking Deal of the Year Award. In 2002, she was recognized in the Atlanta Tribune’s Who’s Who in Black Atlanta. Michèle is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio. She received her Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School in 1989, and Bachelor of Arts degree from The Ohio State University in 1982. In her free time, Michèle enjoys doing genealogy research.

Allie Jett is the founding partner of Jett Law Group. Originally from Charleston, SC, Allie is a “Double Dawg” having received her Bachelor’s Degrees in Linguistics and Classical Culture and her Law Degree from the University of Georgia.

Allie started her real estate career at age 16 in the Cobb County Deed Records Room when she started running titles for her family’s mortgage business. She continued working in various capacities for that mortgage company until entering law school. 

Allie has spent her legal career representing governmental, individual, and corporate clients in a wide range of real estate-related disputes on both the trial and appellate levels as well as general counseling regarding best practices and risk mitigation outside of litigation. She focuses her practice on litigating title to real property and property tax matters. She also frequently acts as a court-appointed Special Master in quiet title proceedings and auditor in a variety of other real estate disputes.

Allie is admitted to the bar in both Georgia and South Carolina and has been named a “Georgia Rising Star” by Super Lawyers Magazine (every year from 2012 to 2018) and a Super Lawyer for every year from 2019-2024.

John is Agency Representative/National Underwriting Counsel for Westcor Land Title Insurance Company. Prior to joining Westcor, Mr. Baumbick served as National Underwriting Counsel for Fidelity National Agency, Corporate Counsel for CrossCountry Mortgage Inc., and Corporate Counsel and Senior Underwriting Counsel for First American Mortgage Solutions. There he provided legal and underwriting support on residential and commercial transactions, to lenders, title agencies, and internal operations nationally. He also has worked across various business lines, including Originations, Refinance, Home Equity, Loss Mitigation, REO/Default. During his 15 years of experience he has also chaired committees and lead various initiatives. He is a licensed attorney in the State of Ohio. Mr. Baumbick received his B.A. degree from Ohio University and his J.D. degree from the Capital University Law School (Columbus, OH)

James R. Woodward, a partner in Gray Pannell & Woodward LLP’s Atlanta office, focuses his practice primarily in the areas of public finance and economic development incentives. Mr. Woodward represents counties, cities, school districts, authorities, hospitals, private companies, non-profit schools, trustee banks, lending institutions and investment bankers throughout the State of Georgia in a variety of tax-exempt and taxable public finance in a variety of tax-exempt and taxable public finance transactions, including governmental general obligation and revenue bond financings, special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) bond financings, installment sale financings, tax anticipation notes, governmental and 501(c)(3) hospital financings, and private school financings. Mr. Woodward also represents development authorities and other public entities and private companies
in connection with economic development incentives.

A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Mr. Woodward received a B.A. from Stanford
University and a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law. Mr. Woodward is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, the National Association of Bond Lawyers, the Association County Commissioners of Georgia and the Georgia Municipal Association.
Mr. Woodward has been named as one of Georgia Trend Magazine’s “Legal Elite”, as one of Atlanta Magazine’s “Super Lawyers”, was recently included in the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers in America® for Public Finance Law, and has been listed in Southern Business &
Development magazine as one of the top four best lawyers in Georgia for economic matters in the South’s 17 states. Mr. Woodward was appointed by Governor Deal to the Partnership for Public Facilities and Infrastructure Act Guidelines Committee (Public Private Partnerships (P3)).

gpwlawfirm.com
(678) 705-6280 

Matt is the 2022 recipient of the prestigious George A. Pindar Award.

He was born in Atlanta, GA and grew up in Decatur, Georgia and was educated in the public schools of DeKalb County.  He currently resides in Cartersville, Georgia but he works in Buckhead.  He went to the University of Georgia for undergraduate and law school.  Undergraduate, he was Phi Beta Kappa in political science magna cum laude and was Phi Kappa Phi and Omicron Delta Kappa.  While in law school, he was Executive Editor of the Georgia Journal of International and Comparative Law which published his Note which was an extensive review of Presidential Powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.  His law school Note is still being cited in law review articles to this day over thirty years later.

He’s a Member of the Georgia and Montana Bars (where he’s a member of the Water Law section). 

He taught real estate law in the paralegal program at Kennesaw State for 25 years.

He served as the Chair of the Litigation Committee of the Executive Committee of the Real Property Law Section in Georgia for four years.  He has been a frequent contributor of articles for the Real Property Law Section newsletter.  Since 2013 until very recently, every single edition of the newsletter contained at least one of his articles.

He has been publishing his own particular brand of case write-ups for twelve years now currently under the name Distilled Clarity previously known as Undiluted Clarity.

He practices in all areas of commercial finance and secured lending. 

McClung Surveying Services, Inc., is a full service land surveying firm, specializing in both residential and commercial surveying.  We have been in business for over 45 years serving metro Atlanta. The principles of the corporation are Jeff McClung, CEO, and Michael R. Noles, CFO and Georgia Registered Land Surveyor.  Jeff McClung is the President & CEO of McClung

Surveying and is a member of the Surveying and Mapping Society of Georgia.

            Experience:  Over 35 years’ experience in all phases of Land Surveying

                                   Projects including residential, commercial, ALTA/NSPS

                                   surveys, topographic maps, easement surveys, and expert                   

                                   witness for boundary disputes.

Jeff is the co-owner and partner with Michael Noles for McClung Surveying Services Inc. Before Surveying he attended Kennesaw State University.  And was a Commercial Builder at one point.  He is now an approved Instructor with the Georgia Board of Realtors for the RE School of Georgia   This includes instructing for Berkshire Hataway, Harry Norman, Atlanta Fine Homes, Keller Williams, Maximum One Realty, Palmer House, Atlanta Communities and Dorsey Alston just to name a few.

Education:

• Cumberland School of Law, 2002 (law)
• Georgia State University (currently enrolled, business)
• Emory University, 1998 (graduate, ethics)
• Samford University, 1992 (undergraduate, business)

Professional and Personal:

• Of Counsel, The Gilroy Firm, Atlanta, since 2015 (Real Estate and Bankruptcy Litigation as well as Personal Injury and Criminal)
• Clinical Assistant Professor of Business Law, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, since 2018 (Business Law, Business Ethics, and Negotiation)
• Active Member, Board of Governors, Atlanta Circuit, Post 2, State Bar of Georgia, since 2015
• Past Chair, Real Property Law Section, State Bar of Georgia, 2021-2022
• Resident of Johns Creek; Married to Charla for 26 years; and Father to Carly who is 18 years old