MARILYN C.

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