First American Title Names Deputy General Counsel

July 1, 2014

First American Title Insurance Co. promoted Jim Nelson to vice president and deputy general counsel of operations. In his new role, Nelson is responsible for the legal affairs of First American’s domestic title insurance operations, including managing the company’s relationships with state and federal regulators, and with state legislatures across the United States. Previously located in Arizona, Nelson will now be based in First American’s corporate headquarters in Santa, Anna, Calif.

In his 30-year career, First American said in a release that Nelson has earned a reputation for strong leadership and impressive achievement in both private and public sector settings. Most recently, he served as the vice president and senior operations counsel for First American’s direct and agency divisions in the southwest region.

In 2007, Nelson returned to First American Title following a six-year term serving as Mississippi assistant secretary of state overseeing the Business Regulation and Enforcement Division. Before that, he spent three years as the assistant vice president and associate state counsel for First American Title in Mississippi. Nelson also previously served as Mississippi assistant secretary of state and executive director of the Public Lands Division. Nelson is a member of the Scottsdale, Arizona and Mississippi bar associations, the United States District Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits, and the U.S. Supreme Court Bar. He is also a member of the Title Action Network and served on the Board of Directors for the North American Securities Administrators Association and the Board of Directors for the Western States Land Commissioners Association.


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