AmTrust Title Names Regional Underwriting Counsel
December 19, 2017
AmTrust Title Insurance Company named 30-year industry veteran R. Michael Smith as regional underwriting counsel.
Smith will underwrite title insurance risks regionally for agents in Maryland, Washington, D.C., North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.
In addition, Smith’s responsibilities include apprising title agents and underwriters of corporate guidelines, assessing excess and special risk coverages, providing training for real estate attorneys and agents, and ensuring underwriters are aware of real estate law and federal/state legislation impacting real estate transactions.
“We are fortunate to welcome such an experienced title insurance professional to our team,” said Jason Gordon, president of AmTrust Title. “Title insurance is in Michael’s DNA. He is an authority on liability for title search errors and numerous other title insurance-related topics. An extensive writer in the real estate title field, he was the editor of an underwriter’s newsletter and he has been published in the VLTA Examiner and the Virginia State Bar’s Real Property Section newsletter, The Fee Simple. His knowledge and background add tremendous value to AmTrust Title’s regional operations in Virginia and surrounding states.”
Prior to joining AmTrust Title, Smith was underwriting counsel for Conestoga Title Insurance Co., underwriting title insurance risks for title agents and approved attorneys in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest. Before that, he held senior posts for national title insurance companies, primarily in Virginia. He also has been in the private practice of law focused on real estate and has been Managing Attorney for a title and settlement subsidiary of a national builder.
He has served on the Board of Directors of the Virginia Land Title Association and was chairman of VLTA’s Education Committee. He currently serves on ALTA’s Forms Committee.
Contact ALTA at 202-296-3671 or communications@alta.org.