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Awards & Accolades
MRLP’s Laura Coughlin – Elected to Board of Directors of United Trustees Association (UTA)
Laura Coughlin, Esq., Managing Attorney, West Coast Compliance, has been elected to the United Trustees Association (UTA) Board of Directors for a three year term ending in 2028. The UTA helps equip industry professionals with timely regulatory insights, caselaw updates, and top tier education, while supporting collective advocacy in nonjudicial foreclosure states. We congratulate Ms. Coughlin on this prestigious and well-earned honor.
For more information about the UTA, please visit https://unitedtrustees.com/
MRLP’s Jesse Ford Honored for Outstanding Toastmasters Leadership
On August 9th, MRLP’s Jesse Ford was recognized at the Toastmasters Annual District Recognition Awards Ceremony in Texas. Since 1924, Toastmasters International has transformed nearly eight million lives through a simple, yet powerful, mission: empowering individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders. Mr. Ford’s recent recognition honored his leadership, which inspires and elevates those around him, and his many contributions to Toastmasters.
We congratulate Mr. Ford on this well-earned honor.
For more information about Toastmasters, please visit Toastmasters International – https://www.toastmasters.org/
MRLP Attorneys, Chardynea J. Crossdale and Morgan Lea, Recognized as HousingWire Rising Stars for 2025
The National Black Lawyers proudly welcomes Morgan Lea of McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce as one of its distinguished Top 40 Under 40 Black Lawyers in Florida.
This exclusive recognition is reserved for the top 40 under 40 African American lawyers in each state, recognized for their outstanding legal skills and professional contributions. Membership is exclusively by invitation, based on referrals from existing members, the Executive Committee, and independent research. Attorney Lea has earned this prestigious honor, and we celebrate their valuable contributions to the legal profession and welcome them into our African American legal brain trustTM.
The National Black Lawyers is a professional organization dedicated to honoring legal excellence, promoting attorneys as subject-matter experts, sharing information and fostering a strong national network of top African American lawyers. We congratulate and extend a warm welcome to Morgan Lea for their achievement in joining The National Black Lawyers Top 40 Under 40.
For more information about The National Black Lawyers, please visit https://NBLTop100.org/.
The National Black Lawyers Names Morgan Lea Top 40 Under 40 Lawyer in Florida
The National Black Lawyers proudly welcomes Morgan Lea of McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce as one of its distinguished Top 40 Under 40 Black Lawyers in Florida.
This exclusive recognition is reserved for the top 40 under 40 African American lawyers in each state, recognized for their outstanding legal skills and professional contributions. Membership is exclusively by invitation, based on referrals from existing members, the Executive Committee, and independent research. Attorney Lea has earned this prestigious honor, and we celebrate their valuable contributions to the legal profession and welcome them into our African American legal brain trustTM.
The National Black Lawyers is a professional organization dedicated to honoring legal excellence, promoting attorneys as subject-matter experts, sharing information and fostering a strong national network of top African American lawyers. We congratulate and extend a warm welcome to Morgan Lea for their achievement in joining The National Black Lawyers Top 40 Under 40.
For more information about The National Black Lawyers, please visit https://NBLTop100.org/.
The National Black Lawyers Names Chardynea Crossdale Top 40 Under 40 Lawyer in Connecticut
The National Black Lawyers proudly welcomes Chardynea Crossdale of McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce as one of its distinguished Top 40 Under 40 Black Lawyers in Connecticut.
This exclusive recognition is reserved for the top 40 under 40 African American lawyers in each state, recognized for their outstanding legal skills and professional contributions. Membership is exclusively by invitation, based on referrals from existing members, the Executive Committee, and independent research. Attorney Crossdale has earned this prestigious honor, and we celebrate their valuable contributions to the legal profession, and welcome them into our African American legal brain trustTM.
The National Black Lawyers is a professional organization dedicated to honoring legal excellence, promoting attorneys as subject-matter experts, sharing information and fostering a strong national network of top African American lawyers. We congratulate and extend a warm welcome to Chardynea Crossdale for their achievement in joining The National Black Lawyers Top 40 Under 40.
For more information about The National Black Lawyers, please visit https://NBLTop100.org/.
MRLP Awarded USFN’s 2024 Award of Excellence
While all USFN Members must meet rigorous screening standards and selection criteria, the Award of Excellence recognizes firms that represent the highest realization of the ideals embodied by our organization, and they symbolize USFN’s continuing commitment to quality. The Award of Excellence is based on high standards in the following areas: Active participation and leadership in the MBA, USFN and the legal profession | Significant contributions to leadership in the industry | On-going staff development | Superior client relations
Chair State Bar of Georgia, Real Property Law Section
CONGRATULATIONS TO Stuart S. Gordan!
Elected Chair of the State Bar of Georgia, Real Property Law Section (2024 – 2025)
The Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia offers a wide range of educational resources and opportunities for both commercial and residential real estate practitioners, including seminars, scholarships, newsletters, webinars, and networking events. The Section also actively works to improve the law and ethical standards in the real estate industry through legislative advocacy and pro bono initiatives.
Chair of the Alabama State Bar Real Property, Probate, and Trust Section
CONGRATULATIONS TO Matthew W. Penhale!
Named Chair of the Alabama State Bar Real Property, Probate, and Trust Section
The Real Property, Probate, and Trust Section of the Alabama State Bar provides educational resources to members and law students in the areas of residential and commercial real property, probate, wills/estates, and trust law. The resources provided include seminars and publications reviewing recent state and federal court decisions, legislation, and other matters of current relevance.
ALFN JPEG Award
CONGRATULATIONS TO Clara Bray!
ALFN JPEG Picture the Future Awards 2024 – Presented by ALFN’s Junior Professionals & Executives Group “JPEG”
Nomination Period: April-May
Annual award given each July at the ALFN ANSWERS Conference to up to 12 young professionals, with award recipients featured in the ALFN’s Picture the Future publication (distributed annually at ANSWERS). Nominees should be under the age of 40, and must be employed in-house by an ALFN member business, mortgage servicer, or GSE. A candidate may either self-nominate or be nominated by another individual with knowledge of the nominee’s background, achievements and contributions to the industry. Candidates undergo an initial blind review by our review committee, which is made up of members of the ALFN Board of Directors, ALFN Executive Staff members and select participants from the ALFN attorney-trustee and associate membership classes, and servicer participants. Candidates’ nomination forms are reviewed anonymously and judged solely on the responses and supporting materials provided for each candidate. No indication of firm or organization, gender, location or other demographic information is provided to the reviewers. The ALFN Board of Directors makes the final determination of award recipients based on the review committee’s feedback. Servicer nominees will be judged separately from ALFN member nominees, and a limited number of awards will be given to Servicers. Individuals will be judged based on their support and dedication to the industry and to young professionals, as well as their support of JPEG. We are looking for a few key attributes in our JPEG Picture the Future winners each year, including: Long-term commitment to the creditors’ rights industry; Initiative and willingness to lead, educate, and improve our industry as a whole; Individuals who are service and volunteer leaders, recognized within their organizations, and who bring value to the ALFN; Individuals who are role models for other young professionals and who are actively involved in the advancement of young professionals in our industry. More info at https://www.alfn.org/jpeg_ptf
USFN Diamond Award
CONGRATULATIONS TO USFN’S 2023 AWARD OF EXCELLENCE RECIPIENTS!
While all USFN Members must meet rigorous screening standards and selection criteria, the Award of Excellence recognizes firms that represent the highest realization of the ideals embodied by our organization, and they symbolize USFN’s continuing commitment to quality. The Award of Excellence is based on high standards in the following areas: Active participation and leadership in the MBA, USFN and the legal profession | Significant contributions to leadership in the industry | On-going staff development | Superior client relations
ALFN Industry Achievement Award
CONGRATULATIONS TO Michael McCormick!
ALFN Industry Achievement Awards 2023
Nomination Period: April-May
These individual awards are open to ALFN Members and Mortgage Servicers or GSE’s whose overall achievements and work within the financial services industry has helped provide opportunities in advancing the legal and financial services industries, through education, training, leadership, mentoring or acting as a role model. Award recipients will have displayed the highest level of professionalism and leadership, and who have been a continued advocate for the industry and ALFN for an extended period of time.
Up to 6 ALFN Industry Achievement Awards are given each year at the ALFN ANSWERS Conference in July (including up to 5 awards for ALFN Members, and 1 Servicer or GSE award). Each ALFN Section (ALFN Committee/Group) will submit 1 nomination annually on behalf of their specific group. At large nominations are also accepted by members of the ALFN and mortgage servicers or GSE’s. The ALFN Board of Directors will review all award candidates to determine the final award recipients.
Appointed to the Connecticut Bench-Bar Foreclosure Committee
CONGRATULATIONS TO James Pocklington!
Appointed to the Connecticut Bench-Bar Foreclosure Committee by Chief Justice of the State Court of Connecticut Supreme Court 2023
The Connecticut Bench-Bar Foreclosure Committee plays a crucial role in shaping foreclosure practices and policies in the state. Appointees to this committee are selected by the Chief Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court, reflecting their significant legal expertise and dedication to justice in foreclosure proceedings. This committee collaborates to enhance procedural fairness and efficiency, ensuring that the Connecticut judiciary addresses foreclosure matters with the utmost integrity and legal acumen.
USFN Committee Chair of the Year
CONGRATULATIONS TO Lisa Lee!
Committee Chair of the Year Award 2020
This award was established in 1993 to recognize outstanding individual service to the association as a chair of a standing or special Committee or task force.
The award is given to a Committee or Task Force Chair who has shown the most initiative, dedication, ability and accomplishments in meeting the goals established by the Board during their term.
ALFN JPEG Award
CONGRATULATIONS TO Marcos Posada!
ALFN JPEG Picture the Future Awards 2019 – Presented by ALFN’s Junior Professionals & Executives Group “JPEG”
Nomination Period: April-May
Annual award given each July at the ALFN ANSWERS Conference to up to 12 young professionals, with award recipients featured in the ALFN’s Picture the Future publication (distributed annually at ANSWERS). Nominees should be under the age of 40, and must be employed in-house by an ALFN member business, mortgage servicer, or GSE. A candidate may either self-nominate or be nominated by another individual with knowledge of the nominee’s background, achievements and contributions to the industry. Candidates undergo an initial blind review by our review committee, which is made up of members of the ALFN Board of Directors, ALFN Executive Staff members and select participants from the ALFN attorney-trustee and associate membership classes, and servicer participants. Candidates’ nomination forms are reviewed anonymously and judged solely on the responses and supporting materials provided for each candidate. No indication of firm or organization, gender, location or other demographic information is provided to the reviewers. The ALFN Board of Directors makes the final determination of award recipients based on the review committee’s feedback. Servicer nominees will be judged separately from ALFN member nominees, and a limited number of awards will be given to Servicers. Individuals will be judged based on their support and dedication to the industry and to young professionals, as well as their support of JPEG. We are looking for a few key attributes in our JPEG Picture the Future winners each year, including: Long-term commitment to the creditors’ rights industry; Initiative and willingness to lead, educate, and improve our industry as a whole; Individuals who are service and volunteer leaders, recognized within their organizations, and who bring value to the ALFN; Individuals who are role models for other young professionals and who are actively involved in the advancement of young professionals in our industry. More info at https://www.alfn.org/jpeg_ptf
USFN Member of the Year
CONGRATULATIONS TO Lisa Lee!
“Member of the Year” Award 2017
This award was established in 1992 to recognize outstanding individual service to the association. This award is given to an attorney member who has shown outstanding support to USFN during the past year.
This award was renamed “The Eddie” in 2021 in honor of Ed Kirn.