Meet the Speakers 2017

Eugenio Aleman

Eugenio J. Alemán is a director and senior economist at Wells Fargo. He forecasts national, regional, and international economic trends. His primary focus is on the United States economy and the global economy. Within the U.S. economy, he covers the U.S. consumer and interest rates. Eugenio is also an expert on Latin American economics, with special interest in the economies of Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. He is based in Charlotte, N.C.

Eugenio joined Wells Fargo in his current position in 2005. Before coming to Wells Fargo, Eugenio was the general manager of a restaurant in Puerto Rico from 1985 until 1990. From 1995 until 1996 he was a professor of economics and director of the M.B.A. program at the Inter-American University in Puerto Rico, and from 1996 until 1998 he worked for the petroleum industry in Argentina. He has been an adjunct professor of economics at Drexel University in Philadelphia since 1999, and now only teaches online economics courses for the university. From 1998 until 2005 he worked at Global Insight (now IHS), one of the most important economic forecasting and consulting firms in the U.S., as managing director for its Latin America Service. Eugenio earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the Universidad DelSalvador in Buenos Aires, Argentina; an M.B.A. with a concentration in marketing from the Inter-American University in Puerto Rico; and an M.A. and doctorate in economics with an emphasis in economic development and international trade and finance from Florida International University.

Eugenio’s commentary has appeared in national publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Washington Post, and USA Today, as well as many national and international media outlets including the Associated Press, Reuters, and Bloomberg News. He has also made appearances on CNBC and in U.S. Hispanic media outlets.

Steve Brown

Mr. Brown attended Wake Forest University where he received a B.A. degree, cum laude, with Honors in History in 1981. In 1984, Mr. Brown earned a J.D. degree from University of North Carolina School of Law, graduating with Honors, and earning membership in the Order of the Coif. Prior to joining Investors Title in October, 2002, he was engaged in the private practice of law in Raleigh, NC for 18 years, with a practice emphasis on commercial litigation, including real property and bankruptcy litigation, corporate and commercial law, and creditor’s rights law, including almost all aspects of commercial lender representation. Mr. Brown assists in formulating and implementing legislative and regulatory efforts for the Company; participates as a speaker and writer in paralegal and attorney education regarding legislative and regulatory issues, claims prevention and management; and participates in underwriting, identifying and resolving major claims and formulating risk management policy. Mr. Brown is an active member and advisory member of the Board of Directors for Real Estate Lawyers Association of North Carolina, Inc. He is a member of the Executive Committee and current President of LiensNC, LLC.

Chris Burti

Chris earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management from East Carolina University and received his Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina School of Law (Chapel Hill).

After fifteen years in private practice he left the law firm of Lewis & Burti in 1994 to join Statewide Title, Inc., where he serves as Vice President and Senior Legal Counsel. Chris concentrated his practice in the areas of Commercial Real Estate, Residential Real Estate and Governmental Law. As counsel for Statewide Title, Inc., Chris works with attorneys across the State in resolving complex legal issues in residential, governmental and commercial transactions involving real property. He is active in providing input and advice on drafting legislation to increase certainty in land records, mortgage lending and to correct problems affecting real property.

Chris is the principal course planner and speaker for continuing legal education seminars for Statewide Title, Inc., and has been a CLE presenter for the North Carolina Bar Association, The University of North Carolina School of Law, Wake Forest University School of Law, Professional Educational Systems, Inc., the North Carolina Association of Municipal Attorneys and other professional associations. He is the principal author on the topic of Real Property Law for the Statewide Title, Inc. Newsletter and Legal Memorandum. These articles were frequently reprinted in the Campbell Law Observer and other legal journals.

Chris is a Past President of the North Carolina Land Title Association and has served for two terms as its General Counsel. He has previously served on the North Carolina Bar Association Real Property Section Council, the North Carolina Bar Association Board of Governors, on its Executive Committee and currently serves as Past Chair of the Senior Lawyers Division.

Zipporah Edwards

Zip Edwards is a member of Horack Talley and co-chair of its litigation practice group. She works primarily in the resolution of disputes involving real property, including concentrations in the following areas: coverage opinions and representation of title insurance companies; defense counsel for insureds; defalcation and fraud recovery; mechanics lien defense; resolution of access, easement and boundary issues; subrogation litigation; and title curative measures.

Zip addresses these issues in all forums, including, regularly representing clients in bankruptcy adversary proceedings arising out of real estate and lien priority disputes.

She uses her experience in real estate law, creditors’ rights, foreclosures, litigation, construction law and bankruptcy, to provide her clients with effective and efficient representation. As part of a team of real estate and title resolution attorneys, she is able to leverage Horack Talley’s diverse practice areas to craft comprehensive and practical solutions to real estate problems.

David Ferrell

David P. Ferrell is a partner with Nexsen Pruet, PLLC’s Raleigh NC office, where he concentrates his law practice in civil matters, including legislative representation, eminent domain, real estate, civil litigation, professional liability defense, energy and public utilities, administrative and regulatory, business, and construction litigation. Ferrell is NCLTA’s lobbyist and serves as legal and legislative counsel to professional trade associations, including representing their interests before the General Assembly and various Executive Branch agencies. He frequently lectures on right-of-way acquisition, condemnation law, and legislative matters at various seminars and CLEs.

Ferrell earned B.A. degrees in Political Science and Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a J.D. from Campbell University School of Law. He is admitted to practice in North Carolina and the U. S. District Court, Eastern, Middle, Western Districts of North Carolina, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of the United States. He is a member of the Wake County (Member: Professionalism and Bench/Bar Committees) and North Carolina (Member, Real Property; Litigation; Construction and Administrative Law Sections) Bar Associations.

Frankie Jones

Frankie Jones primarily practices in the areas of real estate, land use and business law. He regularly represents developers, investors and owners in connection with a wide range of real estate transactions including the acquisition, financing, developing, leasing and disposition of commercial properties. His representation of lenders includes new commercial mortgage loans, servicing matters, workouts and foreclosures. Mr. Jones also maintains an active land use and zoning practice in which he regularly represents clients in matters before zoning commissions, planning boards, boards of adjustment and elected boards, as well as in litigation involving issues surrounding real property. His business law practice includes the representation of clients in a wide range of matters including entity formation, the drafting and negotiation of general business agreements and alcohol and tobacco regulatory matters. Additionally, Mr. Jones has experience representing clients in litigation matters involving municipal liability, premises liability, insurance defense and general commercial disputes.

Immediately prior to rejoining Smith Moore Leatherwood in 2014, Mr. Jones was in-house counsel in the Investment Law Group of a Fortune 250 financial services company where he focused on new commercial mortgage loans, servicing matters, leasing, workouts and foreclosures.

Mr. Jones graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he served as president of both the Black Law Students Association and the Omicron Delta Kappa honor society. He received his bachelor's degree from Davidson College, where he was a James B. Duke scholar and a starting defensive back on the football team.

Jack Rattikin

As a professional of the title insurance business for over 30 years, Jack Rattikin III is known as a valuable leader in the industry.

Jack is president and chief executive officer of Rattikin Title Company of Fort Worth, Texas. He has held the position of CEO since January 2004 leading all functions of the company. He joined Rattikin Title in 1983 and was later promoted to senior vice president of operations, and president in 1999.

He is a member of the American Land Title Association Board of Governors and chairman of the Finance Committee. He previously served as president and as a member of the Board of Directors for the Texas Land Title Association.

Jack earned a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from the University of Texas at Austin, and a Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree from Texas Tech University School of Law. Jack has a long track record of service to the community at large through active participation in a wide variety of civic, educational, political, charitable, philanthropic and arts organizations.