[October 7, 2020 | Dallas, TX] Today Padgett Law Group (PLG) announced the promotion of Kris Zilberstein, Esq. to the role of Supervising Attorney of Bankruptcy Operations. Previously, Kris served the firm as a Senior Bankruptcy Attorney. She joined PLG in 2020 and has practiced in the creditors rights' space since 2009. 
 
In her new role, Kris leads PLG's docket related matters (“DRM”) in bankruptcy, also known as the practice's national unit, which include PLG’s National Attorney Network, Special Projects, and business purpose loans. In addition, Kris continues her California & Chapter 11 practice.

"Kris proved to be an immediate asset to PLG with her many years of focused, specialized bankruptcy experience from Chapter 11 work to complex litigation and managing multi-jurisdictional work. As our national practice continues to grow, Kris was clearly the right fit to help the firm manage that growing piece of our business," said Managing Attorney of Bankruptcy Keena Newmark, Esq. ​

"I am thrilled to step into this new role with PLG. My diverse experience in all facets of bankruptcy has prepared me for a national operational and legal oversight role. I am excited to start this next chapter of my career with PLG," said Kris. 
 
Kris is based out of the firm's Dallas, TX office. Kris is license in Texas, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Texas, and Washington. She can be reached at Kris.Zilberstein@PadgettLawGroup.com. ​

[ OCTOBER 6, 2020 | ATLANTA, GA ] Padgett Law Group (PLG), is pleased to announce that Managing Attorney of Foreclosure, Marissa Yaker, Esq., has been recognized by Five Star Global as the 2020 Rising Business Leader award recipient as part of the annual Women in Housing Awards. 

Yaker was featured last month in the September issue of The M Report along with all 25 other finalists. Other award categories include the Cultural Leader Award, Community Leadership Award, Diversity & Inclusion, and the Laurie A. Maggiano Legacy Award. With open nominations, each category is narrowed to just five finalists each year in a peer review conducted by Five Star Global’s editorial group and then a final winner is revealed for each category. 

Yaker said, "This award is an affirmation that our industry recognizes, encourages, and supports women who have a drive, passion, and desire to question and improve this industry. We each have a voice, but collectively our voice is louder and stronger. I feel grateful to work in an industry that supports one another and helps strengthen professionals such as myself." Her full feature can be read online at TheMReport.com. ​

The firm was previously recognized in the same category when Keena Newmark, Esq., the firm’s Managing Attorney of Bankruptcy was a top-five finalist, making the 2020 nomination the firm’s second consecutive year in the awards’ top five nominees. In 2019, Newmark was the only non-servicing professional recognized in the category. The same year, The M Report recognized PLG as a Top 25 Place to Work in the default services industry.

Yaker joined PLG in 2017 and has practiced in the residential mortgage default space since 2013. She is licensed to practice in the state Florida. In her role as Managing Attorney of Foreclosure, Yaker oversees foreclosure processing and operations across seven physical locations within the firm’s footprint which includes Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas, and Ohio.

Today, Marissa M. Yaker, Esq., an attorney with Padgett Law Group's Florida practice, was appointed to a three-year term on the Florida Bar’s Grievance Committee (Committee "C") of the  Fifteenth Judicial Circuit. Her appointment will begin on January 1, 2019 and concludes on December 31, 2021. 

In Florida, Grievance committees are made up of volunteer members, at least one-third of whom are not lawyers. Each of Florida’s 20 judicial circuits has at least one such committee. The grievance committee reviews complaints with much the same purpose as a grand jury. That is, the committee decides, after a case is submitted to them by bar counsel, whether there is probable cause to believe a lawyer violated the professional conduct rules imposed by the Supreme Court of Florida and whether discipline against the lawyer appears to be warranted.

"I am thrilled to be appointed to the committee. I am always eager to share my time and insight and I'm looking forward to working with this diverse group of attorneys and other committee members as we work together to ensure that our professional conduct rules are upheld," said Yaker. 

Marissa's practice is primarily focused on creditors rights' and foreclosure. She is licensed in the state of Florida and is based out of the firm's Ft. Lauderdale, FL office. She can be reached here. 

Effective immediately, PLG's Texas operations and the firm's bankruptcy operations will be led by Keena Newmark, Esq., who has joined the firm as Managing Attorney of Bankruptcy Operations. The new Dallas office is also home to additional attorney hires Julian Cotton, Esq. and Mary Vitarkas, Esq. Over the coming weeks, additional Texas staff hires will be announced. Also effective immediately is the promotion of Evan S. Singer, Esq. to Managing Attorney of Default Services, a newly created firm-wide role. Evan remains based out of the firm’s Atlanta, GA office and will work closely with Keena across the firm's practices, operations, client relations, and business development efforts. ​

​Padgett Law Group is pleased to announce the hiring of Joshua R. Hopkins in the role of Supervising Attorney, REO & Title Operations. As the Supervising Attorney, Hopkins' first priority is overseeing the departments' compliance with requirements and regulations as they relate to investors and clients. In addition to departmental oversight and assisting with title and closing process questions, Hopkins is also responsible for managing client relationships and new business development for the departments.

Hopkins has over 20 years of industry experience, bringing his wealth of knowledge to creditor's rights clients in Tennessee and Georgia. "We often speak of The Padgett Law Group Difference, which is focused on expedient and exceptional client service. While implementing advanced technology solutions and qualitative compliance oversight, it's our top-notch team members that make the vision come alive. Joshua's unique skillset and exceptional client service ensure our REO & Title division will continue to meet and exceed client requirements."
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Hopkins earned his Juris Doctorate from the Nashville School of Law after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. He is a member of the Tennessee Bar Association and currently serves as the Chair of the Education Committee of the Tennessee Land Title Association. He is based out of the firm's Atlanta, GA office. Reach out to Joshua at JHopkins@padgettlaw.net. 

Florida-based Padgett Law Group (PLG) announced today that the firm has expanded its Arkansas practice with the acquisition of local default services law firm Dyke & Winzerling, PLC (D&W). The acquisition is effective today, September 1, 2017. 

With the acquisition, PLG will add several attorneys, support staff, and an expanded office presence in the state. PLG will maintain a GSE-compliant brick-and-mortar operation in Little Rock, AR, providing a complete suite of default services state-wide for its mortgage servicing clients. PLG already provides national bankruptcy services.
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“This acquisition deepens our commitment to performing high quality legal work throughout the state of Arkansas and is a valuable addition to our regional footprint,” said Robyn Padgett, Director of Operations/Chief Operating Officer of Padgett Law Group. She added, “Our clients were eager to see us move into Arkansas and this partnership will allow us to aggressively grow our presence throughout the state.”

“While our name is changing and we’re coming into the larger Padgett Law Group brand, our culture and satisfied client base we’ve built over the years will stay the same. We were looking for a partner that shared our values and that our clients respected.  We found that partner in Padgett Law Group.  We’re excited about our future in Arkansas,” said J. Dyke, Managing Member Attorney. As part of the transition, Dyke (and attorneys, Mary Winzerling, Mitch Berry and Renee Price) will join the PLG team. Additionally, J. Dyke will act as Arkansas Supervising Attorney for PLG. ​

Effective immediately, existing D&W email addresses will begin forwarding to PLG accounts (formatted as [first initial] and [lastname]@padgettlaw.net). An updated escalation matrix and firm-wide contact sheet has already been distributed to clients.