Alliant National Title Insurance Co. announced it has hired Lori Ellen Ward as underwriting counsel – Florida region.
Ward has a long history of success in the legal, title insurance, and real estate industries, according to a release. After graduating law school, she began her career in general practice but quickly transitioned to representing real estate clients. She worked for several Florida Panhandle law firms, including her own, building specialized expertise in the real estate development process, including acquisitions, complex finance transactions, business formation and construction.
In 2009, Ward started her own title insurance agency, providing clients with closing services in sales, refinances, reverse mortgages, short sales, and more. Immediately prior to joining the Alliant National team, Ward served as general counsel for a real estate developer while continuing to operate her independent title agency.
“Lori has a dedication to her clients and a love for the industry that is second to none,” Alliant National Senior Vice President, Chief Underwriting Counsel Jeff Stein said in a release. “Her commitment to ensuring customer success as well as her significant expertise in title insurance and real estate law make her an ideal fit for the culture of Alliant National.”
Ward will provide legal and underwriting guidance to agents, support policy development and compliance oversight, and develop continuing education materials in her new role at Alliant National. What she is most looking forward to, however, is helping independent title agents solve their title challenges and close more effectively on behalf of their customers.
“It has always been a career goal of mine to transition from private practice to an in-house position with a title underwriter when the time was right,” Ward said. “Now that my professional trajectory has reached that point, I couldn’t be more thrilled to join the Alliant National team. Everyone greeted me with open arms at Alliant National, even before I was officially hired, demonstrating this underwriter’s warm, people-centered corporate culture. Accepting the job was one of the easiest professional decisions I have ever made — I’m so excited to forge new relationships with our agents.”
Ward is a Florida Bar Board Certified Specialist in real estate.
She obtained her bachelor of science in finance and JD from Florida State University.