| From public defender to title industry leader
Growing up with a father who was deeply entrenched in commercial real estate, Cynthia Blair was no stranger to the nuances of property and business from a young age.
 These early lessons provided Cynthia with the foundation needed to become an influential member of the title insurance industry, founding her own real estate law firm in South Carolina 10 years ago.
“A fun Saturday with my dad would be him saying, ‘Hey, get in the car. Let’s take a ride.’ We’d often end up driving by properties and buildings,” Cynthia says. “And you know when you’re 6, it’s not that exciting, but it was super fun to just hang out with my dad. So, there was a lot of exposure to real estate development and that kind of stuff and my dad was a very, very good businessman.”
Cynthia’s father, William Durham, owned the William Durham Co., one of the oldest commercial real estate firms in South Carolina’s Midlands area.
“He inherited the company from his father, who was a dentist and not a great businessman,” she says. “My dad, an English major in college, figured it out and turned the company around. I learned a lot from getting to watch that.”
After earning her law degree, Cynthia ventured out as a public defender. However, her true calling was never far behind.
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"The fundamental reasons for buying and selling homes — such as needing more space or relocating for work — will continue to drive the market. That’s never going to go away."
Cynthia Blair
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“While I was in law school, I clerked for a real estate lawyer and learned how to search title and prepare closing statements, back then on carbon paper forms,” she says. “This kind of rekindled my interest in real estate, particularly title work. Title is like a puzzle. I love the complexity of it.”
Cynthia’s return to real estate was solidified when she moved back to her home state and rejoined a lawyer she had clerked for. For the past 25 years, she has dedicated herself exclusively to real estate law, eventually co-founding South Carolina-based Blair Cato Pickren Casterline, LLC in 2014, where she also serves as chief operating officer.
Starting her own law firm was one of Cynthia’s most challenging yet rewarding endeavors.
“It was very scary because we didn’t know what business would follow us,” she admits. “Fortunately, that gamble paid off. We were lucky. We never missed a paycheck, even in the early days, and that was such a huge relief. Today, we have six offices across South Carolina and employ about 60 people. The journey to get here will always be very special to me.”
The title insurance industry has evolved significantly since Cynthia began her career in just about every way imaginable, between technological leaps, regulation and customer service. She says digitization of title records was one of the most impactful changes.
“When I first started, there was no internet for title searches,” she says. “We went to the courthouse, used microfiche, and sifted through giant books with handwritten indices. Now, with the newer technology and tools, you can get things done so much faster. It’s hard to imagine going back to the old way, and getting to do it that way makes me appreciate what we have available today even more.
“Companies like CloseSimple are revolutionizing the industry by solving our pain points. We’re currently onboarding CloseSimple to automate follow-ups and integrate right into our title production system. These technologies save time and money, which is crucial for our productivity.”
Despite technological advancements, Cynthia believes in the irreplaceable value of personal connections and mentorship within the industry.
“One of my favorite memories is starting this law firm with my partners. It was a challenging journey, but we supported each other through it all,” she says. “I also cherish the relationships built through involvement in (the American Land Title Association). The close friendships I’ve made with other women executives across the country are incredibly rewarding.”
 Outside of work, Cynthia is a mother of two: 17-year-old Durham and 15-year-old Emily Grace. She also has a Great Dane puppy, Luna, and a pitbull rescue, Bruce.
“My son is about to start his senior year, and my daughter will be a sophomore in high school,” Cynthia says. “Time really does fly, and they keep me busy. A particular hobby for me is kind of hard to nail down, but I always enjoy traveling and live music. I’m trying to do more intentional travel and combine it with live music whenever I can.”
Looking ahead, Cynthia remains optimistic about the future of the real estate market.
“Rates now are not as bad as in the past. I bought my first house at 7.5 percent, and people now are adjusting to the current rates,” she adds. “The fundamental reasons for buying and selling homes — such as needing more space or relocating for work — will continue to drive the market. That’s never going to go away.
“It’s been an incredible journey, and I’m excited for what the future holds.”
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