Event: 2024 WVBA Real Estate Conference 
Location: Stonewall Resort, Roanoke, WV 
Date: May 5, 2024
WV CLE Credit: 8.6 hours of Online/ Audio Visual (Pre-Recorded) credits & 1.14 hours of Legal Ethics credits

 


Program Details:




• Session 1: “The ABCs of the Regulation of Short-Term Rentals: Airbnb®, VRBO® and the FAQs:” presented by Mark Burdette, Esq., John Bsharah, Esq. & Mark Sadd, Esq. of Lewis Gianola. This session touches on several topics including how the rise of short-term rentals has roiled the housing markets, the peace-and-quiet of neighborhoods, HOA boards, urban planning policy and the hospitality business. The presenters will discuss fundamental issues in the development in short-term rentals and the law in response to it.
  





• Session 2: “Sunny with a Chance of Fraud” presented by Palma Collins, Esq., Underwriting Counsel, First American Title Insurance Company. This presentation will explain the most common fraud schemes encountered in real estate transactions today.  The role of foreign investment in the increase in fraudulent activity will be explored.  The presenters will show examples of documentation from fraudulent transactions and will give strategies and best practices to identify fraudulent transactions and to avoid becoming a victim.
  
  


• Session 3: “Common Title Problems In Real Estate Transactions, and (Hopefully) Underwriting Solutions” presented by: Jerry Booth, Esq., VP Underwriting Counsel, Fidelity National Title Insurance Company. In this presentation, we will be discussing various title problems and coverage requests which seem to recur quite often, and that threaten to delay or derail real estate transactions. We will be discussing issues such as access and easements, new construction, endorsement requests, legal descriptions, powers of attorney, entity authority, and other issues.
  
  


• Session 4: “Real Estate as Part of the Administration of Estates” presented by Brian Gartley, VP State Manager, Old Republic National Title Insurance. This presentation will be a high-level statewide view of specific events and situations presented for title insurance underwriting consideration related to multiple facets in dealing with real estate as part of the process in administration of estates.  The materials will focus on underlying WV Statute in accommodating a solution to these title issues, as well as, provide a back to basics set of procedures to properly administer an estate and keep the real estate moving.
  
  


• Session 5: “Real Estate Law Update” presented by: Jesse Richardson, Esq., Professor of Law/Lead Land Use Attorney, WVU College of Law.  This presentation will provide an update on important case law developments impacting real estate attorneys in West Virginia and the surrounding region. Cases will include state and federal cases, with a special emphasis on West Virginia and the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals. Topics will include nuisance, adverse possession, tax lien sales, regulatory takings, and First Amendment issues.
  
  


• Session 6: “WV Foreclosure: Overview and Current Issues” presented by: Ryan Keesee, Esq., Managing Partner, Stern & Eisenberg. This session will first, provide a quick review and timeline of the West Virginia foreclosure process. Second, through the foreclosure timeline, we will discuss issues preventing, delaying, or ensuring insurability of the final trustee’s deed.  And finally, we will host a discussion session on how the foreclosure process can be improved.
  
  


• Session 7: “Lawyer Well-Being: Changing the Landscape” presented by Stephanne Thornton, MSW, WV Judicial & Lawyer Assistance Program. In this session we will discuss use of digital technology, speed of transactions, and complexity of legal matters in a changing legal landscape have been cited as some of the top real estate law issues for 2024. These issues compound the already stressful practice of law, and can overwhelm a lawyer’s perfectionistic. This presentation will explore some of the traits that legal professionals possess that can benefit their work while also adding to their work-related stress. Potential consequences of work-related stress will be explored before introducing ways in which stress can be positively managed or mitigated for lawyer well-being.
  
  


• Session 8: “Don’t Turn a Blind Eye to AI” presented by: Brett Burney, Esq., VP eDiscovery, NextPoint Law Group.  You can’t browse the headlines today without bumping into a mention of AI – Artificial Intelligence. Half the news explains why AI threatens humanity, while the other half argues that it is humankind’s salvation. But we’re just trying to understand how it affects our day-to-day practice – are we out of a job or missing out on the next best tool? It would be easy to shove it all into a corner and hope it blows over, but it’s not going anywhere. In fact, we’ve been interacting with artificial intelligence for decades but recent developments in the technology have taken the spotlight (GenAI, ChatGPT, etc.). In this session, we’ll break down the overwhelming topic of AI into digital bite-size chunks to help you gain a comfort level with the practical realities of AI and how you can incorporate AI-based tools into your practice – no robots required.

  




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