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July 2023 » thefivestar.com 49 July 2023 F E A T U R E JEFFREY S. FRASER Partner, Albertelli Law Jeffrey S. Fraser is a Partner at Albertelli Law and focuses his representation on secured creditors and ensuring that their interests are protected in all chapters under the Bankruptcy Code. He handles contested litigation, including valuation hearings, adversary proceedings, sanction hearings, and any other disputed matters in bankruptcy court. As partner of his firm's national bankruptcy department, he works closely with each state's managing attorneys as it relates to training, legal strategy, and all facets of the firm's bankruptcy practice. Fraser is an active participant in the South- ern District of Florida's bankruptcy bar and was the 2019 Chair of the Local Rule Committee and an inaugural member of the district's Lawyer Advisory Committee, serving as the committee's Chair in 2020 and 2021. He has worked closely with South Florida bankruptcy judges and lawyers in reviewing local practices and rules; participating as a panelist for various district programs; assisting with the drafting of the district's Model Chapter 13 Plan and Mortgage Modification Mediation procedures and guide- lines; and addressing other matters or concerns for the South Florida bankruptcy community. Fraser was born in Jamaica and feels compelled to be a voice for the South Florida community, even though he represents creditors. Fraser is a past President of the Jamaican-Amer- ican Bar Association and has helped the orga- nization create mentorship relationships with local law students. He also served as a panelist at a commercial law seminar in Kingston, Jamaica, discussing the 2014 Jamaican Insolvency Act. He has also organized foreclosure and bankruptcy workshops, spoken on numerous CLE panels, and guest-appeared on South Florida radio. He was selected by Super Lawyers as one of its "Florida Rising Stars" for 2019-2023. He was named a 2017 Blackshear Fellow by the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges, a 2020 ABI "40 Under 40" honoree, and has published articles on consumer bankruptcy issues in the American Legal & Finance Network and DS News. Fraser has achieved the highest rating in both legal and ethical ability by Martindale-Hubbell. MATTHEW E. PODMENIK General Counsel and Managing Partner (Southwest), McCarthy & Holthus, LLP Matthew E. Podmenik is the General Counsel and Managing Partner (Southwest) for McCarthy & Holthus, LLP. He received a Master of Business Administration and Juris Doctorate degrees from the University of Toledo and a Bachelor of Science in business administration from the University of Dayton. Podmenik has received an AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale Hubbell, ranking at the highest level of professional excellence for legal knowledge, communication skills, and ethical standards. Podmenik has been featured in San Diego Magazine as a Top Lawyer in San Diego since 2016. He has authored articles involving lend- ers' rights for the California Real Property Law Reporter, Legal League, California Mortgage Finance News, American Legal Financial Network, and the United Trustee Association. Podmenik is admitted to practice in the state of California, the United States District Court in the Eastern, Central, Northern, and Southern Districts of California, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal, and the United States Supreme Court. Reported cases that he has worked on in- clude Obduskey v. McCarthy & Holthus, LLP 139 S. Ct. 1029 (2019); In Re Salazar, 470 B.R. 557 (S.D. Cal. 2012); Mabry v. Superior Court (2010) 185 Cal. App.4th 208; Vasquez v. Saxon Mortg., Inc., 228 Ariz. 357; Pro Value Properties, Inc. v. Quality Loan Service Corp., 170 Cal. App. 4th 579; Jenkins v. JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., 216 Cal. App. 4th 497; and Bardasian v. Superior Court, 201 Cal. App. 4th 1371. MICHAEL J. WOODS, EVP Managing Attorney, Potestivo & Associates, P.C. Michael J. Woods joined Potestivo & Associates, P.C. in 2006. He is the firm's Executive Vice President (EVP) and is based out of the Rochester, Michigan, office. As the firm's EVP, he oversees the day-to-day operations of the firm and works to promote efficiency across all firm departments and processes. Prior to his current position, Woods previously served the firm in the capacity of the Supervising Attorney of the Foreclosure and Loss Mitigation Departments and later as an Assistant Vice President. Through years of service in the real estate finance industry, Woods has accumulated a vast amount of default servicing knowledge. He understands the power of communication and believes that superior results can be effec- tively achieved through direct communication with our clients and their customers, helping to reduce the costs associated with the legal process for both parties. He understands that all clients have a unique way they do busi- ness, and he focuses on utilizing strong legal principles and efficient processes to achieve detailed solutions and satisfactory results for each client. Woods graduated from Central Michi- gan University with a Bachelor of Science in political science, and a concentration in public administration. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Miami School of Law. Woods is active in a number of various in- dustry and professional associations, including the Michigan Mortgage Lenders Association, the Default Attorney Group, and the Legal League 100. He works collaboratively with these and other industry professionals as well as state and federal elected officials in refer- ence to legislative efforts to voice his clients' concerns and speak to their interests.