February 10, 2025



CELEBRATING 60 YEARS

A Legacy Built on Advocacy, A Future Driven by Opportunity

As we close the book on 2024, we find ourselves at a remarkable milestone: 60 years of service, innovation, and unwavering commitment to the legal profession. This anniversary isn’t just about longevity, it’s about the impact we’ve had together. So first and foremost, congratulations to all of you, our staff and attorney agents, who made this journey possible.

Sixty years ago, we disrupted the title industry in Illinois with a bold vision. Our founders saw the landscape shifting—lawyers being pushed out of title services—and they refused to accept a world where consumers navigated the largest financial transactions of their lives without legal representation. Instead, they built something revolutionary: A lawyer-agent model that blended legal expertise with title insurance protection, ensuring clients had the best of both worlds. That founding vision didn’t just shape our company, it reshaped the industry. And today, that same mission drives everything we do.

Our story is one of resilience. Advocus (formerly ATG) didn’t just survive against the odds; we flourished. It is not an overstatement to say that without this organization, real estate lawyers might have been forced out of the business entirely, leaving consumers to fend for themselves. Instead, we stood our ground, and today Advocus stands as one of the nation’s premier lawyer-driven title service organizations.

The 2022 merger with Rate, Inc. (formerly Guaranteed Rate) was another defining moment. It delivered an extraordinary return for the attorneys who invested in ATG, and more importantly it gave us a national platform for growth. That momentum carried into 2024 as we expanded our reach into Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C.—adding to our existing footprint in Florida, Illinois, Michigan, South Carolina, Texas, and Wisconsin. Every new license represents an opportunity to bring our mission to more lawyers, more real estate professionals, and most importantly, more consumers in need of trusted counsel.

Strengthening Our Leadership

Growth requires leadership and I’ve long focused on ensuring that we have the best leadership team in the industry to carry our mission forward with fresh energy and vision. To that end, we’ve made changes and additions that build on our foundation while driving forward progress:

I will assume the role of Executive Chairman, overseeing both our local and national markets. This allows me to focus on mentoring and guiding the organization for years to come, something I am deeply committed to.

Jill Cadwell has joined as our National President. With 39 years in the title industry—rising from an escrow closer to leading national operations at ServiceLink, PCN Network, and Radian—Jill is one of the most accomplished leaders in our field. She has a remarkable talent for building high-performing teams and implementing technology that improves the delivery of title services. She leads with a “customer first” mentality and works closely with her teams to achieve top results. 

Hank Shulruff EVP - Chief Growth Officer and Augie Butera EVP - General Counsel continue to focus on our core business and are dedicated to our growth objectives. 

Lynne Crotty is our new Chief Operating Officer. Many of you already know Lynne, one of the most highly regarded leaders in title operations. She has a proven track record of driving nationwide expansion, improving business efficiencies, and fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence. Her journey from the mailroom to the boardroom is a testament to her deep industry expertise and relentless dedication—values that define Advocus.

Kelli Fogarty has stepped in as Senior VP and Counsel to the President. A powerhouse in the Chicago real estate law community, Kelli has dedicated her career to strengthening the role of attorneys in real estate transactions. As founder and chair of the Chicagoland Association of Real Estate Attorneys (AREA), Kelli embodies the virtues that are central to our mission. With her leadership, we will continue to elevate the next generation of real estate lawyers.

Looking Ahead

I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am for the days ahead. This new role will allow me to get back to my real passion, serving and advocating for the real estate bar while building our national platform. Serving as your steward for nearly 44 years—34 as President—is the honor of my lifetime. As Executive Chairman I will continue guiding this company and the legal professionals we serve into an even brighter future. As David Brooks might put it, I’m ready to “climb my mountain.”

So let’s climb it together. Advocus isn’t just a company, it’s a community. Its strength comes from you, our dedicated attorneys and staff, whose commitment and advocacy have shaped our success. Every milestone we reach is a testament to your hard work, and every success we celebrate, we celebrate together. Thank you for being part of this journey. Here’s to the next great chapter!

Peter J. Birnbaum

Executive Chairman

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