Madison Learning Center (MLC) the educational arm of Madison Commercial Real Estate Services (MCRES) in Lakewood, N.J., will be hosting a CLE-accredited seminar for real estate attorneys on Thursday, April 10 in Hackensack, N.J. The free seminar will take an in-depth look at “Ethical Implications in the Tri-Partite Relationship.”

The seminar, accredited for 2 ethics CLE credits in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, will be held at Alfred Sanzari Enterprises’ Court Plaza South conference room, 21 Main St., First Floor in Hackensack, N.J. Registration, networking and breakfast will begin at 8:30 a.m. followed by the program from 9 to 11 a.m. Seating is limited. Information and registration can be obtained by contacting Lainie Goldberg, Director of Education for MLC, at (732) 333-2783 or via e-mail at Lgoldberg@madisoncres.com.

The tri-partite relationship refers to the relationship among an insurer, its insured and defense counsel retained by the insurer to defend the insured against third-party claims. This relationship can present actual or potential conflicts between the insurer and the insured, placing defense counsel in difficult, and often confusing, positions. In this informative program, MCRES’ Debra Smith, Esq., Associate General Counsel, will address the ethical issues confronted by lawyers involved in the tri-partite relationship.

Smith is an authority in her field of expertise. With substantial experience in all facets of commercial real estate, she specializes in handling complex commercial real estate transactions in New York. Before joining Madison, she served as senior vice president of Fidelity National Financial (FNF), one of the nation’s major title insurance underwriters, where she managed a division of attorneys and related support staff responsible for administering title insurance claims in 16 states and Canada for all FNF brands. She has extensive experience in managing litigation related to title insurance and coverage law.

In her career, Smith handled a variety of transactions while working primarily as a commercial real estate attorney both at The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America and The Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York. She earned a bachelor’s degree from The New School and a Juris Doctor degree from New York University School of Law. She is an active member of the N.Y. State Bar Association.

MLC offers a host of seminars and webinars for property owners and their professional advisors focused on increasing cash flow, minimizing expenses, increasing CAM pass-throughs, deferring tax liability, validating financials, and reducing legal and financial liability in the acquisition, disposition and management of real estate. MLC’s complimentary one-, two- and three-hour courses on a host of topics are approved for CPE and CLE credit with national and state accrediting agencies. All MLC instructors are authorities in their field of expertise, and most are attorneys and/or CPAs.