Session I - Epic Changes in Foreclosure Law: Legal, Compliance, and Practical Strategies for the New Landscape – Joffrey Long, Michelle R. Rodriguez
This session offers a comprehensive analysis of the significant changes to non-judicial foreclosure laws affecting 1-4 family residences since January 1, 2021. Legal experts will unpack the implications of SB 1079 and AB 2424, including how post-sale bidding rights and borrower-submitted listing agreements or purchase contracts can extend foreclosure timelines. Attendees will gain valuable insights into updated compliance procedures for lenders, servicers, and trustees, explore unresolved legal ambiguities such as the SB 1079 “gap in ownership,” and receive practical answers to the most frequently asked questions emerging from this complex and evolving regulatory landscape.
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Session II - Foreclosure Law: Procedures, Defenses, and Strategies – Mark W. Vyvyan, Christian V. Hokans
In this session, we will discuss the mortgage foreclosure process, beginning with pre-foreclosure planning considerations, usual foreclosure procedures, and potential defenses to an attempted foreclosure. The session will examine federal laws related to foreclosures, emerging foreclosure trends, and will take a practical look at the usual methods lenders use to achieve desired outcomes when a real estate loan goes into default. The session will also provide a high-level examination of a few state-specific foreclosure procedures.
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Date / Time: July 23, 2025
Closed-captioning available
Michelle R. Rodriguez | Wright, Finlay & Zak LLP
Michelle R. Rodriguez is a partner with the law firm of Wright, Finlay & Zak LLP, focusing on mortgage brokering, lending, servicing, and foreclosure trustee compliance, licensing and transactional work. Ms. Rodriguez is licensed as an attorney in California, Wisconsin and Minnesota. She is also a licensed California mortgage broker (Cal DRE Broker No. 01480587). Ms. Rodriguez earned a Juris Doctor degree from Hamline University School of Law in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and a Masters degree in Business Administration from the University of Saint Thomas in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Ms. Rodriguez is a member of the board of directors of the California Mortgage Association and is chairperson of that organization’s Education Committee. She is a regular presenter at that organization’s educational conferences and webinars and has presented educational topics for other mortgage trade associations including the national Mortgage Bankers Association, the California Mortgage Bankers Association, and the United Trustees Association on such topics as the Truth-in-Lending Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and Cannabis Lending. She is co-author of the 2019-2024 textbook entitled Professional MLO Education for MLO’s for Duane Gomer Education.
Joffrey Long | Southwest Bancorp
Joffrey Long is the President of Southwest Bancorp, a private money investor/lender that makes, arranges, and services private money loans.
He is the Past President of the California Mortgage Association (CMA) and has also served as its Education Chair. He’s currently a member of the CMA Education Committee and a member of its Board of Directors.
He has previously served as an expert witness in matters relating to private money lending and loan servicing and has testified in related depositions, arbitrations and trials.
Mark W. Vyvyan | Fredrikson & Byron P.A
Mark is a litigator, known for winning important cases for his clients in areas like commercial landlord-tenant disputes, complex foreclosures, construction disputes, oil and gas litigation, and significant boundary and easement disputes.
Although Mark is a litigator and focuses his practice on real estate disputes, he also has experience handling real estate transactions, which makes him a more effective litigator. Mark has tried cases for both plaintiffs and defendants in states across the Upper Midwest. Mark also mediates real estate-related matters, including residential and commercial construction disputes, commercial landlord-tenant matters and boundary and easement disputes. Mark is well-known for his hard work, responsiveness and expertise in achieving great results for his clients.
Christian V. Hokans | Fredrikson & Byron P.A
Christian represents clients in all stages of complex commercial litigation from motion practice to trial, primarily focusing on real estate disputes.
Christian has experience in both state and federal courts around the country. He works with individual clients and businesses of all sizes to provide a tailored approach to each case that protects his client’s interests in a way that is also cost- effective.
Christian also maintains an active pro bono practice. He regularly represents clients in the courtroom in civil rights, housing and public benefits cases.
Session I – Epic Changes in Foreclosure Law: Legal, Compliance, and Practical Strategies for the New Landscape | 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Break | 2:00pm – 2:10pm
Session II – Foreclosure Law: Procedures, Defenses, and Strategies | 2:10pm – 3:10pm