SARASOTA, FL – Malcolm J. Pitchford, a partner in the Sarasota office, and who serves as a volunteer attorney for the Florida Bar’s “FASH” program (Florida Attorneys Saving Homes) has been certified as a Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Mediator by the American Arbitration Association, in affiliation with the Collins Center for Public Policy.  The Florida Supreme Court recently instituted a statewide “managed mediation” program to facilitate communication between lenders and distressed borrowers whose homes are at risk of being foreclosed, with the hope that, through mediation, an alternative to foreclosure can be achieved.  Under this program, all foreclosure cases in state courts which involve residential homestead property will be referred to mediation, unless both the plaintiff and borrower agree otherwise.

Mr. Pitchford, a Board Certified Real Estate lawyer, is also a Certified Civil Court Mediator and Panelist for the American Arbitration Association.  Mr. Pitchford is AV® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell.

Mr. Pitchford received his J.D. and B.A. from the University of Florida.

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Founded in 1925, Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP is a full service law firm with 215 attorneys practicing in Toledo and Columbus, Ohio; Tampa and Sarasota, Florida; and Charlotte, North Carolina.