Real Estate: Title Consultants: 7

Petru Corporation is a full service land consulting company offering a full line of Title, Natural Resources, and Land services.

Incorporated in 1986, Petru serves the needs of the title, title insurance, oil, gas, mineral, geothermal, wind, solar, mining, environmental, and right-of-way industries; legal, engineering, subdivision, developers, and land planning professions; government; lending and trust institutions; water purveyors; utilities; real estate companies; and the individual and business communities.

Petru Corporation and Tim Truwe were featured on Enterprises TV, aired on Fox Business Network and were published in Black Gold in California, the story of the California Petroleum Industry and also in The Business Elite, Corporate America.

Consulting Services:

Title Consulting Title Searching Title Examining Title Reports Title Engineering Title Insurance Plot Descriptions and Easements Map Drafting and Map Review Property Inspections Right of Way/Easements Water Rights

Leasehold Estates Oil, Gas, Mineral and Mining Consulting Subdivision Map Act Negotiate Oil and Gas Leases Regulatory Consulting Permitting/Regulatory Title Insurance Underwriting Support Title Insurance Claims Due Diligence Acquisitions and Divestitures Mining Claims

Timothy B. Truwe, President and Chief Financial Officer of Petru Corporation, is a Registered Professional Landman (#23542) and a Registered Environmental Property Assessor (#569045). He specializes in Title, Natural Resources and Land Matters issues and offers a full line of title, and land services.

Background - Mr. Truwe started his career in 1973 in the title, resource, and regulatory industries. His career includes employment and training at Ticor Title Insurance Company (now Chicago Title Co.) as Title Searcher, Title Officer, and Title Engineer. He also worked at Ogle Petroleum Inc., as Assistant Land Manager in the Land/Legal Department. His responsibilities at Ogle included both onshore and offshore assets and the technical and administrative oversight of several thousand parcels of land and leases in excess of one million acres.

Jeffrey S. Lapin, CPM®, has been directly involved in Commercial Real Estate Management, Leasing and Construction for over 40 years. He is recently retired from his position as Vice President of Property Management for a privately held national real estate development firm. 

Consulting - Mr. Lapin provides commercial real estate operations and maintenance expertise to large and small landlords. His background includes roles with institutional landlords including TIAA CREF, MetLife, The New England Life Insurance Company, and Principal Mutual Life, as well as a diverse group of private property owners. His experience is focused on managing, building and leasing all types of property including commercial and multi-family residential, industrial, office, and retail real estate assets. 

Professional Training - Mr. Lapin is an experienced professional trainer specializing in Property Operations, Lease Administration, Cost Recovery, Customer Service, Maintenance Procedures and related topics. Mr. Lapin has conducted over 50 workshops and seminars on these topics. 

Certifications and Instruction - Mr. Lapin is a Certified Property Manager (CPM®), certified by the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM®) and a California licensed Real Estate Broker. Mr. Lapin is a certified instructor for IREM® and for the Building Owners and Managers Institute International (BOMI®), teaching courses for these prestigious international property associations, including courses required by IREM® and by BOMI® for the respective professional accreditations they offer, centered around construction and maintenance topics. 

Education - Mr. Lapin holds an undergraduate Business Administration degree from the University of Southern California as well as a Master’s Degree in Business from Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management. 

View Jeffrey Lapin's Expert Witness Profile.

P. MARC FISCHER MBA | M.Ed. | CPM^®, RPA^® , CCIM^® , LEED^®  Green Associate | BOMA Fellow 

Head Honcho

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE EXPERT

Marc Fischer is a nationally recognized commercial real estate(CRE) industry leader with over 30 years of experience.

Marc is the Principal of INSPIRE CRE (www.inspirecre.com), a commercial real estate consulting firm specializing in learning and development, operational process improvement, and asset management strategies. Through INSPIRE, he provides expert guidance to CRE owners, managers, and occupiers – helping them optimize performance, enhance efficiencies, and navigate complex industry challenges.

He is also the founder of GANDRE (www.gandresop.com), a technology-driven platform that delivers customizable operations manuals and standard practices for commercial and multifamily real estate companies. GANDRE helps organizations standardize processes, ensure compliance, and elevate operational excellence with tailored, easy-to-implement solutions.

In addition to his consulting work, Marc is an accomplished author, sought-after speaker, and respected instructor. He has a passion for mentoring and developing top talent, inspiring the next generation of real estate professionals.

CRE DESIGNATIONS

• Certified Property Manager (CPM^®)
• Real Property Administrator (RPA^®) 
• Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM^®)
• LEED^® Green Associate
• Six Sigma Yellow Belt

AFFILIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS

• Building Owners & Managers Association (BOMA) International
• Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM)
• US Green Building Council (USGBC) 

EDUCATION

• Master of Business Administration (MBA) 
• Master of Education (M.Ed) in Adult Learning

MAJOR CRE PUBLICATIONS 

• Thinking Like an Asset Manager: A Strategic Guide for Property Managers in Commercial Real Estate, © 2025
• Building Maintenance: Industry Standards, Best Practices, and Innovations for Real Estate Managers and Building Operators, © 2025
• Measuring Financial Returns, © 2017
• Acquisitions, Dispositions & Underwriting, © 2018
• Lease Analysis, Evaluation, Negotiation, and Approval, © 2013 
• Foundations of Real Estate Management, © 2008, 2023 
• Proactive Maintenance Guidebook for Industrial Properties, © 2016
• Managing Industrial Properties, © 2016
• Guide to Exterior Maintenance Manual, © 2011
• Guide to Developing a Standard Operating Procedure Manual, © 2010

View Marc Fischer's Expert Witness Profile.

James H. Cantrell, CPM® is the President of CANTRELL ASSOCIATES and was President of Cantrell, Harris & Associates, a San Francisco based Real Estate Management and Consulting firm that was formed 30 years ago. Consulting - With decades of Asset and Property Management experience. Mr. Cantrell specializes in the turnaround of properties with Deferred Maintenance and Mismanagement. He has managed a variety of product types. including rent-controlled, apartments, association management, high-rise office, industrial! warehouse properties, retail, and large hotels for both private and institutional investors. His experience has included establishing hands-on management programs that have maximized the values of the various investments. 

Background - James Cantrell began his career with Arlen Realty as a property supervisor, handling properties in the United States Investment Fund Portfolio, and has held the position of Equity Administrator with Clevetrust Realty Investors, responsible for managing numerous properties throughout the Country. He also served as Treasurer of Regency Equities, a Real Estate Investment Trust, traded on NASDQE, and was President of Plaza Equities Management, Inc., with a national portfolio of approximately $275 million of mixed assets under his direction. He currently teaches a number of courses for the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) and has taught throughout the United States, in Russia and Poland. He was an Associated Professor at Golden Gate University for 9 years teaching a course in Asset/Property management in the MBA program.

Honors and Awards - Mr. Cantrell served as President of the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM), San Francisco and has been honored with receiving the IREM SF Instructor of the year in 2001 and 2007. He also received the IREM 2013 Lloyd Hanford, Jr. Distinguished Faculty Award.

Engagements - Mr. Cantrell was engaged as the Featured speaker for the National Facility Management and Technology Conference in Chicago in 2007 and Baltimore in 2008. He was also appointed to the San Francisco Mayors "Building Energy Efficiency Task Force" in 2009.

View James Cantrell's Expert Witness Profile.

Kevin M. Burke,,JD, originally licensed in Real Estate in 1979, is well known for his knowledge of Real Estate Law, Risk Management, and Brokerage Operations. He has helped establish many professional real estate careers, and is Chair of the Professional Standards Committee, Past Chair of Legal Affairs, and REALTOR Risk Management and Consumer Protection Forums for the California Association of REALTORS.  For over 20 years, he has taught Real Property Law (ABA MCLE credit) at UCSD,and has helmed management positions at three of the largest real estate franchises in California.

Business Consultant Services:

• Real Estate Law / Transaction Management, as well as advice to individual salespeople and brokerage firms
• Risk Management - retained by several brokerages in the San Diego area to assist them BEFORE issues become complicated
• Training programs for brokerages focusing on real estate agent safety and lawsuit avoidance

Kevin M. Burke, JD on CA Multiple Offers

Kevin's leadership has been recognized in various prestigious positions within the real estate community, including past President of both the Greater San Diego and the North San Diego County Associations of REALTORS®. He has been approved by the California Department of Real Estate as a real estate school, approved to teach the Buyer Representation Agreement, and has taught the Residential Purchase Agreement for the governing authorities there. He is also approved by the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation as a pre-license instructor. 

Kevin hosts a weekly Koffee with Kevin (bit.ly/KoffeewithKevin), free of charge, for those interested in getting a professional perspective on happenings within the real estate industry

View Kevin M. Burke's Expert Witness Profile.

Bedrock Investments Group (BIG) acquires undervalued, strategically located single-tenant net-leased properties that deliver predictable cash flow to our partners. Their streamlined Commercial Real Estate Acquisition Process and in-depth Due Diligence result in noteworthy investment opportunities. BIG's conservative, disciplined approach results in investment performance that provides for consistent cash flow and equity growth. BIG has an exceptional track record of delivering cash flow at above-market rates without burdening their properties with debt. 

The team at BIG identifies undervalued net leased properties throughout the U.S. that have solid fundamentals and creditworthy tenants. They acquire and hold these freestanding, single-tenant net leased (STNL) properties as long-term investments. Typical sellers include estates, partnerships in dissolution, lender REOs, and investors facing less than three-year lease terms 

Strategies:

• Complete due diligence and acquisition thoroughly and quickly, thereby ensuring the seller of a timely transaction
• Centralize the decision-making process by eliminating the need for many layers of approval
• Evaluate worst-case scenarios
• Provide hands-on, active property management at competitive rates

Dr. Dick Bridy, a Principal at BIG, brings over 40 years of broad experience in Commercial Real Estate Acquisitions and Development to the firm. He is the entrepreneurial founder and CEO of DBI Group, a boutique real estate firm specializing in commercial retail centers and single-tenant properties. 

Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Bridy developed expertise in team brokerage, leasing, private equity funding, construction, and asset management. From the ground up, he and his team entitled and built two shopping centers and five single-tenant properties. In addition, he has supervised the redevelopment of over 3.5 million sq. ft. of gross leasable area in 14 shopping centers. Through extensive research, market valuation, physical inspection, and financial analysis, Dr. Bridy targets ideal properties with maximum economic potential for Bedrock’s portfolio.  

View Dr. Dick Bridy's Expert Witness Profile.

MCS Associates is a nationally recognized consulting group that has provided financial, operations and regulatory/compliance consulting services nationwide to financial institutions, insurance companies and regulatory agencies as well as real estate and financial services organizations for over 40 years. Expert Witness and Litigation Consulting are a primary focus of our services. We undertake expert witness assignments throughout the United States and our clients include several hundred leading law firms around the country, working on behalf of both plaintiff and defendant financial institutions, borrowers, depositors, investors, developers, insurance companies and their insured, securities/insurance/real estate brokers/agents, regulators and government agencies, and individuals. 

Together with MCS Associates’ specialized resources in banking, financial services and real estate, we also draw on key strategic alliances in insurance, economics, academia and the securities industry to meet a wide range of expert witness needs. Our litigation experts include experienced bankers, lenders, consultants, regulators, managers, brokers & agents in insurance, real estate, and securities; insurance claims and underwriting managers; economists, accountants, appraisers, real estate analysts, and academics. 

Areas of Expertise Include:

• Banking Operations/Administration
• Check Fraud
• Lending Policies, Custom and Practice
• Loan Underwriting & Credit Administration
• Loan Securitizations & Servicing
• Bankruptcy, Foreclosures and Workouts
• Trust & Fiduciary Issues / Operations
• Securities Brokerage & Investments
• Valuations & Damages Analysis
• Forensic Accounting
• Employment / Compensation
• Real Estate Brokerage & Management
• Title Insurance & Escrow
• Real Estate Appraisal & Transactions
• Insurance Industry Custom & Practice
• Insurance Coverages / Claims Handling
• Insurance Bad Faith