by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
After enjoying 35 years practicing law for, basically the same firm since she graduated law school and passed the Bar, a Jacksonville attorney never thought she would work for another firm.
But a string of coincidences helped to provide her with an opportunity that she couldn’t pass up.
Christine Milton is one of the newer employees of Fidelity National Financial, a Fortune 600 company that is a leading provider of title insurance, specialty insurance and claims management services. Its Jacksonville headquarters is located on Riverside Avenue.
“I manage their national litigation and class action litigation,” said Milton, formerly of McGuire Woods. “I am strategizing and managing some of the best litigators in the country. It’s something that I know how to do. I never thought I would be working for another company, but life takes some odd turns. This has been great.”
Her career began shortly after graduating from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 1975. After passing the Bar the same year she began practicing commercial litigation for a firm that would eventually become McGuire Woods after a few mergers. Her caseload included a variety of business law including securities litigation, real property, partner disputes and large collection cases.
“She was very good with working with other attorneys in assisting them with their own practices,” said Scott Cairns, of McGuire Woods. “She combines both legal skills and a very empathetic personality to guide people in the right direction.”
While practicing at McGuire Woods, Milton pursued Fidelity National Financial to add them to the firm’s client list.
“I, along with every lawyer in Jacksonville, wanted business from Fidelity when they moved to town,” said Milton. “We made a marketing pitch and got a little work. Through contact over a period of years we developed a relationship and a good set of coincidences came together to set up an opportunity for me to work for them.”
Milton has been working with Mark Schiffman, chief litigation counsel for Fidelity National Financial, since she joined the company about two months ago.
“He has been doing this alone for a long time and is an exceptional lawyer, but I don’t know how he has been doing this by himself,” said Milton. “We are managing class actions pending in three states right now. We are in the process of splitting up the work.”
With class actions in three states, Milton’s feet are rarely idle.
“I’m traveling a lot,” said Milton. “There are no average days. And I never know what I am going to be doing on a given day.”
The who may change on a regular basis, but the what stays relatively the same, organize counsel to present the best case for the company.
“I am very involved in the particulars of the case, we read the pleadings of the case and discuss the major issues,” said Milton, about talking with Fidelity’s counsel. “There are lots of light bulbs going off all the time. It’s exciting to see. It’s what it is all about.”
While her new job may consume a lot of her time, Milton continues to be involved in the community. She has served on the Downtown Baptist Medical Center Board of Directors since 2005.
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