WHO WE ARE
Our mission
“Title work for professionals, by professionals.” We aim to be the preferred title agency for the best real estate professionals in the Detroit market. Real estate is our passion, and we appreciate the incredible work and daily dedication that agents and other professionals put into closing deals for their clients.
Our mission is to provide absolute protection to buyers and sellers, while partnering with and showcasing fellow real estate professionals. By diligently examining every property’s title history, expertly resolving title issues with creative solutions, and offering exceptional service, Birmingham Title strives to get your deal to closing professionally and positively.
Our team
Our team is experienced, dedicated, and passionate about real estate and title work, law and business. Our team members are title and escrow professionals who have been serving customers in Michigan for decades, along with young professionals who represent the next generation of title agents. It’s our pleasure to put our collective experience and enthusiasm to work for each client and each deal
Ownership
Shamil E. Halabu, Esq.
Chief Executive Officer
Shamil has practiced real estate and business law in Michigan since 1985, has held a real estate agent’s license since 1990, and has worked in the title insurance industry since 1999. Having helped close thousands of transactions in his career, he brings a wealth of experience and a commonsense approach to closing each deal. Shamil specializes in finding creative solutions to title issues that satisfy the many parties involved in each deal, especially in complex commercial deals.
Liz Halabu Casselman, Esq., CLTP, NTP
Chief Operating Officer
Liz started Birmingham Title Agency in 2015 after graduating from law school. She focuses her time on growth and development for the title agency including engaging new and existing clients, refining internal processes and procedures, and educating our team on the latest developments in the title industry. She received her Certified Land Title Professional (CLTP) designation from the Michigan Land Title Association in 2023 and her National Title Professional (NTP) designation from the American Land Title Association in 2024, which both recognize her knowledge, experience, and dedication to the title insurance industry.
Peter Halabu, Esq.
Chief Commercial Officer
Peter oversees Birmingham Title Agency’s commercial accounts, resolves complicated and last-minute title issues, and closes client files directly. Since graduating from Harvard Law School in 2010, he has practiced law in the areas of business transactions, commercial litigation, secured debt, real estate, and bankruptcy. He has also held a real estate agent’s license since 2004. His experience in title, law, and real estate helps him anticipate client needs and stay on top of even the most complicated and difficult deals.
Management
Christopher Halabu
Office Manager
Lauren Robertson
Accounting Manager
Lauren is our accounting and escrow expert. She creates, reconciles, and manages all escrow accounts and disbursements for our files, including 1031 exchange subaccounts and internal accounting.
Sean Boucher
Underwriter Counsel
Sean utilizes his law degree to resolve complex title issues and work with our underwriters to craft custom insurance products for our commercial clients. He also drafts proforma policies and issues our commercial title insurance policies. Additionally, Sean provides support for our 1031 exchange clients by coordinating with title agencies to structuring 1031 transactions.
Examiners
Thomas Flowers
Thomas is our chief examiner, with well over two decades of experience handling every type of property and transaction. At Birmingham Title, Thomas examines title for commercial properties, and also handles construction draw endorsements.
Terrell Horton
Terrell is familiar with all types of property examining. She primarily examines title for residential properties, compiling our title commitments and overseeing complicated residential title chains, including divorce, probate, and bankruptcy.
Kao Kue
Pre- and Post-Processors
Jody Allensworth
Jody is responsible for opening all of Birmingham Title Agency’s commercial title new orders, whether for title insurance or title searches. He has experience abstracting and pulling taxes, both in-house and through our third-party search vendors.
Sonya Tate
Sonya issues protection letters and closing disclosure forms for refinances and other lender title files. She also handles all of the substantial document recording work that Birmingham Title Agency provides for its clients.
Erin O’Brien
Processors & Closers
Gail Dest
Gail is our senior processor for title files. She drafts closing documents for both residential and commercial files, especially for complicated and last-minute closings.
Laly Galvan
Laly processes and closes residential files, including cash deals, split closings, sale/purchases with new loans, and refinances.
Jamie Blosser
Jamie has prior experience in the loan industry and in out-of-state title work. She processes and closes commercial files, including sale/purchase deals, split closings, loan deals (including SBA loans), and land contract deals.
Jodie Hoffman
Jodie joins our team with years of experience in escrow and processing. She processes, closes, and disburses both commercial and residential files, including sale/purchase deals, split closings and land contracts.
Moneisha Miles
Moneisha focuses on closing and post-closing residential files, including cash deals, split closings, sale/purchases with new loans, and refinances.
Christopher Halabu
Chris processes and closes both residential and commercial files. He also handles post-closing work.
Our Building
Birmingham Title Agency is fortunate to have an office that is literally unlike any other. Our agency’s home is an architecturally significant building designed in the 1980s by Harvey Ferrero, a renowned local architect and professor at Lawrence Technological University, drawing inspiration from the work of Bruce Goff, his mentor, along with Frank Lloyd Wright and Antonio Gaudi.
Ferrero’s unbridled, playful approach to designing office space is obvious from the first glimpse of the building and is evident throughout the interior. Bold colors, curves and sharp angles make every room interesting, and the building is airy and filled with natural light. The overall effect is fascinating and timelessly modern. It’s a unique place to work, and an unparalleled place to do business. After all, where else can you conduct your client’s closing literally inside a work of art?
Since purchasing the building in 2018, we’ve worked in collaboration with Mr. Ferrero, restoring and replacing elements of the building to bring it back into alignment with his original vision. We’re proud to be doing our part to maintain this unique, whimsical building into its fifth decade. If you’re in the area, feel free to stop by—we’re always happy to give a tour!
