AmTrust Title Insurance Co. has hired R Michael Smith as a regional underwriting counsel, the company announced. Smith will be based in Virginia and will underwrite for agents in Maryland, the District of Columbia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. “We are fortunate to welcome such an experienced title insurance professional to our team,” AmTrust President Jason Gordon said in a release. “Title insurance is in Michael’s DNA. He is an authority on liability for title search errors and numerous other title insurance-related topics…His knowledge and background add tremendous value to AmTrust Title’s regional operations in Virginia and surrounding states.” Prior to joining AmTrust, Smith was underwriting counsel for Conestoga Title Insurance Co. He also previously held senior posts for national title insurance companies and was a managing attorney for a title and settlement subsidiary of a national builder. Smith has served on the board of the Virginia Land Title Association (VLTA) and chaired VLTA’s Education Committee. He currently sits on the American Land Title Association’s Title