Portrait of Zipporah Edwards

Zipporah Edwards

Principal

zip.edwards@offitkurman.com
Charlotte, NC – 704.716.0873
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Zipporah “Zip” Edwards is a commercial litigator with over 25 years of experience. Zip has been consistently nominated by peers in the legal community to the North Carolina Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America lists. Zip focuses primarily on the resolution of disputes involving real property, including concentrations in the following areas: coverage opinions and representation of title insurance companies; defense counsel for insureds; defalcation and fraud recovery; mechanics lien defense; resolution of access, easement and boundary issues; subrogation litigation; and title curative measures.

Zip addresses these issues in all forums: state trial courts, all North Carolina federal district courts and state and federal appellate courts. In addition, Zip regularly represents clients in bankruptcy adversary proceedings arising out of real estate and lien priority disputes. She also provides malpractice defense for attorneys, focusing on claims and litigation arising out of real estate transactions.

Zip uses her experience in real estate law, creditors’ rights, foreclosures, litigation, construction law and bankruptcy to provide her clients with effective and efficient representation and to craft comprehensive and practical solutions to real estate problems.

Zip is a regular lecturer and seminar leader on real property related topics and issues ranging from mortgage fraud to case law updates for organizations such as the North Carolina Land Title Association, Mecklenburg County Bar and the North Carolina Bar Association.

Representative Matters

  • Successfully represented amicus party, North Carolina Land Title Association, in a case of first impression interpreting the North Carolina Real Property Marketable Title Act and its impact on eliminating restrictive covenants. - C Investments 2, LLC v. Auger et al,383 N.C. 1, 881 S.E.2d 270 (2022)
  • Obtained affirmation of summary judgment orders in favor of defendant owners and lenders in related lawsuits in which plaintiffs challenged the validity of mortgage payoffs and satisfactions of same and sought to require defendants to essentially pay off their prior mortgages twice. - American Southwest Mortgage Corp et al v. O’Meara, 2021-NCCOA-705, 865 S.E.2d 907 (2021) and American Southwest Mortgage Corp et al v. Arnold et al   2021-NCCOA-704865 S.E.2d 905 (2021)
  • Representation of Fannie Mae in a multi-million-dollar lien priority dispute, resulting in the North Carolina Supreme Court’s reversal of an unfavorable N.C. Court of Appeals decision and a ruling in favor of Fannie Mae. - Falk v. Fannie Mae (a/k/a Federal National Mortgage Association, 367 N.C. 594766 S.E.2d 271 (2014)
  • Successfully defended attorney and law firm in legal malpractice action, arising out of a multimillion-dollar real estate transaction, through trial and appeal (and affirmation) of verdict in clients’ favor. - Piraino Bros., LLC v. Atl. Fin. Group, Inc., 211 N.C. App. 343; 712 S.E.2d 328 (2011)
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina affirmed summary judgment dismissing Chapter 11 Debtors’ adversary proceeding in which they unsuccessfully challenged the validity of Bank of America’s deed of trust on the grounds that issues with the notary acknowledgment existed. - Mullaney v. Bank of America et al., 611 B.R. 770 (NCED 2019)
  • S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina granted summary judgment in favor of title insurer premised on the application of exclusion 3(a) of the applicable title insurance policy. -LJW Land, LLC v. Old Republic National Title Insurance Company, 2016 WL 4370052

    Education

    • Wake Forest University School of Law (J.D., cum laude)
    • Wake Forest University (B.A., cum laude)
      • English
      • History

    State Bar Admissions

    • North Carolina

    Court Admissions

    • United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina
    • United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina
    • United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina
    • United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
    • Supreme Court of the United States

    Professional Affiliations

    • American Bar Association: Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, Title Insurance Litigation Committee
    • North Carolina Bar Association: Litigation Section, Real Property Section
    • North Carolina Land Title Association
    • Mecklenburg County Bar

    Recognitions

Services

Featured Publications & News

<p>Offit Kurman Attorney Recognized on 2027 North Carolina Super Lawyers® List</p>

Offit Kurman Attorney Recognized on 2027 North Carolina Super Lawyers® List

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  • Biography
  • Publications & News

Firm Highlights

  • Blog Posts
    The Property Management Playbook: Documentation
    In this installment of The Property Management Playbook, Jennifer Jean-Gilles sits down with colleague Brian Dorwin to discuss one of the most important tools in effective property management: documentation. From maintaining accurate records to protecting against potential disputes, proper documentation provides a strong foundation for managing properties and navigating day-to-day challenges with confidence.
  • Publications & News
    Ian Bartman Appointed to Frederick Health Board of Directors
    Ian Bartman Appointed to Frederick Health Board of Directors
  • Blog Posts
    What Parents Need to Know About Title IX in Private K-12 Schools
    What Parents Need to Know About Title IX in Private K-12 Schools
  • Publications & News
    Offit Kurman Attorneys Recognized in 2027 New Jersey Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars Lists
    Offit Kurman Attorneys Recognized in 2027 New Jersey Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars Lists
  • Blog Posts
    Law, Love, and Life's Battles: Facing Breast Cancer
    What happens to a marriage and a family when a breast cancer diagnosis changes everything? In this episode of Love Ends, Law Begins, hosts Fara Rodriguez and Stephanie Lehman have a deeply personal conversation about breast cancer, marriage, family, and the challenges that can come with a serious illness. This episode is especially meaningful for Fara, who shares her own recent breast cancer diagnosis and journey. She opens up about discovering a lump, receiving her diagnosis, undergoing a double mastectomy and subsequent treatments, and navigating the emotional impact of cancer while continuing to work and care for her family. Fara and Stephanie discuss how a cancer diagnosis can affect a marriage in unexpected ways—from changing family roles and creating new caregiving responsibilities to putting pressure on finances, health insurance, and household responsibilities. They explore how illness can either bring couples closer together or create additional challenges, particularly when one spouse becomes the primary caregiver or when the family is dealing with fear and uncertainty. The conversation also addresses the unique challenges of parenting during an illness, including how to talk to children about a cancer diagnosis and how divorced parents may need to adjust parenting schedules and responsibilities when one parent becomes sick. From navigating medical expenses and insurance coverage to balancing work, parenting, caregiving, and intimacy, Fara and Stephanie offer a candid look at the ways illness can reshape relationships and family dynamics. In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, this episode provides an honest and personal conversation about facing cancer while navigating marriage, family, and the many practical challenges that come with a serious diagnosis. In this episode, you'll hear about: • Fara's personal breast cancer diagnosis and journey • How a cancer diagnosis can affect a marriage • The challenges of becoming a caregiver to your spouse • How illness can bring couples closer together—or create new challenges • Talking to children about a parent's cancer diagnosis • How divorced parents can navigate parenting responsibilities when one parent becomes ill • The financial impact of illness and the loss of household income • Health insurance and medical coverage considerations • How medical expenses can create additional financial strain • The importance of support from family, friends, and caregivers • Balancing work, parenting, treatment, and recovery • How illness can affect intimacy and marital dynamics • The importance of supporting children through a parent's illness • Why communication and cooperation matter during a health crisis • Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the importance of mammograms
  • Blog Posts
    The Art of Eliminating a $13 Million Obligation
    The Art of Eliminating a $13 Million Obligation
  • Publications & News
    Offit Kurman Expands Los Angeles Presence with Second Office
    Offit Kurman Expands Los Angeles Presence with Second Office
  • Publications & News
    More Than a Heritage: Julie Orlando on What It Means to Be Argentine
    More Than a Heritage: Julie Orlando on What It Means to Be Argentine
  • Events
    AIA Tri-State Conference
    Princeton will serve as the backdrop for three days of connection, learning, and design leadership. From keynotes to tours to the Tri-State Design Awards, this year’s conference is designed to go far beyond education sessions. Kick off the week with pre-conference intensives and individual state component Design Award celebrations, followed by three days of education, inspiration, networking, and design excellence at the 2026 AIA Tri-State Conference—featuring pre-conference intensives, three keynote speakers, 25 education sessions, curated tours, an expo, spec academies, and the AIA Tri-State Design Awards—bringing together architects and design professionals from New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania to connect, learn, and celebrate the best of the profession. G2. Designing Secure Practices: Cybersecurity, Data Privacy, Contractual Provisions, and Insurance Risks for Architects (4:00 PM - 5:30 PM) Architects and design professionals increasingly rely on cloud platforms, BIM software, and digital tools to manage sensitive data, creating cybersecurity and privacy risks. A single incident can trigger liability claims, regulatory obligations, reputational harm, and insurance challenges. Yet many firms underestimate how contracts, insurance, and internal practices intersect during a breach. This program offers legal and insurance perspectives on cyber risk in architecture, examining liability exposure, risky contract provisions, and mitigation strategies. A cyber insurance expert will explain policy responses, coverage gaps, coordination with professional liability, and best practices for aligning insurance with contractual risk and protecting firms from evolving cyber threats. Learning Objectives: Identify key cybersecurity and data privacy risks faced by architecture firms and explain how these risks can impact professional liability and project outcomes. Analyze common contractual provisions to determine which clauses may increase exposure to cyber incidents and propose strategies to mitigate these risks. Evaluate the scope and limitations of cyber insurance policies, including coordination with professional liability coverage, to determine how a policy would respond in a breach scenario. Develop actionable risk management strategies by integrating legal, contractual, and insurance considerations to protect sensitive client and project data.
  • Blog Posts
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    NJDEP NOV vs. AONOCAPA: What’s the Difference?