Justin Lischak Earley is that rare innovator who sees how technology and human know-how can combine to form new, exciting paths forward. At First American, Earley saw the need for intuitive tools to support the underwriters who identify risk in real estate transactions, and he mobilized the company to action, driving years of research, testing, and development to create Galileo™, one of the best-in-industry tool sets for underwriting data, redefining how we think about risk. 

First American is committed to leading the digital transformation of our industry, and that requires bold, reliable leadership from innovators like Earley. Looking past the tired metaphor of “human versus machine,” he looks instead for the places where humans and machines can combine forces to do what neither can do alone. That’s one reason why Earley received First American’s Donald P. Kennedy Leadership Award in 2019 — his first year dedicated to innovation in underwriting. 

Earley is a proven and well-respected thought leader among legal and real estate professionals. Since 2023, Earley has authored an analysis on generative AI for the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL), written about blockchain and real estate for the nonprofit Hoyt Institute, and discussed the differences between title insurance and attorney-opinion letters for the American Bar Association. Earlier this year, Justin concluded a three-year run as chair of the Innovation & Practice Committee for ACREL, where he led initiatives to educate stakeholders on topics like the Metaverse, blockchain, and payment rails.

Name:

Justin Lischak Earley

Title:

Vice President, Chief Innovation Underwriter

Company Name:

First American Financial Corporation