Financial Services Regulation

We provide legal and regulatory advice regarding the scope of new and existing laws, regulations and interpretations, as well as counsel to financial institutions, fintech companies, and other financial services providers regarding relationships with federal and state regulatory agencies. Our practice includes a former federal agency regulator with Washington, D.C., and regional office experience at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The group also includes attorneys with vast experience representing financial institutions, fintech companies, and other financial services providers in investigations conducted by the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the FDIC. Our attorneys have also developed strong relationships with state and national associations that represent the interests of financial institutions, fintech companies, and other financial services providers in legislative and rulemaking processes.

We have advised on the formation of new banks throughout the United States, including newly formed state-chartered banks, national banks, and special purpose charters. Our extensive experience allows us to advise clients on the types of charters that work best for the organizers’ long-term, institutional goals. We advise clients engaged in new charter and holding company formations, helping them understand the nuances of the bank regulatory regime and the impact they can have on determining the type of charter best suited for an organizing group.

We represent troubled fintech companies and other financial services providers facing challenges as a result of subprime loans or problem loans, management issues, alleged violations of law or regulation, capital deficiencies, liquidity problems, board difficulties, or other issues. Our attorneys have extensive experience negotiating and implementing regulatory agreements on behalf of regulatory agencies and our clients, including formal agreements, cease and desist orders, removal and/or prohibition orders, orders for prompt corrective action, memoranda of understanding, informal agreements, and other federal and state regulator-required actions.

Financial institutions increasingly need guidance in connection with troubled assets, capital issues, and examinations and proposed actions by bank regulators, including closures and receiverships. We have extensive experience negotiating and implementing regulatory agreements on behalf of regulatory agencies and financial institutions, including formal agreements, cease and desist orders, removal and/or prohibition orders, orders for prompt corrective action, memoranda of understanding, informal agreements, and other federal and state regulator-required actions. Our ability to provide this firsthand experience separates us from many other firms and provides a level of comfort for our clients during what can be a tumultuous time.

Our anti-money laundering (AML) and international trade sanctions team includes attorneys with decades of experience providing clients guidance in establishing appropriate controls and advising on specific transactions such as lending arrangements, inter-bank activity, import/export trade restrictions, currency transfers, and customer relationships.

We regularly handle AML and sanctions-related financing matters for financial institutions, investment banks, insurance companies, money service businesses, mutual funds, fintech companies, and other financial services providers across the United States, and have assisted international companies with cross-border AML and sanctions-related financing issues. The team also has significant experience conducting investigations required or necessary because of law enforcement involvement, regulatory agency actions, pending or contemplated litigation or board of directors/senior management mandates.