WASHINGTON, D.C. — BuckleySandler LLP, legal counsel to the financial
services industry, has announced the promotion of four associates to counsel and
the recent lateral hiring of three counsel.
Since its formation in March 2009, BuckleySandler has dramatically expanded
its size, increasing substantially the number of attorneys in Washington, D.C.,
and opening a New York office.
Valerie Hletko, counsel. Hletko’s practice focuses on the representation of
financial institutions in investigations, enforcement proceedings and litigation
involving fair lending, unfair and deceptive trade practices, redlining and
mortgage loan servicing. Before joining BuckleySandler LLP, Hletko was an
attorney at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.
Elizabeth McGinn, counsel. McGinn represents financial institutions in
investigations, examinations and litigation initiated by the Department of
Justice, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Trade
Commission, state attorneys general and the bank regulatory agencies. She has
represented financial institutions in class action litigation concerning federal
and state fair lending laws, mortgage fraud, unfair and deceptive trade
practices statutes, consumer fraud statutes and consumer privacy laws. Before
joining BuckleySandler LLP, McGinn was an attorney at Skadden, Arps, Slate,
Meagher & Flom LLP.
Andrea Mitchell, counsel. Mitchell counsels financial services companies on
regulatory compliance and risk management with respect to the Truth in Lending
Act, the Fair Housing Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Fair Credit
Reporting Act and unfair and deceptive trade practices statutes. She also
assists financial services companies with due diligence related to acquisitions
and initial public offerings. Before joining BuckleySandler LLP, Mitchell was a
counsel in the legal division at the Federal Reserve Board.
Benjamin Saul, counsel. Saul represents corporate and individual clients in
administrative enforcement and criminal matters, private civil and class action
litigation and, commonly, in parallel proceedings involving private litigants
and federal and state enforcement authorities. He also conducts corporate
internal investigations and advises clients on compliance issues and programs.
Before joining BuckleySandler LLP, Saul was an attorney at Skadden, Arps, Slate,
Meagher & Flom LLP.
BuckleySandler also announced the promotion of Mark Rooney (J.D., University
of Miami School of Law, 2006, magna *** laude) to associate and Amy Magdanz-Rose
(J.D., American University, Washington College of Law, 2004, *** laude) and Ray
Regan (J.D., Duquesne University School of Law, 1997) to the position of senior
staff attorney.
Catherine Brown, counsel. Brown is a specialist in consumer compliance for
BuckleySandler LLP, advising clients on regulatory requirements and trends in
fair lending, Community Reinvestment Act programs, anti-money laundering, and
enterprise risk management. Brown has designed and implemented regulatory
compliance programs for large, complex institutions. She has considerable
experience in managing relationships with federal regulatory agencies, which
includes preparing banks to anticipate and respond to regulatory inquiries and
remediation. Before joining BuckleySandler LLP, Brown was senior vice president
and chief corporate compliance and ethics officer at Charter One Bank. Brown is
also currently a managing director of Corporate Risk Advisors, a strategic
advisory firm for the financial services industry.
Angela Desmond, counsel. Desmond has considerable experience in policy
development, financial services regulation, payment and settlement systems,
corporate governance/enterprise risk management and international coordination
and outreach. Before joining BuckleySandler LLP, Desmond was chief of staff for
the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and had previously been a member
of the Federal Reserve Board’s official staff. Desmond is also currently a
managing director of Corporate Risk Advisors, a strategic advisory firm for the
financial services industry.
Lori Sommerfield, counsel. Sommerfield has a broad background in financial
services regulation, enterprise risk management and policy development, with a
specialty in fair and responsible lending. In her legal practice, Sommerfield
brings 23 years of experience in financial institutions law and compliance risk
management, and she has practiced law in federal government, corporate and
private practice settings. Before joining BuckleySandler LLP, Sommerfield
managed Wells Fargo & Company’s Corporate Fair & Responsible Lending
Compliance Program, providing oversight for 18 consumer and non-consumer credit
businesses. Sommerfield is also currently senior compliance executive at
Corporate Risk Advisors, a strategic advisory firm for the financial services
industry.
With approximately 75 lawyers in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and New York,
BuckleySandler provides legal counsel to meet the challenges of its financial
services industry clients.