Bradley Arant Boult Cummings Adds Five Financial Services Regulatory Compliance Attorneys to D.C. Office
Continuing the firm’s strategic growth, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to welcome five attorneys to the firm’s Washington, D.C. office and Financial Services Litigation and Compliance Team. The new attorneys are partners Haydn J. Richards, Jr. and Heather Cain Hutchings; senior attorney Amy Greenwood-Field; and associates Kristen S. Birdsall and Erika J. Sonstroem. All five were previously with the D.C. office of Dykema Gossett PLLC.
“These talented attorneys are a welcome addition to our firm and our growing Financial Services Litigation and Compliance Team,” said Firm Chairman Beau Grenier. “Their reputation for quality work and outstanding client service is exactly what we look for in new colleagues.”
“Haydn, Heather, and the rest of their team are known throughout the financial services sector for their deep knowledge and experience, particularly with respect to regulatory compliance and licensing.” added Robert Maddox, leader of the firm’s Financial Services Litigation and Compliance Team. “They are dedicated advocates for their clients, and we know they will be a significant asset to our firm.”
“My colleagues and I are pleased to join Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, which is known as a go-to firm for financial services litigation and compliance,” said Mr. Richards, who was previously Director of Dykema’s Financial Industry Group and Leader of its Financial Services Regulatory and Compliance practice. “This firm provides the perfect platform from which to serve our clients.”
Haydn J. Richards, Jr. advises clients in the financial services sector on state and federal regulatory matters, including regulatory compliance matters involving residential and commercial mortgage lenders, brokers, servicers, consumer finance companies, and student loan companies. Mr. Richards is a nationally recognized leader on mortgage and financial services licensing matters, including counseling clients relating to the formation of financial services companies and strategic acquisitions. He regularly interacts on behalf of financial services companies with federal and state regulatory agencies, both in adversarial and non-adversarial matters. Mr. Richards regularly counsels clients on CFPB compliance, as well as all aspects of the S.A.F.E. Act, financial services licensing matters, and the NMLS. Identified as one of just eight “Top Mortgage Regulatory Compliance Lawyers” for 2014 by Mortgage Compliance Magazine, Mr. Richards clerked for the Hon. Diane Gilbert Sypolt of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. He holds a J.D. (with honors) from The George Washington University Law School and a B.A. (with honors) from the College of William & Mary.
Heather Cain Hutchings focuses her practice on consumer financial services laws and regulations affecting banks and other financial institutions, non-chartered mortgage lenders and servicers, consumer finance companies, and mortgage brokers. She counsels clients regarding compliance with CFPB regulations and associated acts, including the Dodd-Frank Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Truth in Lending Act (TILA), Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act (HOEPA), Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) and Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA). Ms. Hutchings routinely advises clients on loan originator compensation issues and mortgage programs designed to comply with the CFPB’s Ability-to-Repay Rule. She counsels clients regarding fair lending and unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices (UDAAP) and has significant experience with state consumer credit laws, including predatory lending, privacy, disclosures, usury, fees, and licensing. She holds a J.D. from American University Washington College of Law and a B.A. (magna cum laude) from Vanderbilt University.
Amy Greenwood-Field has more than 15 years of experience in administrative and state regulatory law, including licensing, examination, enforcement, and compliance matters. She counsels clients on compliance issues and working with federal and state regulatory agencies. Ms. Greenwood-Field was previously the Consumer Finance Review Examiner for the State of Nebraska Department of Banking & Finance. She has extensive experience advising clients on S.A.F.E. Act compliance, as well as with the NMLS, the Mortgage Call Report, and with Multistate Mortgage Examination processes. She has experience with NACHA and ACH rules as applied to payday lending. Ms. Greenwood-Field holds a J.D. from the University of Nebraska College of Law and a B.A. from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Kristen S. Birdsall focuses on consumer financial services law and regulations, as well as licensing matters involving mortgage lenders, brokers, servicers, and other financial institutions. While in law school, Ms. Birdsall served as an Enforcement Intern for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. She holds a J.D. from The George Washington University Law School and a B.A. from the University of California, Davis.
Erika J. Sonstroem focuses on consumer financial services law and regulations, as well as state licensing matters pertaining to mortgage lenders and other financial institutions. She regularly researches and writes on new issues impacting environmental Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs at the state and local level. She is also experienced in matters involving the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), real estate title, mortgage servicing and default issues, and foreclosure alternatives. Ms. Sonstroem holds a J.D. from the George Mason University School of Law and a B.A. from the University of Florida.
For more coverage on this story:
- The American Lawyer, “Two Top Prosecutors Find New Homes, Plus More Lateral Moves,” April 7, 2015.
- Nashville Post, “BABC adds D.C. quintet,” April 7, 2015.
- Birmingham Business Journal, “Bradley Arant Boult Cummings adds five attorneys to Washington office,” April 7, 2015.
- Washington Business Journal, “On the Move,” April 8, 2015.
- Law360, “Bradley Arant Nabs Ex-Citigroup Atty For DC Office,” April 9, 2015.
- The Washington Post, “D.C.-area appointments and promotions for April 13,” April 13, 2015.
About Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP (www.bradley.com) serves emerging businesses; established regional, national, and international companies; and individuals. Our offices—strategically located in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, and the District of Columbia—provide an extensive geographic base from which to best accommodate our clients. Recognized across the country, our attorneys serve as national, regional, and statewide counsel for clients across many industries. Clients rely on Bradley Arant Boult Cummings attorneys for innovative legal services that reflect a detailed understanding of their business goals.
The firm’s attorneys serve clients in matters pertaining to antitrust, appellate, arbitration, banking, bankruptcy, class actions, complex business litigation, construction, corporate and securities, economic development, emerging business and technology, employee benefits, energy and natural resources, entertainment, environmental, family-owned businesses, financial services litigation, government affairs, government contracts, healthcare, insurance, intellectual property, labor and employment, life sciences, mediation, medical malpractice, pharmaceutical, private companies, professional liability, product liability, real estate, tax, utilities, and white-collar criminal defense law.
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