Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm serving clients across the Americas, today announced the expansion of one of the largest U.S. legal teams dedicated to the financial services sector, representing clients in all 50 states. Its Consumer Financial Services Practice Group welcomed Kathleen "Kitty" Ryan as a partner in the Los Angeles office. Ryan previously served as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) Deputy Assistant Director for the Office of Regulations. Prior to joining the CFPB, she was Senior Regulatory Counsel at JP Morgan Chase.
“Kitty’s extensive experience as a regulator, combined with her work as in-house counsel, makes her an invaluable asset to our clients, particularly within the areas of CFPB rulemaking and compliance,” said William Heller, chair of the Consumer Financial Services Practice Group. “Her impressive financial services background builds upon our team’s national strengths in the home loan space and adds a deep understanding of laws governing bank and non-bank consumer debt originators and servicers.”
Ryan focuses her practice on fair lending and regulatory compliance matters, particularly on issues related to the Fair Housing Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, Community Reinvestment Act, Truth in Lending Act, and UDAAP. She has applied her knowledge of regulations across the spectrum of consumer financial services and products — including mortgages, auto loans, installment lending and prepaid cards.
During her time at CFPB Ryan oversaw the completion of the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure rulemaking — also known as Know Before You Owe — and the HMDA rulemaking that completely rewrote Regulation C. She also oversaw the development of CFPB’s debt collection rulemaking and extensive amendments to the CFPB’s mortgage servicing rules, and is well-versed in the CFPB’s 2017 small dollar lending rule. Ryan also advised on enforcement and supervisory matters — including matters involving fair lending, RESPA and UDAAP.
As in-house counsel at JPMorgan Chase, Ryan analyzed a range of consumer financial products and practices across multiple business lines and provided legal and regulatory guidance and support. She also spent more than 10 years in the Federal Reserve Board’s Division of Consumer and Community Affairs, where she led several TILA, ECOA, HMDA and CRA rulemakings, including the 2002-2004 HMDA amendments and the 2008 Regulation Z Higher-Priced Mortgage Loan amendments, as well as the mortgage loan originator compensation rules.
Ryan is the latest former CFPB official to join Akerman's Consumer Financial Services Practice Group. The team previously welcomed Washington, D.C., partners Mary "Molly" Calkins and Thomas J. Kearney. Calkins served under the CFPB’s Division of Supervision, Enforcement & Fair Lending, as well as the Professional Liability & Financial Crimes Section of the Federal Deposit Insurance Company. Kearney served within the CFPB’s Office of Regulations where he worked closely with Ryan.
Together with Ryan, they collectively enhance Akerman’s team of federal and state compliance lawyers, including Tobias P. Moon, who brings deep in-house experience in servicing and originations from his work for Bank of America, Citi and Capital One. The team is well-positioned to provide regulatory compliance and enforcement guidance to consumer financial services providers — including mortgage, Fintech and other small dollar installment lenders and servicers.
About Akerman
Akerman LLP is a top 100 U.S. law firm recognized by Financial Times as among the most forward thinking firms in the industry. Its more than 650 lawyers and business professionals collaborate with the world’s most successful enterprises and entrepreneurs to navigate change, seize opportunities, and overcome barriers to innovation and growth. Akerman is known for its results in middle market M&A and complex disputes, and for helping clients achieve their most important business objectives in the financial services, real estate, and other dynamic sectors across the United States and Latin America.
Akerman’s Consumer Financial Services Practice Group is among the largest national legal teams supporting consumer financial service providers with litigation, enforcement and regulatory compliance in all 50 states. The Akerman team includes more than 100 lawyers and other legal professionals, with a platform for national litigation management and for ensuring compliance with servicing standards, federal and state laws, court rules and local practices.