Tom Kearney advises clients on consumer financial services, technology, and data privacy matters. A former regulatory lawyer at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Tom helps lenders, investors, financial technology companies, banks, and other financial services providers navigate issues arising under state and federal financial services laws, including TILA, HMDA, ECOA, FCRA, RESPA, EFTA, and GLBA. Tom routinely advises clients on acquisitions, investments, and secondary market transactions, including due diligence on regulatory compliance matters. Tom works with clients to operationalize state and federal laws and regulations, ranging from implementing compliance management systems to assessing program compliance with information privacy, data protection, and cybersecurity requirements. He provides guidance on state licensing matters and interfaces with government agencies on behalf of clients. He counsels clients on a wide range of data privacy and security matters, including developing and maintaining compliant technology and data systems.   

Tom joined Akerman from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's Office of Regulations, where he played a key role developing and drafting multiple rulemakings. He led the team responsible for the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act rulemakings. Thomas was substantially involved in the CFPB's Truth in Lending Act – Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act Integrated Disclosure (Know Before You Owe) rulemaking and the Ability-to-Repay and Qualified Mortgage rulemakings. He also worked on various CFPB outreach efforts regarding the Dodd-Frank Act Title XIV rulemakings, and handled guidance for industry and other CFPB offices on legal and regulatory issues arising under TILA, HMDA, FCRA, and RESPA. He was also responsible for providing regulatory guidance on supervisory matters to the OCC, FDIC, and other prudential regulatory agencies.

Prior to the CFPB, Tom worked for several years as in-house counsel for a technology company providing compliance services to national banks, securitizers, non-depository mortgage lenders and other financial services companies. During his time in-house, he specialized in issues related to federal and state consumer credit and bank regulatory regimes, including state licensing requirements, as well as Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Federal Housing Administration, and Veterans Administration program requirements.

Tom is a frequent speaker on consumer financial services topics and is actively involved with several trade associations.