On the Pulse…Consumer Financial Services Litigation and Compliance Practice Group

By Andrew M. Schwartz, Esq.*

Marshall Dennehey's Consumer Financial Services Litigation and Compliance Practice Group is devoted to handling all litigation and compliance-related issues facing creditors, financial institutions and the accounts receivables industry as a whole.  This group services a broad client base, representing the interests of debt collectors, finance companies, lenders and servicers, telecommunication providers, collection attorneys, creditors, credit reporting agencies and third-party debt buyers.  Our clients range from solo practitioner collection attorneys to large institutional clients with national and international operations.  As the increasingly sophisticated consumer plaintiffs' bar continues to push the boundaries of consumer financial services litigation, we vigorously defend our clients' interests in state and federal courts, guide them through regulatory investigations and enforcement actions, and give them the tools they need to minimize risk, mitigate loss and avoid unnecessary exposure.  Few industries face the rapid change to which our clients have necessarily become accustomed. As the landscape of laws and regulations affecting our industry shift, we are dedicated to keeping abreast of important developments and assisting our clients in navigating an environment in which federal and state consumer laws undergo near-daily change.  Our group members make it a priority to keep current with new legal rulings, ongoing enforcement actions, litigation trends and regulatory findings so that we can consistently provide our clients with the up-to-the-minute representation and guidance they need.

Our group has a demonstrated track record of successfully representing our clients in individual claims and class actions in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Maryland, Florida and the District of Columbia.  We regularly defend credit and collection industry clients in claims under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, The Electronic Fund Transfer Act, The Credit Repair Organization Act, and related federal and state laws.  We pride ourselves on providing skilled and practical representation of our clients, understanding that the most critical components of our practice are maintaining an open line of communication with our clients and staying cognizant of their litigation and business needs.  Our litigation practice also encompasses nationwide litigation management, which many clients have found to be a cost-effective and strategic means of ensuring their litigation needs are fulfilled. 

In addition to our extensive litigation program, we provide compliance and consulting services to clients nationwide.  Rather than employing a "one compliance program fits all" mentality, our group instead crafts its services to meet the needs of each individual client based upon their industry footprint and areas of risk.  We strive to assist our clients in identifying potential issues and areas of risk, and crafting a pragmatic and appropriate remedy.  Our group also provides readiness assessment services geared toward evaluating our clients' preparedness for regulatory investigation. 

The Consumer Financial Services Litigation and Compliance Practice Group has grown rapidly in the years since its chair, Andrew M. Schwartz, first came to Marshall Dennehey in 2001.  What started as a small practice gradually grew in both scope and breadth, culminating in the current team of eight dedicated full-time attorneys who devote their practice to serving the needs of our clients.  Andrew is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and works in our Philadelphia, Pennsylvania office with the assistance of Ronald M. Metcho, LaTi W. Spence, and Samantha L. Kane, all of whom bring a wide array of experience to our group.  Danielle M. Vugrinovich of our Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania office, represents our clients in western Pennsylvania, while David Lane offers services to clients throughout New York.  Lauren M. Burnette represents clients in litigation throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland and the District of Columbia, and provides compliance management services across the country.  Patrick DeLong of our Fort Lauderdale, Florida office, coordinates representation of our clients throughout Florida and the southeast.  Our group also utilizes the skills of many talented attorneys throughout the firm to meet the needs of our clients.  Our group members maintain active memberships in industry-leading organizations and are frequently asked to provide seminars and presentations addressing the latest industry changes and trends.

Marshall Dennehey is proud to offer the Consumer Financial Services Litigation and Compliance Practice Group as a means of providing the strategic and skilled representation to our clients across the wide spectrum of the consumer financial services industry.  Whether defending an FDCPA claim or evaluating a compliance management system, the attorneys in the Consumer Financial Services Litigation and Compliance Practice Group are uniquely qualified to help our clients succeed. 

*Andrew is a shareholder who works in our Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, office. He can be reached at 215.575.2765 or Amschwartz@mdwcg.com.

Defense Digest, Vol. 20, No. 1, March 2014

Defense Digest is prepared by Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin to provide information on recent legal developments of interest to our readers. This publication is not intended to provide legal advice for a specific situation or to create an attorney-client relationship. Copyright © 2014 Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin, all rights reserved. This article may not be reprinted without the express written permission of our firm.