Ulmer & Berne LLP’s financial services industry practice brings together a broad range of expertise and experience in representing financial services providers. Our attorneys keep current on the problems facing the financial services industry through hands-on projects for a diverse range of clients including banks, bank holding companies, broker-dealers, futures commission merchants, introducing brokers, trading advisors, mortgage brokers, investment companies, credit card and payment system companies, trust companies, motor vehicle finance companies, thrift institutions, credit unions, and other diversified financial services companies.
In these heavily regulated industries, it is important to know that your lawyers are familiar with the issues you face. Ulmer & Berne’s litigation and business attorneys in the financial services industry practice concentrate their time and attention on the kinds of crises you see on a daily basis. Whether your matter involves mergers and acquisitions, consumer issues, financing, securities fraud claims, customer disputes, employee disputes, or regulatory compliance and defense, we have the expertise you need. We bring together the right skill set to address your unique issues in a cost-effective manner. Our broad expertise includes the following:
- In-depth litigation expertise in all aspects of financial services litigation including truth-in-lending and consumer disclosure, financial privacy, credit reporting and identity theft, federal preemption, UCC, securities and commodities fraud claims, electronic delivery of consumer financial services, credit discrimination, residential and commercial real estate, secured lending, deposit products, structured products and derivatives, and payment systems.
- Defending national broker-dealers and futures commission merchants against claims of negligence, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud and forgery, unsuitable investment recommendations, unauthorized trading, churning, failure to supervise, and improper margin borrowing.
- Helping clients to successfully develop and introduce a wide array of new financial products and services including fund transfers, electronic payments, payment processing systems, Internet-based credit programs, credit cards, debit cards, gift cards and prepaid cards, and motor vehicle sales assistance programs.
- Assisting clients in complying with the full range of financial services laws and regulations, including the Electronic Funds Transfer Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Truth in Lending Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, the Bank Holding Company Act, the International Banking Act, the USA PATRIOT Act, the Bank Secrecy Act, the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act of 2009, FINRA, NFA, SEC and CFTC regulations, and many other statues and regulations affecting the financial services industry.
- Representing financial services clients before regulatory agencies in response to examination and enforcement proceedings.
- Counseling clients on forming, merging and acquiring full-service and limited purpose banks, savings associations, and holding companies.
- Representing clients in establishing financial company branches, agencies, and subsidiaries.
- Advising clients on regulatory and compliance requirements for credit cards, debit cards, and other payment products.
- Developing, reviewing, implementing, and maintaining compliance policies, procedures, guidelines, and programs.
- Assisting clients and their affiliates with compliance policies, audits, and training before, during, and after regulatory examinations.
- Assisting clients with issues surrounding the privacy and security of information and compliance with the full range of federal, state, and international information privacy and data management laws and regulations.
- Providing corporate governance training and strategic planning assistance.
- Representing firms or employees in employment disputes.