KEY UPDATES TRACK: Fair Lending at the Intersection of Policy, Practice, and Enforcement
Fair lending continues to sit at the center of regulatory scrutiny, policy debate, and enforcement activity. This session examines how fair lending expectations are being shaped by evolving policy priorities, supervisory guidance, and recent enforcement actions, and what that means for day-to-day compliance and business practices. Panelists explore where theory meets execution, highlighting common risk areas, emerging trends, and practical steps institutions can take to align policies, controls, and operations with regulatory expectations in an increasingly complex environment. Sponsored by Cooley LLP.
Speakers
Moderator
Sheila M. Strong is Partner and Co-Founder of Strong Estrada, PLLC. With over 25 years of experience in the real estate and mortgage industry, Sheila Strong has assisted depository and non-depository identify mechanisms to utilize mortgage compliance as a competitive advance and navigate the ever-changing regulatory environment. Ms. Strong has developed Compliance Management Systems designed to implement, monitor, improve, and revise corporate policies and procedures to serve the mortgage needs of consumers in a manner that is consistent with ethical lending and servicing practices. As a former mortgage loan originator and a former SVP of Compliance and General Counsel, Ms. Strong brings real-world experiences in implementing compliance management strategies.
Speakers
Elena Babinecz, a shareholder in Baker Donelson's Washington, D.C., office, advises financial institutions on fair lending and consumer protection issues including regulatory compliance and strategic prioritization of legal issues to minimize risks and innovate responsibly. Until recently, Elena served more than twelve years at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. As Deputy Assistant Director in the Office of Regulations, she managed the agency’s legislative rulemakings and guidance work involving the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, small business lending, and language access. Before her work at the CFPB, Elena was in private practice for over a decade, counseling financial services clients in fair lending examinations, investigations, and enforcement matters by government agencies.
Andrew Glass advises fintechs, financial services companies, and their investors on compliance with consumer financial services laws. He also defends clients against state and federal agency civil enforcement actions, including by state banking and consumer protection regulators and the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and against private lawsuits and class actions asserting claims under state and federal consumer protection laws. In addition, Andrew assists clients in conducting internal audits and investigations, preparing for supervisory examinations, and responding to regulatory investigations. He is active in pro bono matters as well.
Olivia Kelman, a Partner at Mitchell Sandler, PLLC, focuses her practice on financial institutions and services litigation, compliance, and enforcement matters, with a concentration on fair and responsible lending and servicing. She has successfully litigated on behalf of clients in federal district and circuit courts, as well as in state trial and appellate courts. Kelman also defends investigations, examinations, and enforcement actions by the United States Department of Justice and federal and state financial institutions regulators. She has represented clients large and small, including residential mortgage lenders, banks, mortgage insurers, loan servicers, appraisal management companies, real estate sales corporations, and industry trade groups.
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