Arent Fox LLP announced the expansion of its Complex Litigation practice with the addition of Partner J. H. Jennifer Lee in San Francisco. Lee will advise financial services firms, banks, retailers, auto lenders, student loan companies, and individuals in government investigations, Congressional inquiries, and litigation matters involving federal or state consumer financial statutes and the implementation of regulations.
“Jenny is a rising star in her field and we are excited to add her to our rapidly expanding San Francisco Office, which now includes approximately 40 attorneys. As a former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau official and top-notch lawyer, Jenny is one of the most knowledgeable financial services litigators in California,” said San Francisco Managing Partner Richard L. Brand. “In her short time since leaving government, Jenny has handled dozens of matters involving the CFPB or state agencies, and her frequent appearances before the CFPB set her apart from most practitioners in the enforcement arena. Jenny’s experience and excellent legal skills will be a great resource to our financial services and FinTech clients.”
Ms. Lee joins the San Francisco office following the addition earlier this month of a seven-lawyer team from Kay & Merkle, a San Francisco-based commercial, real estate, automotive, and litigation firm.
Before joining Arent Fox, Ms. Lee was a Partner at Dorsey & Whitney and served as an Enforcement Attorney in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Field Litigation Team for several years. While at CFPB, she chaired the agency’s first joint state and federal enforcement action, issued and negotiated compliance with civil investigative demands, and took sworn testimony from witnesses during investigational hearings – securing consent orders for injunctive relief, consumer restitution, and civil money penalties.
Ms. Lee’s recent work includes representing a major national bank in responding to a non-public CFPB investigation into ACH payment processing and demand deposit accounts for business banking customers; advising a major national debt-collection agency in responding to a non-public CFPB investigation regarding debt-collection activities pertaining to credit card accounts; defending a leading national rent-to-own company in responding to a non-public CFPB investigation regarding a debt-sales transaction and consumer reporting; and counseling various startup companies in regards to regulatory and consumer protection issues.
Companies facing private actions involving consumer financial services claims, including class actions, rely on Ms. Lee. In addition, FinTech clients regularly seek Ms. Lee’s advice on matters such as consumer lending, mobile banking, privacy, data protection, and virtual currencies. As a national expert in the field of consumer financial protection, Lee is called upon by legislators and policymakers for input concerning pending legislation and is regularly quoted in national media outlets such as Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and American Banker. Ms. Lee’s clients rely upon her as a trusted advisor in sensitive, multifaceted investigations and enforcement proceedings.
Lee offers clients unique counsel when they are in need of assistance with Civil Investigative Demands from the CFPB, including navigating the complex requirements in highly-sensitive, “bet-the-company” agency investigations.
“We are a destination for companies and individuals in need of representation in connection with government and internal investigations, compliance, and white collar litigation,” said Government Enforcement & White Collar co-leader M. Scott Peeler. “Ms. Lee’s capabilities will bolster Arent Fox’s already impressive bench of counselors and litigators.”
Arent Fox is the only law firm to carry out multiple compliance monitorships for the World Bank and is routinely selected for monitorships by the Department of Justice and the New York State Department of Financial Services. The Government Enforcement & White Collar team offers critical and timely advice; deals with the toughest financial regulators and enforcement agencies in the world; solves the most complex cross-border problems; conducts sensitive internal investigations; provides compliance and ethics training; and guides you through complex governmental audits and investigations.