WASHINGTON, D.C. - MAY 1, 2024 - Mitchell Sandler PLLC, a majority-women-owned and women-managed law firm focused on financial services and civil litigation, celebrates its five-year anniversary this month by adding two industry leaders to its Fair Lending Practice Group. Jon Seward and Olivia Kelman are joining the firm’s multidisciplinary team of financial services attorneys and compliance professionals that advise banks, credit unions, independent mortgage companies and fintechs on regulatory, enforcement and litigation matters.
With nearly 25 years at the U.S. Department of Justice in the Civil Rights Division, Seward has a wealth of experience in evaluating policies and practices by lenders that have resulted in fair lending investigations and settlements. As a respected civil rights attorney, Seward built a reputation for being tough but fair in the dozens of cases he oversaw as Principal Deputy of the Housing Section. “After leaving the Department, I wanted to find a platform where I could advise banks and financial service companies about the community benefits and business opportunities with expanding access to credit in underserved areas,” said Seward. He added, “Mitchell Sandler is a leader and trusted advisor in the industry on fair lending matters, so it was a natural transition from government practice to private practice with such a reputable firm.” Seward is joining the firm as Of Counsel.
Kelman joins Mitchell Sandler as a Partner in the firm’s Fair Lending Practice Group. Prior to joining Mitchell Sandler, Kelman was a Partner at K&L Gates, where she has served as lead counsel on high stakes federal court lawsuits and government investigations of banks and financial service companies. She has represented clients on pricing, underwriting, redlining and appraisal bias matters and is a frequent speaker on hot topics in fair lending litigation and compliance. “The consumer finance industry is under tremendous pressure from the regulators and enforcement agencies to employ fair and responsible lending practices, which has emboldened private litigants to pursue claims against creditors,” said Kelman. She stated further, “At a time when banks and mortgage lenders are struggling to stay compliant and profitable in the current rate environment, I can think of no firm that is better situated than Mitchell Sandler to help companies navigate the challenges and opportunities facing the industry. I look forward to joining this impressive team of attorneys.” Reflecting on the firm’s unique posture as a women-managed firm, Kelman stated, “Mitchell Sandler was an extremely appealing firm based alone on its reputation for delivering superior legal advice and client service. The fact that the firm is majority-women-owned and women-managed only adds to the reasons why this was the right choice for me.”
“We launched Mitchell Sandler in May 2019 with the intent to provide premium legal services to the financial services industry with a decidedly different approach to running a law firm – one that is defined by its culture as well as its capabilities,” said Managing Partner Andrea Mitchell. She added, “Two years ago, we had the good fortune to add an industry leading mortgage regulatory practice and deepen our fair lending and litigation capabilities with the addition of Daniella Casseres and Ari Karen. With the latest addition of Jon and Olivia to our roster of lawyers and compliance professionals, we believe our fair lending team has more breadth and depth in fair lending compliance, enforcement and litigation than any law firm in the country.” With the combined experience of the firm’s Fair Lending Practice Group, Mitchell Sandler attorneys have worked on more than 100 fair lending cases over their careers, including many first-of-its-kind claims and other high-profile matters.
As it enters its sixth year, Mitchell Sandler now has more than 30 lawyers and compliance professionals delivering cost effective and practical legal services to its more than 250 clients. “One of the principal reasons Ari and I joined Mitchell Sandler was its culture and determination to deepen its core capabilities by adding synergistic regulatory, enforcement and litigation practices,” noted Daniella Casseres, Mortgage Regulatory Practice Group Leader and member of the firm’s Management Committee. “We think our approach to putting the practical needs of our clients and our team first causes us to stand out and has ensured our continued growth and success,” she added.
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Mitchell Sandler is a certified majority-women-owned and women-managed boutique financial services and civil litigation law firm headquartered in Washington, D.C. The firm’s financial service practice groups are comprised of industry-leading lawyers and compliance professionals with deep experience in the laws and regulations that govern consumer and commercial lending and banking products. The firm’s litigation practice group is comprised of nationally recognized practitioners who represent individuals and companies in a wide range of financial services, employment and labor, and general civil litigation matters. The litigation practice group is augmented with a seasoned team of labor and employment attorneys who also advise corporate clients on regulatory and compliance matters. Mitchell Sandler’s attorneys and compliance professionals have convened from big law, national consulting firms, government service and in-house positions to coalesce around a shared vision of firm culture, superior client service, and efficient delivery of practical legal advice.
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