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Chris focuses his practice on consumer financial services compliance, guiding clients through the many federal and state laws and regulations that impact consumer credit programs.

In this episode of Moving the Metal: The Auto Finance Podcast, Brooke Conkle and Chris Capurso from Troutman Pepper Locke’s Consumer Financial Services Practice Group examine the current status of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Holder Rule. They discuss its historical context, current interpretations, and future implications, particularly focusing on attorneys’ fees. The conversation highlights the California Supreme Court’s Pulliam decision, which challenged traditional understandings of the rule by allowing for the recovery of attorneys’ fees under certain state laws. Additionally, they examine the FTC’s 2022 advisory opinion, which aligns with Pulliam and broadens the scope of potential claims against holders of credit contracts. Finally, they take a look at the impacts of Pulliam and forecast the future of the Holder Rule in the current regulatory climate. The episode provides insights into how these developments impact auto finance companies and the strategies they can employ to mitigate risks associated with the Holder Rule.

On July 8, a panel for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit issued a significant decision in the case of Custom Communications, Inc. v. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The panel vacated the FTC’s amended Negative Option Rule aka the “click-to cancel” rule, citing procedural deficiencies in the rulemaking process. Specifically, the panel found that the FTC failed to conduct a required preliminary regulatory analysis, which deprived stakeholders of the opportunity to comment on alternatives and engage with the FTC’s cost-benefit analysis.

In this episode of Moving the Metal: The Auto Finance Podcast, hosts Brooke Conkle and Chris Capurso are joined by colleagues Kim Phan and Aileen Ng for a deep dive into the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Safeguards Rule under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, focusing on its impact on the auto-finance industry. The discussion covers the recent FAQs published by the FTC to aid auto dealers in compliance, the evolving cybersecurity requirements, and the contrasting regulatory approaches between the Trump and Biden administrations. The episode explores how auto dealers fit into the Safeguards Rule, the implications of their relationships with original equipment manufacturers and service providers, and the notification requirements in the event of a data breach. Additionally, the conversation addresses various financing scenarios and how they trigger the Safeguards Rule. Tune in for a comprehensive understanding of these regulations and practical insights for auto dealers navigating these complex legal landscapes.

In this episode of Moving the Metal: The Auto Finance Podcast, hosts Brooke Conkle and Chris Capurso delve into the intricacies of “doc” fees in vehicle transactions, focusing on recent legislative developments in California and Louisiana. They explore how these changes could affect dealers’ ability to charge doc fees and discuss potential caps on these fees. The conversation highlights the dual challenges of ensuring compliance with varying state regulations and addressing litigation risks associated with fee disclosures. Brooke and Chris also examine the broader implications of these legislative shifts, including the balance between consumer transparency and business cost recovery. This episode provides a comprehensive overview of the evolving landscape of doc fees, offering insights into the complexities faced by dealers and finance companies in the auto finance industry.

In this special crossover episode between Moving the Metal and The Consumer Finance Podcast, Brooke Conkle, Chris Capurso, and Chris Willis analyze the first 100 days of the second Trump administration, focusing on its impact on the auto-finance industry. They discuss the anticipated enforcement slowdown by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), unexpected halts in supervisory activities, and leadership changes at the Federal Trade Commission and CFPB. The conversation highlights the administration’s focus on consumer fees, the evolving role of state regulators, and shifts in discrimination theories impacting compliance practices. This episode provides insights into strategic regulatory changes and offers guidance for navigating the complexities of the auto-finance sector in 2025.

In this special crossover episode between Moving the Metal and The Consumer Finance Podcast, Brooke Conkle, Chris Capurso, and Chris Willis analyze the first 100 days of the second Trump administration, focusing on its impact on the auto-finance industry. They discuss the anticipated enforcement slowdown by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), unexpected halts in supervisory activities, and leadership changes at the Federal Trade Commission and CFPB. The conversation highlights the administration’s focus on consumer fees, the evolving role of state regulators, and shifts in discrimination theories impacting compliance practices. This episode provides insights into strategic regulatory changes and offers guidance for navigating the complexities of the auto-finance sector in 2025.

We are pleased to share with you our latest publication, “Navigating Change: First 100 Days under the Trump Administration,” authored by our Digital Assets + Blockchain team. This retrospective examines the pivotal developments in the digital assets industry during the initial phase of the Trump administration.

In this episode of Moving the Metal: The Auto Finance Podcast, Brooke Conkle and Chris Capurso explore the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) recent memo detailing its supervision and enforcement priorities for 2025. They discuss the implications for the auto finance industry, focusing on the CFPB’s expected – and unexpected – shifts for the year, including the Fair Credit Reporting Act and data furnishing issues, and the ongoing scrutiny of fees. Brooke and Chris analyze the impact of federalism on regulatory practices, highlighting the CFPB’s approach to state authority and joint examinations. They also examine the shift toward consumer remediation over penalties. Tune in to understand how these priorities might affect your business operations and compliance strategies in the coming years.

On May 2, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin signed Senate Bill 1212 (SB 1212) into law, introducing new requirements and prohibitions under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. Specifically, SB 1212 targets the disclosure of mandatory fees and surcharges in consumer transactions.

In this episode, hosts Brooke Conkle and Chris Capurso delve into the latest TransUnion report on credit industry insights for the fourth quarter of 2024. With auto finance trends revealing rising loan-to-value ratios, increasing monthly payments, and growing account delinquencies, the industry potentially faces expected – and unexpected – challenges in the coming months. Join