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Stephen leads the firm’s Regulatory Investigations, Strategy + Enforcement (RISE) Practice Group. He focuses his practice on enforcement actions, investigations, and litigation. Stephen primarily represents clients engaging with, or being investigated by, state attorneys general and other state or local governmental enforcement bodies, including the CFPB and FTC, as well as clients involved with litigation, with a particular focus on heavily regulated industries. He also has experience advising clients on data and privacy issues, including handling complex investigations into data incidents by state attorneys general other state and federal regulators. Additionally, Stephen provides strategic counsel to Troutman Pepper’s Strategies clients who need assistance with public policy, advocacy, and government relations strategies.

On Tuesday, December 12, from 3-4 p.m. ET, Join Troutman Sanders for a webinar focused on a practical issue of great importance to mortgage loan originators and servicers: how to ensure confidential information is protected, when faced with an investigation by state or federal regulators.

The webinar will (1) outline the common law principles and

In an opinion issued November 29, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of Chad Eichenberger’s lawsuit against ESPN for allegedly disclosing personal information.  The suit was originally filed in federal court in the District of Columbia in March of 2014, alleging that ESPN gave the personally identifiable information of consumers who watched

Mick Mulvaney, President Donald J. Trump’s choice to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB” or “Bureau”) until a permanent director can be appointed, will remain in place as Acting Director of the Bureau, following a ruling by Judge Timothy J. Kelly of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Tuesday denying

On November 27, New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas joined the ranks of amici curiae in Consumer Financial Protection Bureau v. Golden Valley Lending, Inc., et al. (No. 2:17-cv-02521, pending in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas) filing a brief supporting the efforts of four tribal entities (“Tribal Defendants”) to dismiss

As anticipated, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has officially removed from publication a rule that would have prohibited arbitration agreements in certain consumer contracts.  The CFPB published its removal of 12 CFR part 1040, titled “Arbitration Agreements,” from the Code of Federal Regulations.  The CFPB’s removal of part 1040 reflects Congressional disapproval of the underlying

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director Richard Cordray’s announced yesterday (as covered here) that he will be resigning from his position by the end of this month.

The Administration appears poised to announce Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney as an interim replacement until a permanent director can be selected by the

Richard Cordray, the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”), announced today that he plans to step down from that post by the end of the month. Cordray’s term was otherwise set to expire in July of 2018.

Cordray, who was appointed by the Obama Administration after the CFPB was created in 2011, issued

In an amicus brief filed last week in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas, Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter assailed the expansive interpretation of enforcement powers against state and tribal sovereigns adopted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The case is CFPB v. Golden Valley Lending, Inc., et al., No. 2:17-cv-02521

With both houses of the Illinois General Assembly overriding the veto of Governor Bruce Rauner, the Illinois Student Loan Servicing Rights Act will become law.  Surpassing the three-fifths supermajorities needed for an override, the Senate voted by a margin of 37-19 and the House of Representatives by 98-16.  The Act takes effect on December 31,

On November 8, the Federal Trade Commission announced that it had approved a final order settling claims arising out of a data breach at Georgia-based tax preparation firm TaxSlayer, LLC.

In late 2015, hackers hit TaxSlayer with a “list validation” or “credential stuffing” attack.  With that type of attack, hackers attempt to use login credentials