Chris translates complex regulations into actionable legal strategies for lenders, banks, fintech companies, and other clients in the financial industry.
Chris is a nationally recognized thought leader in fintech, consumer finance, and alternative commercial finance, serving a go-to legal advisor for companies navigating the complexities of the financial services industry. His insights into the financial services industry and regulatory trends have been featured in Bloomberg, National Mortgage News, Dodd-Frank Update, RESPA News, and other leading publications. Chris is a frequent speaker for the International Factoring Association, the Online Lender’s Alliance, the American Bar Association, and the Conference on Consumer Finance Law, among other trade groups. He also brings a wealth of experience addressing litigation risk and is the co-author of the “Settlement” chapter of the American Bar Association’s Class Action Strategy and Practice Guide, as well as the former co-editor-in-chief of the ABA’s Class Action and Derivative Suits Newsletter.
Chris represents a diverse range of clients, including fintech-based small business finance companies, commercial factors, reverse factors, supply chain finance companies, purchase-order finance companies, and embedded finance companies. He also represents consumer fintech companies, buy-now-pay-later companies, bank and non-bank consumer lenders, and service providers. With deep industry knowledge and a business-first approach, Chris helps clients—from startups to established institutions—structure and scale their operations while ensuring compliance with a quickly-evolving state and federal legal landscape.
Clients turn to Chris not just for legal counsel, but for strategic guidance in building and growing their businesses. He excels at assembling multi-disciplinary teams tailored to address each client’s unique needs, from regulatory compliance and licensing to transactional diligence and deal structuring. His ability to bridge the gap between legal and business objectives makes him an invaluable partner to companies operating in highly regulated financial markets. Chris regularly represents fintechs and traditional lenders in Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) deals, ensuring partnerships are structured for long-term success. He regularly conducts regulatory diligence for M&A transactions involving fintechs, mortgage companies, banks, and other financial services firms, helping clients navigate the complex web of state and federal financial regulations.
Chris also advises financial services companies on debt and equity transactions, providing the legal foundation for capital raising and growth. In addition, his practice includes consumer and commercial finance state licensing as well as preparing loan documents, compliance management systems, and policies and procedures to ensure regulatory alignment. He works closely with businesses to develop innovative financial products that comply with the industry’s evolving legal landscape. Chris is also a key advisor on small business loan disclosures and compliance with Dodd-Frank Section 1071.
Chris’s ability to distill complex regulatory frameworks into actionable strategies makes him an essential resource for financial services companies operating at the intersection of innovation and compliance. Chris understands that legal decisions in financial services must be carefully calibrated to the realities of the industry, and he prides himself on providing practical, business-aligned solutions that allow clients to move forward with confidence.