DLA Piper announced today that Austin Brown has joined the firm’s Litigation and Regulatory practice as a partner based in Washington, DC.
Brown advises clients in matters involving a broad range of financial services statutes and regulations, including those relating to unfair, deceptive or abusive acts or practices; fair lending; credit reporting; consumer disclosures; loan servicing; mortgage lending; unsecured lending; and suspicious activity reporting. He defends institutions in investigations and enforcement actions brought by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the US Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, state attorneys general, and federal and state bank regulatory authorities. He also has extensive experience defending clients in class action litigation and litigation by government agencies and advising institutions on compliance and examination issues.
“Austin’s deep experience and success representing financial services institutions before the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission will be a key asset to clients, and his class action experience further deepens our class action defense bench,” said Isabelle Ord, US co-chair of the firm’s Financial Services sector and Class Action Litigation practice. “His impressive background adds value to our offering, particularly in the consumer lending space, as we anticipate an enhanced regulatory focus on consumer protection issues,” said Margo Tank, US co-chair of the firm’s Financial Services sector.
“The addition of Austin to the firm will help us meet the rising demand for practitioners who are experienced in the areas of consumer financial regulatory enforcement and litigation,” said James Brogan, US chair and global co-chair of DLA Piper’s Litigation practice. “His skillset also complements our state attorney general-focused work and expands our capability to handle joint state AG and CFPB investigations and litigation.”
“DLA Piper’s Litigation and Regulatory practice is among the strongest in the country, and I am thrilled to join the firm in helping institutions navigate the increasingly complex consumer financial protection environment,” said Brown. “I look forward to working alongside my outstanding colleagues in providing end-to-end compliance, litigation and enforcement advice to clients.”
Brown, who joins from Skadden Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, received his J.D., magna cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center and his B.A. from Vassar College.
