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Chris Willis

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Chris is the co-leader of the Consumer Financial Services Regulatory practice at the firm. He advises financial services institutions facing state and federal government investigations and examinations, counseling them on compliance issues including UDAP/UDAAP, credit reporting, debt collection, and fair lending, and defending them in individual and class action lawsuits brought by consumers and enforcement actions brought by government agencies.

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In this special joint edition of the Consumer Finance Podcast and the Regulatory Oversight Podcast, host Chris Willis is joined by colleagues Stephen Piepgrass, James Kim, Jesse Silverman, and Lane Page to discuss the ongoing changes at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and predict how state regulators and legislatures will react to fill the void. This episode explores the anticipated responses from state attorneys general, financial service regulators, and legislatures, and offers strategic insights for industry players to navigate this complex regulatory environment. Tune in to understand the proactive measures your organization can take to stay compliant and ahead of potential state enforcement actions.

In this episode of The Consumer Finance Podcast, host Chris Willis, co-leader of Troutman Pepper’s Consumer Financial Services Regulatory practice, is joined by colleagues Mark Furletti, Stephen Piepgrass, Jesse Silverman, and James Stevens. Together, they delve into the anticipated regulatory landscape and legal needs for financial services companies under the upcoming Trump administration. The discussion covers the potential resurgence of new financial products, the impact on M&A activity, the role of state attorneys general, and the future of bank-fintech partnerships. Tune in to gain insights on how to strategically navigate the evolving regulatory environment and leverage opportunities in the financial sector.

In the sixth episode of our 12 Days of Regulatory Insights podcast series, Lane Page is joined by Mike Yaghi, a partner in the firm’s Regulatory Investigations, Strategy + Enforcement (RISE) practice, and Chris Willis, co-leader of the firm’s Consumer Financial Services Regulatory practice, to discuss the anticipated changes in federal and state oversight and enforcement within the consumer financial services industry.

On October 29, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin and the state’s Division on Civil Rights (DCR) released a report detailing the findings of a multi-year investigation into Republic First Bank (Republic) and its alleged mortgage redlining practices. According to the report, the investigation revealed that Republic engaged in a pattern or practice of redlining against Black, Hispanic, and Asian communities in New Jersey, in violation of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination.

This episode of Regulatory Oversight spotlights a recent episode of The Consumer Finance Podcast, “Navigating Facility Relocation: Legal and Practical Considerations,” featuring David Dove from our Regulatory Investigations, Strategy + Enforcement Practice Group. In this episode, podcast host and Consumer Financial Services Partner Chris Willis converses with David about the legal and practical considerations for businesses planning to relocate a facility to a new state. David shares his insights on the various incentives available at the federal, state, and local levels, including grants, tax incentives, and economic development programs. He emphasizes the importance of strategic planning, regulator engagement, and having experienced legal counsel to ensure businesses maximize their opportunities and navigate potential challenges. The discussion provides valuable insights for businesses considering expansion or relocation.

On June 7, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a request for information (RFI) to gain additional insight into how it can optimize joint enforcement with state attorneys general (state AGs) to protect consumers from fraud. The announcement signals a growing trend of cooperation between the FTC and state AGs, which we have also seen between the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the state regulators.

Financial services companies are using AI to assist with many business processes, including underwriting decisions, consumer credit approval, servicing and collections, loss mitigation programs, customer interaction on websites and mobile apps via chatbots, and in detecting fraud. In this fourth episode, Stephen Piepgrass and colleagues Chris Willis and Michael Yaghi examine the use and impact of AI in the financial services industry. They discuss the potential risks financial services companies may face with increased reliance on AI, as well as the increased focus on AI by various regulators and state attorneys general.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has captured the imagination and generated excitement with consumers and businesses, but at the same time, developments in AI have also raised public concerns and spawned regulation that sometimes threatens to outpace the technological innovation we are seeing. In this second in our series on AI, Stephen Piepgrass and colleagues Jim Koenig and Chris Willis discuss the background of AI, including the opportunities and associated risks it presents, as well as the emerging global best practices surrounding the collection, use, and sharing of data and its use in AI.

Yesterday, 14 Republican attorneys general (AGs) filed an amicus brief in support of a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other co-plaintiffs against the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or the Bureau), alleging that the Bureau exceeded its statutory authority by amending its examination manual to include discrimination, and in particular disparate…

In response to the Fifth Circuit’s ruling in Community Financial Services Association of America, Ltd. v. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFSA) that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) funding mechanism is unconstitutional, West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey sent a letter on October 24th to the CFPB, calling its continued operations into question and foreshadowing…