Chris Friedman is a regulatory compliance attorney who represents lenders, banks, fintech companies and other participants in the financial services sector. The co-chair of Bradley’s commercial lending sub-practice team, Chris focuses on helping business-purpose lenders and alternative business finance companies address newly increasing regulatory and compliance burdens brought by federal and state regulators. In particular, he has represented merchant cash advance companies, factors, non-bank small business lenders, banks that make small business loans, commercial credit counselors, lead generators, and others in the industry. He helps clients launch new products, conduct due diligence, engage in compliance reviews, evaluate litigation risk, and solve some of the unique legal problems faced by companies that work with small businesses.
Chris also helps banks, non-bank lenders, fintech companies, and other industry members address issues related to consumer loan origination, including mortgages, unsecured personal loans, and small dollar products. In particular, Chris has helped clients in matters related to Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) reporting, the Truth-in-Lending Act (TILA), the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure Rule (TRID), the Mortgage Acts and Practices Advertising Rule (MAP), and the Electronic Funds Transfer Act (EFTA), among other federal and state laws and regulations. Additionally, he has helped financial services companies and housing providers address issues related to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA).
Chris takes particular interest in helping companies in the financial services industry address emerging legal issues. He has assisted clients involved in the bank-partnership model of lending and has helped lenders and their partners in states that authorize credit services organizations and credit access businesses.
When assisting clients involved in regulatory and compliance matters, Chris draws on his extensive experience as a class action and securities litigator. Currently the co-editor in chief of the American Bar Association’s Class Action and Derivative Suits Newsletter, Chris began his career defending parties involved in civil rights class action cases filed in both state and federal courts. He is also the co-author of the “Settlement” chapter of the American Bar Association’s Class Action Strategy & Practice Guide and is a frequent speaker on class action settlement issues. He has obtained relief for clients facing class action claims ranging from removal of class action allegations on a motion to strike to summary judgment on all class claims.
Chris has experience in arbitral forums and has defended broker-dealers facing claims involving churning, suitability, breach of contract, fraud and misrepresentation asserted before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). He has defended broker-dealers involved in commercial disputes related to sales agreements, as well as structured and leveraged financing.
Chris has argued motions in state and federal court and has litigated matters in a wide range of venues, including the United States Supreme Court, Second Circuit, Ninth Circuit, Eleventh Circuit, and several state courts. He has also litigated several matters before the American Arbitration Association (AAA).