Amanda M. Raines

Biography

Amanda M. Raines is a Counsel in the Washington, DC office of BuckleySandler LLP. Ms. Raines represents financial institutions in a wide variety of matters, including federal and state enforcement agency investigations and litigation, private civil and class action litigation, regulatory examinations, and corporate internal investigations. She has represented clients in matters involving the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), federal and state bank regulators, and state attorneys general (AGs), as well as in cases involving unfair, deceptive, and abusive acts and practices (UDAAP), securities fraud, tax fraud, the Fair Housing Act (FHA), the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), the Civil Rights Act (CRA), and unfair and deceptive trade practices statutes.  In addition, Ms. Raines counsels clients on risk management strategies and compliance with various federal and state laws and regulations affecting the financial services industry. 

Ms. Raines’ recent representations include the following:

• Representing a large bank in one of the CFPB’s first enforcement actions, a joint investigation and enforcement action with the FDIC, alleging deceptive sales practices in connection with add-on products
• Several CFPB examinations, including examinations related to add-on products, servicing, and lending for non-bank institutions
• Confidential representation of major mortgage servicers regarding mortgage servicing and foreclosure practices
• Conducting risk assessments of major mortgage servicers’ practices pursuant to FDIC and Federal Reserve Consent Orders
• Conducting fair lending and UDAAP risk assessments for large financial institutions regarding non-mortgage products
• Reviewing and assessing loan repurchase demands on behalf of mortgage originators, performing risk assessments of loan portfolios, and handling loan-repurchase litigation
• Defending lender placed insurance provider in multiple putative class actions
• Defending class action lawsuits alleging discrimination in loan pricing by mortgage originators
• Defending class action lawsuits alleging violation of credit services organization statutes

Ms. Raines is a member of the Firm’s Pro Bono Committee and has an active pro bono practice.  She also currently is the chair of the Women Litigator’s Committee of the DC Bar.

Prior to joining BuckleySandler, Ms. Raines was an associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom, LLP.

Ms. Raines received her J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law (magna cum laude, Order of the Coif) in 2003, where she was the managing editor of the Case Western Law Review. She received a B.A. from Rhodes College in 2000.

Significant Representations

• Brown v. Jackson Hewitt Inc.

  Represented Jackson Hewitt, Inc. in putative statewide class action litigation alleging improper sales practices related to sale of financial products, including refund anticipation loans, to consumer... MORE

• CFPB Ancillary Products Examination

  Representing top ten bank in CFPB examination of ancillary credit card products.

• CFPB Mortgage Lending Examination

  Represented California-based mortgage originator with a general CFPB consumer compliance examination. During the course of preparing the response to the CFPB, developed a gap analysis.

• DeCambaliza v. QBE Holdings, Inc., et al

  Representing QBE Holdings, Inc., QBE Insurance Corporation, QBE FIRST Insurance Agency, Inc., Balboa Insurance Company, Meritplan Insurance Company, and Newport Management Corporation in a putative na... MORE

• Default Servicing Review for Mortgage Servicer

  Conducted review of default servicing practices and provided compliance advice in connection with allegations of improprieties in default servicing.

• Gomez v. Jackson Hewitt Inc.

  Represented Jackson Hewitt, Inc. in putative statewide class action litigation alleging improper sales practices related to sale of financial products, including refund anticipation loans, to consumer... MORE

• Guerra v. GMAC LLC, et al.

  Represented GMAC LLC in putative nationwide borrower class action alleging racial discrimination in GMAC's mortgage lending in violation of the Fair Housing Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and ... MORE

• Harper, et al. v. Jackson Hewitt Inc.

  Represented Jackson Hewitt, Inc. in statewide class action litigation alleging improper sales practices related to sale of financial products, including refund anticipation loans, to consumers in viol... MORE

• Leghorn, et al. v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., et al.

  Representing QBE Insurance Corporation and QBE FIRST Insurance Agency, Inc. in a putative nationwide class action concerning lender placed insurance.

• McKenzie v. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Inc. et al.

  Represented QBE FIRST Insurance Agency, Inc. in a putative nationwide class action concerning lender placed insurance.  Case was dismissed as to QBE FIRST Insurance Agency, Inc.

• People of the State of New York v. Acordia, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A

  Represented Wells Fargo Bank, NA in lawsuit filed by the New York Attorney General alleging fraudulent business practices, unjust enrichment, common law fraud and breach of fiduciary duty on the basis... MORE

• Ramirez et al. v. GreenPoint Mortgage Funding, Inc.

  Represented GreenPoint Mortgage Funding in nationwide borrower class action alleging racial discrimination in loan pricing because of GreenPoint’s alleged discretionary pricing policy in violati... MORE

• Represented Large Bank in One of First CFPB Enforcement Matters

  Represented large bank in a joint investigation and enforcement action by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation alleging deceptive sales practices ... MORE

• Representation of Mortgage Servicer in Concurrent Investigations

  Represented major mortgage servicer in concurrent investigations by the Federal Reserve Board, state banking departments, and multiple state attorneys general in connection with allegations of impropr... MORE

• Thomas v. Jackson Hewitt

  Represented Jackson Hewitt in putative statewide class action alleging improper sales practices related to sale of financial products, including refund anticipation loans, to consumers in violation of... MORE

• Williams v. Wells Fargo Financial, Inc. et al.

  Represented QBE FIRST Insurance Agency, Inc. and QBE Specialty Insurance Company in a single state class action concerning lender placed insurance.

Publications

• Petitions to Modify or Set Aside CFPB Civil Investigative Demands (CIDs): Analysis of Recent Decisions

  LexisNexis Emerging Issues, January 29, 2013

• Why Fair and Responsible Banking Risk Assessments are Important for Non-Mortgage Business Lines

  LexisNexis Emerging Issues, August 1, 2012

In The News

• BuckleySandler Elects Two New Partners & Promotes Six Attorneys to Counsel

  December 15, 2011

Speaking Engagements & Events

• Women in Housing and Finance: Recent CFPB Enforcement Actions

  February 12, 2013

• Stranger in a Strange Land: CFPB and DOJ Bring Non-Mortgage Products into the Fair and Responsible Lending Fold

  October 10, 2012

• California Mortgage Bankers Association Fair Lending Enforcement Trends Webinar

  October 9, 2012

• LexisNexis Podcast: Fair Lending Risk Assessments

  September 5, 2012

• 2012 Fair Lending Today Conference

  April 30, 2012

• Women Litigators: What We Do Right

  April 26, 2012