Valerie L. Hletko

Partner

p. 202.349.8054
f. 202.349.8080
vhletko@buckleysandler.com

Speaking Engagements & Events

Biography

Valerie L. Hletko is a Partner in the Washington, DC office of BuckleySandler LLP. Ms. Hletko represents financial institutions in examinations, investigations, and administrative enforcement actions initiated by the United States Department of Justice, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and state bank regulatory agencies and state attorneys general. Her enforcement practice is focused on a broad range of consumer finance issues, including fair and responsible lending, financial products trade practices, mortgage fraud, and mortgage loan servicing. Ms. Hletko has represented financial institutions in individual and private class action litigation alleging violations of federal and state fair lending laws, mortgage fraud, and unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices (UDAAP).

Ms. Hletko also counsels financial institutions on risk management, loss mitigation and residential mortgage loan modification programs, and compliance with consumer protection laws, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, and the Truth in Lending Act.

Ms. Hletko lectures and publishes on subjects of interest to financial institutions, including fair and responsible banking practices, regulatory enforcement trends, and short-term, small-dollar loan products.

Prior to joining BuckleySandler LLP in 2009, Ms. Hletko was an associate attorney with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. From 2001-2003, she was an associate attorney with Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP.

Associations

Vice-Chair for Retail Banking and Consumer Law, American Bar Association - Banking Law Committee

Significant Representations

CFPB Consumer Compliance Examination
Assisting Midwest bank in a general consumer compliance CFPB examination.
CFPB Examination Readiness Preparation
Conducted a CFPB examination readiness review and gap analysis for a national mortgage lender.
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.
CFPB Payday Lending Examination
Represented national payday lender with a general CFPB consumer compliance examination.
City of Memphis and Shelby County, et al. v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., et al.
Represented Wells Fargo in lawsuit brought by City of Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee, and watched closely by municipalities across the country, alleging that Wells Fargo engaged in “r... MORE
In re An Investigative Hearing into the Cash Advance Business of Advance America, Cash Advance Centers of North Carolina, Inc.
Investigation relating to possible violations of state law in connection to payday lending activities. North Carolina Commissioner of Banks: OCOB Docket No. 04:128:CF
Kucan v. Advance America, Cash Advance Centers of North Carolina
Statewide class action alleging unfair and deceptive trade practices and usury violations with respect to payday lending.
Mayor and City Council of Baltimore v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., et al.
Represented Wells Fargo in lawsuit brought by Baltimore City alleging “reverse redlining” under the FHA on the theory that Defendants offered African-American borrowers subp... MORE
Reuter v. Advance America, Cash Advance Centers of Florida
Statewide class action alleging unfair and deceptive sales practices in operation of payday lending business.

Office

Washington, DC
1250 24th Street NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20037

Practice Areas

Education

B.A., Kenyon College, 1995 (magna cum laude)
M.T.S., Harvard University, 1998
J.D., University of Chicago, 2001

Admissions

District of Columbia
New York