Financial Services

Our financial services practice advises lenders and financial institutions on complex regulatory matters.

Financial services businesses operate in one of the most regulated environments in the economy. Zausmer advises lenders, servicers, investors, and financial companies on the legal issues that shape their operations, transactions, and risk profiles. Our attorneys understand how regulatory obligations intersect with business objectives and help clients move forward in compliance while protecting long-term business interests.

Zausmer’s Financial Services practice spans consumer and commercial finance, regulatory compliance, and risk management.

We advise on both day-to-day operational issues and high-stakes matters that demand deep expertise and sound judgment.

Our core areas of focus include:

Consumer finance, including residential mortgage lending, correspondent lending, wholesale mortgage, and auto finance
Commercial finance, including debt sales and related transactions
Licensing for financial institutions and non-bank financial service providers
Fair lending compliance and risk assessment
Debt collection strategy, compliance, and litigation support
Privacy, cybersecurity, and incident management, including breach response and regulatory obligations
Anti-money laundering and sanctions, including compliance programs and enforcement risk

We regularly work with clients navigating overlapping federal and state requirements, helping them anticipate issues before they draw regulatory scrutiny or disrupt operations.

Practical Counsel for Regulated Businesses

Our approach reflects how financial services companies actually operate. We focus on clear guidance, workable compliance structures, and solutions that support growth without exposing clients to unnecessary risk. When issues arise, we respond with speed, judgment, and a firm grasp of the regulatory landscape.

Zausmer serves as a steady legal partner for financial services businesses that need experienced counsel, informed strategy, and execution that matches the pace of their industry.

Karyn Caldwell

Karyn Caldwell leads the firm’s Financial Services practice. She draws on 25 years of litigation and in-house experience to advise regulated businesses facing disputes, compliance demands, and transactional risk. Karyn spent a decade in private practice as a commercial litigator and 15 years in senior in-house roles at large financial institutions, where she managed nationwide litigation, regulatory matters, and complex lending issues. Her work spans consumer and commercial finance, fair lending, privacy, cybersecurity, AML, sanctions, environmental matters, and real property. Karyn grounds legal strategy in operational realities, helping clients manage risk, meet regulatory expectations, and resolve matters efficiently.