Hinshaw Adds Consumer Financial Services Partner in Chicago

Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP has announced the addition of Akeela M. White as a partner in the Consumer Financial Services Practice Group in the Chicago office. Formerly an Assistant General Counsel and Executive Director with J.P. Morgan Chase, White brings significant experience with federal and state consumer finance laws and regulations.

White advises financial services companies on consumer protection laws and compliance related to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, and auto lending laws. Prior to joining JP Morgan in 2014, she was Assistant Attorney General in the Office of Illinois Attorney General Consumer Fraud Bureau and the Assistant Bureau Chief for the Military & Veterans Rights Bureau from 2009 to 2014.

"Akeela brings significant knowledge of consumer protection laws in all 50 states, as well as federal regulations," said Justin Penn, co-chair of Hinshaw's Consumer Financial Services Practice Group. "She brings additional depth to our capabilities at a time when the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has ramped up its enforcement activity and regulatory scope. We're excited to welcome her to the group."

White served as regulatory legal counsel at JPMorgan Chase, with an emphasis on compliance issues related to the TCPA, FCRA, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), Military Lending Act (MLA), and state consumer protection laws. While serving in the Office of Illinois Attorney General's Consumer Fraud Bureau Division, she worked as a colleague of Hinshaw Partner Vaishali Rao. She decided to make a move to private law practice at Hinshaw based on the firm's nationwide reputation in consumer financial services, Hinshaw's geographic footprint, and the firm's supportive and diverse culture.

"Hinshaw's Consumer Financial Services Practice is cutting edge and well-known within the industry," White said. "The firm offers me an excellent opportunity to diversify my practice, expand my skillset and work with a variety of financial services clients. With my previous government and in-house counsel experience, I bring a different perspective that is extremely valuable in private practice. I'm very excited to be a part of this highly regarded team."

White received her B.A. from Illinois State University and her J.D. from The John Marshall Law School. Prior to law school, she served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army, including combat deployments to Iraq and Bosnia- Herzegovina. While attending law school, White served on the John Marshall Law Review. She was also a law clerk at Cook County Circuit Court Domestic Relations Department, a law clerk at the Office of the State Appellate Defender, and one of eight inaugural clinical students at the Veterans Legal Clinic. She is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

"Akeela's experience with enforcement matters and her in-depth knowledge of consumer protection laws nationwide will help us to better serve our financial services clients during a critical time," said Diane Webster, partner-in-charge of the Chicago office.