Hinshaw Expands Texas Presence with New Dallas Office and a Team of Financial Services Attorneys

Hinshaw & Culbertson today announced the opening of a Dallas office – the firm's second Texas location following the opening of a Houston office in 2020. Partners Charles Townsend and Michael McKleroy anchor the Dallas office, two highly regarded consumer financial services attorneys with particular capability in mortgage servicing litigation. Joining them is a well-known team with experience as in-house counsel, judicial clerks, and seasoned litigators, including attorneys Walter McInnis, Bryan T. Brown, Matthew Lindsey, Jessica A. Riley, Taylor Hennington, Alfredo "Fred" Ramos (Houston), and paralegal Jenny Richardson. Townsend will serve as the Dallas office partner-in-charge.

"This addition of exceptional attorneys continues our strategic growth plan to support the firm's core industries and expands our ability to provide consistent, high-caliber representation of financial services providers nationwide," said Hinshaw Chairman Peter Sullivan. "In just over two years, Hinshaw has expanded into Louisiana, Washington D.C., New Jersey, and now has two offices in the Texas market. Equally significant, the addition of Charles, Mike, and their team significantly enhances our financial services litigation, regulatory, and compliance capabilities."

"Having competed with Charles and Mike for a number of years, I have a great deal of respect for their substantive knowledge, industry acumen, and client service approach," said Brian McGrath, Co-Chair of Hinshaw's Consumer Financial Services Practice Group. "They combine deep industry knowledge with a strong and successful track record as consumer financial services litigators. Together we have created perhaps the largest mortgage servicing litigation and comprehensive consumer financial services practice in the country."

Townsend and McKleroy said Hinshaw's reputation in consumer financial services and particularly the mortgage servicing industry – along with its nationwide footprint and capabilities – were particularly impressive. "From both a litigation and a compliance perspective, nobody understands the mortgage servicing space better than Hinshaw," Townsend noted. "Their strong bench of financial service attorneys, combined with the firm's national reach and industry-tailored solutions, will allow us to better align with our clients' key objectives."

Townsend, who was the founding managing partner of Akerman LLP's Dallas office, brings a mix of in-house and private law practice, with almost 20 years focused on financial services. Prior to joining Akerman, he was a senior vice president and assistant general counsel for Bank of America N.A. He advises financial services companies on regulatory and compliance matters and represents clients in investigations and litigation involving claims related to state and federal laws, including the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), Fair Housing Act (FHA), and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). An active member of the Dallas community, he serves on the board of directors for the Southwest Transplant Alliance. He received a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin and a J.D. from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law.

McKleroy has nearly 25 years of experience representing financial services companies in litigation in state and federal courts, bankruptcy, arbitrations, and appeals. His practice primarily focuses on mortgage lending and servicing, creditor-debtor relations, and recovering property and money lost to fraud and tax or title issues. He has also regularly litigated a wide range of general business matters throughout his legal career. McKleroy is licensed in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and New Mexico and also regularly represents clients in other jurisdictions. He received his B.A. and J.D. from the University of Oklahoma.