Six-Attorney Team Joins Hinshaw’s Consumer Financial Services Group

Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP is delighted to announce the addition of a six-attorney litigation team, including two partners, to the firm’s Consumer Financial Services group. Formerly with Polsinelli, the group is led by Brendan I. Herbert in Miami and Marc D. Cabrera in Dallas. Joining as senior counsel are Jonathan L. Blackmore in Miami, Elizabeth F. Hayes and Justin K. in Dallas, and Michael C. Hughes in New York.

The group is the latest strategic addition to the firm’s nationally recognized consumer financial services group. In February, a 16-attorney team from McGlinchey Stafford joined Hinshaw in seven offices, including a new office location in Cleveland, Ohio.

“Our leadership team is committed to the continued expansion of our consumer financial services group, which is among the leading practices nationwide in size and scope,” said Hinshaw Chairman Peter Sullivan. “Brendan, Marc, and their team are highly regarded for skillfully defending clients in courtrooms nationwide from complaint through trial and appeal. We’re excited to welcome them to the firm.”

Brendan and Marc founded and co-led Polsinelli’s Consumer Financial Services Litigation group.

“Financial services companies continue to face new legal risks and challenges, due to an evolving regulatory landscape and business conditions,” said Brian McGrath, co-leader of Hinshaw’s Consumer Financial Services group. “Brendan, Marc, and their team bring real-world trial experience and strong familiarity with courts in multiple jurisdictions nationwide.”

Brendan has first-chaired more than 300 trials, defending financial services companies in national litigation on both the class and loan level related to banking, lending, debt collection, and loan servicing, as well as consumer and commercial mortgage foreclosures. He also advises clients on state and federal regulatory compliance and enforcement issues.

Marc defends banks, lenders, residential mortgage holders, consumer credit companies, and commercial lenders and servicers in a broad scope of litigation matters, including consumer class actions and foreclosures, in state and federal trial and appellate courts nationwide.

Hinshaw’s leading national reputation in the financial services sector, deep litigation bench, and broad geographic platform were among the reasons the group decided to make the move.

Brendan said the group has a long history and a successful track record of handling cases in courts nationwide, with a particular emphasis on Florida, Texas, New York, and Denver.

“Our group played an important role in the development of case law in Florida in the aftermath of the mortgage foreclosure crisis,” Brendan said. “We like to roll up our sleeves and try cases. We’re excited to work with our Hinshaw colleagues to continue building out the practice.”

“Hinshaw has everything in place to help grow our practices and service our clients in jurisdictions across the country,” Marc added. “I can’t imagine a better firm to transition my practice.”

More information about the attorneys’ experience and practices follows:

Partners

Brendan I. Herbert represents consumer and commercial lenders and servicers in litigation in state and federal courts nationwide in a broad scope of matters related to loan origination, servicing, and debt collection, and state and federal consumer laws, including Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Truth in Lending Act (TILA), and Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), and unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts and practices. He also advises financial services companies on regulatory compliance and enforcement matters. Brendan is admitted in Florida and 22 federal trial and appellate courts nationally. He received a BA from Dartmouth College and a JD from the University of Miami School of Law.

Marc D. Cabrera defends banks, lenders, and servicers against claims in state and federal trial and appellate courts under a wide range of state and federal laws, including FCRA, FDCPA, TILA, RESPA, and wrongful foreclosures. He is admitted in Texas, New York, and Oklahoma. Marc received a BBA from Southern Methodist University and a JD, cum laude, from the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law.

Senior Counsels

Jonathan L. Blackmore defends banks, lenders, and loan servicers in state and federal courts in mortgage foreclosures and claims related to state and federal consumer laws, including TILA, RESPA, FCRA, FDCPA, and the TCPA. He received a BA from Florida Southern College and a JD from Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center.

Elizabeth F. Hayes represents lending and servicing companies in litigation matters related to consumer banking, lending, loan servicing, and debt collection in state and federal courts, and claims related to FCRA, FDCPA, TILA, Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA), and other consumer protection laws. She received a BJ from The University of Texas at Austin and a JD from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law.

Michael C Hughes defends local and national lenders and loan servicers in litigation in state and federal courts related to FCRA, RESPA, TILA, FDCPA, and contested judicial foreclosures in consumer real estate disputes. He received a BA and JD from Seton Hall University.

Justin K. Sauls represents banks, mortgage servicers, and other financial services companies in litigation involving federal and state consumer credit disputes and FCRA claims. He spent a decade in banking before beginning his private law practice. Justin pursued foreign language studies at the Universidad de Salamanca, received a BA from the University of Texas at Arlington, and a JD from the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law.