James W. Sandy
James W. Sandy
Partner
"Every case has a story, and every client has a goal. I always work to ensure that the defense of each case aligns with the client’s overall objectives and business strategy, tailoring our approach from beginning to end with those goals in mind."
James W. Sandy
Partner
"Every case has a story, and every client has a goal. I always work to ensure that the defense of each case aligns with the client’s overall objectives and business strategy, tailoring our approach from beginning to end with those goals in mind."
About Jim
Jim is an experienced trial and appellate lawyer who represents mortgage servicers, auto finance providers, debt collectors, and fintech companies in all aspects of civil and commercial litigation. Financial services entities of varying sizes engage Jim based on his significant experience handling complex single-party and class action disputes in state and federal courts, arbitrations, and enforcement actions brought by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and state agencies, often in matters involving exposure exceeding seven figures. He also advises clients outside the financial industry on data privacy and cybersecurity issues, as well as clients involved in the cannabis space.
Jim regularly defends lawsuits under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act, and other state Unfair, Deceptive, or Abusive Acts or Practices (UDAAP) laws, Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), and Truth in Lending Act (TILA) in both state and federal courts. He also assists mortgage and auto finance clients with compliance matters, including post-default notice compliance under Ohio law and the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), consumer data protection and privacy, and navigating complex state regulatory regimes in the financial services context. In addition, he counsels a vape pen manufacturer on compliance with the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act (PACT).
In the privacy arena, Jim acts as outside in-house counsel for small business clients, advising on data security and privacy policies and analyzing the applicability of state, federal, and global privacy regimes, including Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). On the litigation side, he also defends clients in privacy class actions arising from alleged data breaches.
Areas of Focus
Industries:
Experience
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Obtained summary judgment for a mortgage servicing client on fraud and falsification claims, defeating borrower counterclaims based on alleged signature fabrication after the court rejected the borrower’s handwriting expert as unqualified.
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Secured a favorable jury verdict for a national bank in an SBA loan dispute involving breach of contract and good faith claims arising from withdrawal of a conditional loan commitment.
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Vacated a default judgment more than five years old against a national trust company, halting garnishment proceedings and restoring the case for litigation on the merits.
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Reversed denial of a motion to compel arbitration on appeal for an indirect auto finance company, with the court holding the arbitration clause neither procedurally nor substantively unconscionable.
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Defeated federal RICO claims against a national bank alleging racketeering tied to foreclosure standing.
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Resolved $2.5 million shareholder derivative action through mediation on behalf of an LLC and its owner-members following extensive discovery.
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Obtained judgment in a week-long arbitration involving conspiracy allegations and purported "hidden finance charges" under the Truth in Lending Act.
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Reversed an appellate ruling that had barred a foreclosure claim as time-barred, reinstating the action for a national mortgage servicer.
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Obtained judgment for auto finance company in a Truth in Lending Act conspiracy case alleging improper dealer fees and hidden finance charges.
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Successfully dismissed numerous appeals challenging orders compelling arbitration and staying proceedings as non-appealable under the Federal Arbitration Act.
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Resolved a putative data breach class action on a single-plaintiff basis, avoiding class certification.
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Successfully defeated a mass arbitration demand at its outset, saving an auto finance company significant upfront arbitral fees.
Recognition
- Ohio Super Lawyers, Rising Star, Business Litigation, 2015 – 2018; 2021 – 2023
Credentials
Education
- University of Cincinnati College of Law, JD, 2008
- University of Dayton, BA, cum laude, 2005
Bar Admissions
- Ohio
Court Admissions
- US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- US District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
- US District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
Thought Leadership
Presentations
Jim regularly presents on consumer finance regulatory developments, foreclosure law, CFPB guidance, and arbitration strategies. His topics emphasize practical approaches to managing enforcement risk and compliance challenges.
- "Clause and Effect: Rethinking Arbitration in Consumer Finance," 24th Annual Consumer Finance Legal Conference, October 22, 2025
- "The New Reality of Regulation and Enforcement," 24th Annual Consumer Finance Legal Conference, October 22, 2025
- "Foreclosure Rules, Trends, and Case Law," National Business Institute (NBI), August 6, 2025
- "Consumer Finance 2025: Managing Risks and Opportunities in a Shifting Landscape," Knowledge Group, January 29, 2025
- "Mass Arbitration Logistics: New JAMS, AAA Rules, Fees; Process Arbitrators; Batching; Streamlining Tactics," August 22, 2024
Interests
Jim has two boys who love sports, and he spends much of his free time coaching them in baseball and basketball. Jim is also an avid Cleveland sports fan and can usually be found wallowing in another heartbreaking loss. Jim enjoys golfing, although not well, and is a dedicated member of his local Orange Theory Fitness gym, where he once ran a mile in under 5 1/2 minutes, which, for him was very fast. He also enjoys seeing live music and is a big fan of the underrated Cleveland food scene.
Community/Civic Activities
- West Akron Baseball League, Board Member, 2025 – present; Coach 2021 – present
- St. Anthony of Padua, Head Basketball Coach, 2023 – present
- Walsh Jesuit High School, Alumni Board, 2018 – present
- Community Legal Aid, Volunteer, 2017 – present
- Imagine on Superior, School Board Member Volunteer, 2012 – 2014
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, 3Rs Program Volunteer, 2012 – 2013
Thought Leadership
Presentations
Jim regularly presents on consumer finance regulatory developments, foreclosure law, CFPB guidance, and arbitration strategies. His topics emphasize practical approaches to managing enforcement risk and compliance challenges.
- "Clause and Effect: Rethinking Arbitration in Consumer Finance," 24th Annual Consumer Finance Legal Conference, October 22, 2025
- "The New Reality of Regulation and Enforcement," 24th Annual Consumer Finance Legal Conference, October 22, 2025
- "Foreclosure Rules, Trends, and Case Law," National Business Institute (NBI), August 6, 2025
- "Consumer Finance 2025: Managing Risks and Opportunities in a Shifting Landscape," Knowledge Group, January 29, 2025
- "Mass Arbitration Logistics: New JAMS, AAA Rules, Fees; Process Arbitrators; Batching; Streamlining Tactics," August 22, 2024
