Joseph M. Sanders
Joseph M. Sanders
Partner
"I take a practical approach to compliance, helping my clients avoid government investigations and enforcement actions, and efficiently resolving them when they occur. "
Joseph M. Sanders
Partner
"I take a practical approach to compliance, helping my clients avoid government investigations and enforcement actions, and efficiently resolving them when they occur. "
About Joe
Joe advises companies on financial regulations, consumer protection laws, and government investigations. With over a decade of experience as a state and federal regulator, he provides real-world insights to help clients navigate compliance, investigations and litigation in areas such as:
- Consumer financial services
- Unfair, deceptive or abusive acts or practices (UDAAP) claims
- Advertising
- Servicing
- Lending
- Higher education
- Banking
- Privacy
- Fair lending
- Commercial disputes
Joe previously served as Senior Litigation Counsel in the Enforcement Division of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), where he secured the CFPB's first fully litigated preliminary injunction in collaboration with seven state attorneys general. As Supervising Attorney in the Consumer Fraud Bureau of the Illinois Attorney General's Office, he led multistate investigations, enforcement actions, and policy initiatives, fostering relationships with attorneys general across all 50 states.
Joe received the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director’s Mission Achievement Award in 2023, the agency's highest honor, for his work on the Return to Repayment, Student Loans team. The team supervised servicers as the federal government restarted student loan payments for tens of millions of borrowers, addressing consumer issues before they escalated into investigations or enforcement actions.
Areas of Focus
Industries:
Services:
- Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA);
- Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA);
- Financial Services Litigation;
- Financial Services Regulatory & Compliance;
- Mortgage Lending & Servicing Litigation;
- Regulatory & Compliance;
- Supervisory Examinations, Investigations & Enforcement;
- Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA)
Experience
- Obtained a preliminary injunction, asset freeze, and appointment of a receiver in CFPB et al. v. StratFS, LLC et al., a Telemarketing Sales Rule case, in a prior public service role.
- Resolved multi-state consumer fraud investigations involving lenders, servicers, debt collectors, and colleges, in a prior public service role.
- Led People of the State of Illinois v. Navient Corporation litigation on student loan origination and servicing, representing the Illinois Attorney General, in a prior public service role.
Recognition
- Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Leadership and Service Award; CALI Award for Advanced Legal Research; Institute for Consumer Antitrust Studies Student Fellow; Intellectual Property and Technology Robert Fieseler Fellow; Dean's List; and Honors-at-Entrance Scholarship
Credentials
Education
- Loyola University Chicago School of Law, JD, 2005
- Tulane University, BA, 1998
Bar Admissions
- Illinois
- New York
Court Admissions
- US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- US District Court for the Eastern District of New York
Thought Leadership
Presentations
-
Co-Presenter, "Regulatory Landscape from a State Perspective," Chicagoland Compliance Association's (CCA) Annual Conference Oak Brook, Illinois, October 16, 2025
- Panelist, "COVID-19 Update: Return to Repayment on Federal Student Loans," National Association of Attorneys General, Webinar, 2021
- Panelist, "The 'State' of Student Loan Advocacy, Declining Federal Accountability Standards," National Association of State Student Grant & Aid Programs Annual Conference, Virtual Event, 2020
- Panelist, "U.S. Department of Education Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program: Update and Tips for Borrowers," National Attorneys General Training and Research Institute, Webinar, 2020
- Panelist, "Consumer Protection in an Age of Uncertainty: Student Loans," University of Michigan, Center on Finance, Law & Policy, 2019
Event
Press Release
Interests
Community/Civic Activities
- Chicago Independent Radio Project (CHIRP), 107.1 FM, Board Member, 2022
- Luther Memorial Church, Chicago, IL, Member
Thought Leadership
Presentations
-
Co-Presenter, "Regulatory Landscape from a State Perspective," Chicagoland Compliance Association's (CCA) Annual Conference Oak Brook, Illinois, October 16, 2025
- Panelist, "COVID-19 Update: Return to Repayment on Federal Student Loans," National Association of Attorneys General, Webinar, 2021
- Panelist, "The 'State' of Student Loan Advocacy, Declining Federal Accountability Standards," National Association of State Student Grant & Aid Programs Annual Conference, Virtual Event, 2020
- Panelist, "U.S. Department of Education Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program: Update and Tips for Borrowers," National Attorneys General Training and Research Institute, Webinar, 2020
- Panelist, "Consumer Protection in an Age of Uncertainty: Student Loans," University of Michigan, Center on Finance, Law & Policy, 2019
Event
Press Release
