Sarah E. King counsels financial services companies on compliance with statutes and regulations. She also represents companies facing inquiries, requests for information, civil investigative demands, subpoenas, supervisory examinations, and lawsuits brought by government entities. Leveraging her wide-ranging experience, Sarah also advises clients on managing and mitigating risk, helping them navigate issues concerning federal and state regulatory requirements.
Regulatory Investigation and Enforcement
In addition to defending companies under investigation by government entities like state attorneys general, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) regulators, Sarah also has extensive experience resolving complex disputes with governmental agencies such as the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). Her experience includes resolution through litigation or negotiated settlements of unfair and deceptive trade practice cases.
Civil Litigation
Sarah defends companies against violation allegations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). She also handles pre-suit negotiations in cases involving price gouging, public health negligence, public nuisance, fraud, and workplace discrimination.
Compliance Counseling
Sarah helps her clients identify and manage risk by providing counsel on a variety of intersecting consumer protection laws and regulations, including:
- Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)
- Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act (IL CFA)
- Licensing and marketing requirements for alternative retail energy suppliers
- Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR)
- Illinois Anti-Predatory Lending Database (APLD)
- Predatory Loan Prevention Act (PLPA)
- Illinois Consumer Installment Act (CILA)
- Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law
- Pennsylvania Telemarketer Registration Act (TRA)
Before joining Hinshaw, Sarah practiced at a plaintiff's personal injury firm in Chicago. During law school, Sarah was an associate editor of the DePaul Law Review and a member of Phi Alpha Delta. She also volunteered with the Domestic Violence Legal Clinic and the Constitutional Rights Foundation.
Prior to embarking on her legal career, Sarah worked as a project manager for The National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago (NORC) and The Institute for Research, Education, and Training in Addiction (IRETA).
Professional Affiliations
- American Association for Justice
- American Bar Association
- Chicago Bar Association
- Young Lawyers Section, Special Project Coordinator
- Illinois State Bar Association
- Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
- South Asian Bar Association
- Women's Bar Association of Illinois
Honors & Awards
- DePaul University College of Law
- CALI Award in "Civil Litigation Strategy"
- CALI Award in "Constitutional Law"
- CALI Award in "Trial Advocacy II"
- Dean's List
Presentations
- Co-Presenter, "The Supreme Court's Decision on Student Loan Forgiveness and The State of Student Loans in the Aftermath," Lawline, Virtual Event, November 15, 2023
- "Federal and Private Student Loan Lending and Servicing," American Bar Association, Consumer Financial Services Committee Winter Meeting, January 2023
- Co-Presenter, "Electronic Loan Closings in the Pandemic Era and Beyond," Chicago Bar Association, Webinar, November 10, 2021
- Co-Presenter, "Going Digital, What Every Banker and Bank Counsel Needs to Know About Electronic Closings, Chicago Bar Association, Webinar, October 2021
Publications
- Chapter Author, "Consumer Fraud Act," ABA State Consumer Protection Law, September 14, 2022
- "Civil Litigation – Filling the Gaps of our Criminal Justice System by Advocating for Accountability, Compensation, and Healing for Survivors of Sexual Violence," Romanucci and Blandin, LLC Company News, December 9, 2020
- "The Impact of Telehealth Services on Rural Adolescent Substance Use," DePaul Mary and Michael Jaharis Health Law Institute's E-Pulse Blog, April 28, 2017
News
Blog Posts
- What Does the CFPB’s New Public Registry to Detect Repeat Offenders Mean for Your Business? Vaishali S. Rao, Sarah E. King
- How Much Is Too Much? Oral Arguments in Much Anticipated CFPB Funding Case Leave Justices Wondering Vaishali S. Rao, Sarah E. King
- SCOTUS Decision in Student Loan Forgiveness Cases May Hinge on Article III Standing Vaishali S. Rao, Sarah E. King
- Fifth Edition of 50 State Guide on Student Loan Servicing Laws Now Available Vaishali S. Rao, Sarah E. King
- Proposed California Debt Collection Licensing Regulations Raise Scope Concerns Vaishali S. Rao, Sarah E. King
- CFPB Signals Change by Rescinding Abusive Acts or Practices Policy, With Confirmation of Chopra Likely to be Delayed Vaishali S. Rao, Sarah E. King
Consumer Crossroads: Where Financial Services and Litigation Intersect
Community/Civic Activities
- American Legion, Auxiliary Member
- Chicago Law Lean In, Founder
- Resilience
- Associate Board DEI Advisory Council
- Co-Chair, 2022 – Present
- Former Associate Board President, 2021 – 2022
- Trauma Informed Lawyering Training and Curriculum, Developer
- Associate Board DEI Advisory Council
- Women Everywhere Chicago (WE), Volunteer
Practices
Industries
Education
J.D., DePaul University College of Law, 2019
B.S., University of Pittsburgh, 2014
Admissions
- Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois