Mitchell Sandler Expands Mortgage Industry and Litigation Practices With Additions Led by Daniella Casseres and Ari Karen
WASHINGTON, D.C.—JANUARY 13, 2022—Mitchell Sandler LLC, a boutique law firm founded in 2019 to provide top-tier, cost-efficient legal services to the financial services and fintech industries, is growing to more than 20 lawyers and increasing its capacity to serve mortgage industry clients with a group of 15 new hires led by partners Daniella Casseres and Ari Karen. Casseres will join managing partner Andrea Mitchell and chief operating officer Robyn Quattrone on the three-member management committee of Mitchell Sandler, deepening the firm’s commitment to becoming a leading majority-women-owned and -managed financial services law firm.
“Daniella and Ari are the ideal lawyers to lead the expansion of our regulatory and litigation capabilities for the mortgage industry,” said Mitchell. “Not only are they recognized industry leaders, but they share our passion for innovation, client service, and the creation of a positive work environment. We look forward to working with them to realize the full potential of our new law firm model.”
In addition to serving on Mitchell Sandler’s management committee, Casseres will head Mitchell Sandler’s mortgage regulatory practice group. She has a national practice advising mortgage companies on federal and state regulatory compliance matters, including those involving fair lending, licensing, privacy, and anti-money laundering requirements. She frequently advises clients on the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the Truth in Lending Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and state statutes.
“Mitchell Sandler partners have been leading consumer financial services lawyers for more than 20 years,” said Casseres. “We are excited to bring their experience to our mortgage industry clients as we lead them through today’s challenging regulatory environment. We’re equally excited to expand the range of services that Mitchell Sandler can offer to its many financial services and fintech clients.”
Karen will lead the firm’s litigation and labor and employment practices. He maintains active practices in both areas, counseling mortgage lenders and other financial services firms nationwide on government investigations and enforcement actions and representing companies in labor and employment disputes, as well as consumer class actions.
“We see tremendous opportunity to leverage Mitchell Sandler’s existing regulatory, enforcement, and fintech expertise to our clients’ benefit,” said Karen. “I am particularly excited to draw on the insights of Andy Sandler, one of the top litigation and enforcement lawyers in the financial services space for over 30 years, as I lead the firm’s litigation practice into the future.”
Two attorneys, four compliance specialists, and two additional staff are moving with Casseres and Karen to Mitchell Sandler from their prior firm. The attorney group brings substantial experience in commercial litigation and advising mortgage industry clients on regulatory matters. Separately, five additional attorneys—including a longtime in-house counsel with a major lender—have also joined the firm.
Mitchell Sandler partner Christopher Napier recently has been promoted to lead the firm’s fintech group, providing transactional, regulatory, enforcement, and corporate advice to clients ranging from start-ups to industry-leading fintech companies.
About Mitchell Sandler
Mitchell Sandler LLC is a women-managed, majority-women-owned boutique financial services and financial technology-focused law firm. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., its lawyers include some of the most well-recognized and well-respected financial services regulatory, enforcement, and litigation attorneys in the country. The firm offers high-quality and cost-efficient legal services through practical advice and innovative approaches to billing while deploying cutting-edge legal and regulatory technology solutions in support of clients’ needs.
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Kelsey Dellovo
On behalf of Mitchell Sandler