Banking and Financial Services Law
Cogent Law provides expert legal counsel to financial institutions, fintech companies, and businesses navigating the complex and rapidly evolving landscape of banking regulation, consumer finance law, and regulatory compliance.
Banking and financial services law sits at the intersection of federal oversight, state regulation, and rapid industry innovation. Whether you are a community bank managing examiner relationships, a fintech navigating licensing requirements, or a lender structuring complex financing arrangements, having experienced legal counsel is essential to operating safely and profitably.
Our banking attorneys do not just know the regulations. They have lived them. With backgrounds that include serving as general counsel, chief risk officer, chief compliance officer, BSA officer, state bank regulator, and director of compliance at institutions ranging from community banks and credit unions to national banks and global card and payment systems operations, our team brings firsthand institutional experience to every engagement. We have appeared before the Federal Reserve, the OCC, the FDIC, and state banking authorities, and we understand what regulators expect because we have worked alongside them.
One of our attorneys spent over a decade inside a financial institution, building and growing a high-risk banking program from the ground up into a significant, sustainable revenue source while maintaining full regulatory compliance. That kind of experience, gained not in a law office but on the floor of a compliance department, shapes how we advise clients on program strategy, examiner readiness, and long-term risk management.
That depth of experience, combined with over 35 years advising clients across banking, consumer finance, and financial services regulation, means we deliver practical, strategic guidance grounded in how institutions actually operate.
Counsel in this practice: Chris Van Dyck, Mark Dabertin.
Who needs banking and financial services legal counsel?
How Cogent Law can help
Cogent Law provides comprehensive legal support across the full scope of banking and financial services law. Our services include:
Banking and Financial Services Legal Services
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Download Free GuideWhat to Expect When Working With Cogent Law
Initial consultation
We begin with a thorough review of your business model, regulatory posture, and legal objectives to assess your needs and identify the right strategy.
Tailored legal strategy
Based on your specific goals, we develop a customized compliance and legal plan addressing your regulatory exposure, contractual needs, and operational priorities.
Transparent pricing
Wherever possible, we offer flat-fee arrangements so you know upfront what to expect, with no surprises.
Collaborative engagement
We act as your strategic partner, maintaining clear and consistent communication at every stage of your legal and regulatory engagement.
Ongoing support
As regulations evolve and your business scales, we remain by your side to provide continued legal guidance, compliance updates, and regulatory counsel.
Availability
Attorneys that answer the phone when you call.
Related Attorneys
Speak with a Cogent Law attorney in this practice
These attorneys advise clients on matters directly related to this practice area. Reach out for a confidential discussion about how it applies to your business.
Frequently Asked Questions: Banking and Financial Services Law
We represent banks and credit unions, fintech companies, non-bank lenders and MCA providers, mortgage and consumer lenders, bank-fintech partnerships, cryptocurrency and digital asset businesses, and institutions exploring high-risk or specialized banking programs.
Our attorneys have held the roles our clients hold. Their backgrounds include general counsel, chief risk officer, chief compliance officer, BSA officer, state bank regulator, and director of compliance at community banks, credit unions, national banks, and global card and payment systems operations.
Yes. We counsel clients through the full examination cycle for the OCC, FDIC, Federal Reserve, and state banking authorities — pre-exam preparation, examiner communications, response strategy, and remediation planning.
Yes. We represent institutions in regulatory enforcement proceedings, including consent orders, memoranda of understanding, cease and desist orders, civil investigative demands, and government investigations, including troubled condition determinations and prompt corrective action directives.
Yes. We develop and review BSA/AML programs, KYC policies, and suspicious activity reporting frameworks, interpret FinCEN guidance, and represent institutions before the Department of Justice, FinCEN, and state law enforcement agencies on anti-money laundering matters.
Yes. We structure and document sponsor bank relationships, participation-based lending programs, and third-party fintech arrangements consistent with OCC, FDIC, and Federal Reserve guidance.
Yes. Our attorneys have built these programs from inside financial institutions. We advise on program design, elevated due diligence and onboarding frameworks, depository account agreements, lending covenants, fee structures, examiner readiness, and ROI analysis.
Call Cogent Law at 202-644-8880 or submit the contact form and we will follow up to discuss your compliance needs, examination strategy, or regulatory challenges.