COMPLIANCE CONVERSATIONS TRACK: RESPA Section 8 (Closed to Media)

Partner, Ballard Spahr LLP

Richard J. Andreano, Jr., is the Practice Leader of the Mortgage Banking Group at Ballard Spahr, and a member of the Consumer Financial Services Group. He has devoted over 35 years of practice to mortgage banking and consumer finance law. Adreano advises the mortgage and settlement service industries on regulatory compliance and related matters, including issues arising out of the COVID-19 national emergency, as well as issues concerning TILA, RESPA, ECOA, FairHA, HMDA, FCRA and other laws, and assists with government agency examinations and investigations. He is the author of the MBA Compliance Essentials Loan Originator Compensation Rule Resource Guide™ and co-author of the MBA Compliance Essentials TILA/RESPA Integrated Disclosure (TRID) Resource Guide.

Senior Vice President, Servicing Risk and Compliance, CMG Financial

Melissa Koupal serves as the Senior Vice President of Servicing Risk and Compliance at CMG Financial, a comprehensive lender based in San Ramon, California, specializing in retail, correspondent, wholesale, and servicing. In her current role, she is responsible for overseeing all aspects of risk and compliance related to servicing operations. As a seasoned professional in the mortgage industry, Koupal was a founding member of loanDepot in 2009, where she played a pivotal role in shaping the overall direction and strategy for Mortgage Operations Risk. Her responsibilities included managing the compliance management system, overseeing origination and servicing mortgage compliance programs, managing licensing, compliance quality control, and handling agency and regulatory examinations, audits, and enforcement matters across all channels of loanDepot. Since 2008, Koupal has been the owner and leader of the Reglist, a community of over 1,900 mortgage compliance professionals specializing in compliance and legal issues within the residential mortgage field. Her expertise and insights have made her a sought-after speaker at industry conferences, including the Mortgage Bankers Association and NMLS. Melissa's commitment to the industry is further demonstrated through her leadership roles, currently servicing as Chair of the California MBA Mortgage Quality and Compliance Committee and having served as the Chair for the MBA State Legislative and Regulatory Committee and the Chair of the MBA Regulatory Compliance Committee. Additionally, she actively participates in the Industry Working Group for the NMLS, showcasing her dedication to advancing regulatory practices and standards in the mortgage sector.

President, Franzen and Salzano, PC

Loretta Salzano founded Franzén and Salzano in 1997 to provide practical legal solutions for mortgage and consumer lenders. The firm has grown to serve banks, real estate brokers, title companies, law firms, technology companies and others in the real estate and lending industries – taking pride in its unique ability to navigate a complex tapestry of laws to help clients accomplish their goals. The firm’s attorneys counsel clients on how to increase their business while remaining within the confines of the laws of all 50 states plus federal law, including TILA, RESPA, ECOA, HMDA, FCRA and GLB. Loretta spends much of her time assessing risks related to marketing, pricing and compensation. She also drafts and negotiates a variety of transactional contracts, such as warehouse, loan sale and service agreements; troubleshoots to mitigate damages; and advocates with regulators before, during, and in response to examinations. Loretta was named a Top Compliance Lawyer by Mortgage Compliance Magazine, is a Fellow of the American College of Consumer Financial Services Attorneys, and serves as Legal Counsel to the Mortgage Bankers Association of Georgia. She is active in many professional associations and loves talking the talk for the industry.