EMERGING ISSUES TRACK: State Reporting Requirements and Evolving Licensing Issues

Director, State Government Affairs, Mortgage Bankers Association

Liz Facemire is the Director of State Government Affairs at MBA and takes part in leading the association’s policy and advocacy engagement at the state and local level, which includes serving as primary staff to the association’s State Legislative and Regulatory Committee. Prior to joining MBA in 2023, Liz spent her career in the industry in a variety of roles, including as a licensed mortgage loan originator and underwriter. In 2018 she served as a state policy lobbyist mostly covering Northwestern states. In 2021, she moved into a specialized role in mortgage policy supporting MBA membership priorities and advocacy efforts externally. She has been a member of many of our state MBA counterparts and has assisted in driving MBA’s policy initiatives throughout her time in Government Affairs.

Member, McGlinchey Stafford

Jeff Barringer is a Member in the Consumer Financial Services and Business Law groups of McGlinchey’s Albany office. Jeff regularly advises financial institutions, mortgage lenders and servicers, as well as other providers of consumer financial services on compliance with state and federal law. His work includes providing counsel regarding licensing, usury restrictions, preemption, and other regulatory compliance matters including responding to regulatory inquiries and examination issues. He received his J.D., summa cum laude, from Albany School of Law.

Director of Government Affairs, Weiner Brodsky Kider PC

Bob Niemi, CMB, is the Director of Government Affairs for Weiner Brodsky Kider PC who brings a unique perspective from his experience and relationships to advise lenders on a wide array of regulatory and compliance matters. His commitment to the industry extends beyond his day-to-day responsibilities at WBK, serving as the Chair of the American Association of Residential Mortgage Regulators Advisory Council and Chair of the Certified Mortgage Banker Society for the MBA. Bob's contributions to the mortgage industry have been instrumental in shaping regulatory practices, including national efforts to reform state remote work legislation and policies and was awarded the Outstanding State & Local Association Leadership Award by the MBA in 2024. However, Bob is not an attorney.

Partner, Bradley

Haydn Richards, a Partner with Bradley, is one of the foremost leaders in state financial services law and licensing matters. Haydn counsels clients on all aspects of financial services licensing and compliance, state law, the NMLS, and CFPB-related compliance matters. Selected by his peers to serve as Chair of the Industry Advisory Council of the American Association of Residential Mortgage Regulators from 2018-2020, Haydn regularly interacts with state regulators on behalf of industry members. He has individually resolved financial services enforcement actions in 45 of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, perhaps more than any other attorney in this space. Haydn regularly assists clients with the largest transactions in the industry in a creative and company-focused manner.

Partner, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP

Kathryn (Katy) Ryan, Partner in Orrick's Washington, D.C., office, advises financial services companies on a variety of regulatory, licensing, compliance, and transactional matters, including federal and state compliance requirements, Secure and Fair Enforcement Act compliance, Federal Housing Administration compliance, and the risks associated with the False Claims Act and FIRREA. She assists clients with matters before state regulatory agencies, the CFPB, DOJ, HUD, federal banking agencies, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac. She also provides strategic and tactical advice to help clients identify and secure the nationwide federal and state approvals necessary to achieve operational goals.