Joann Needleman, Esq.
Joann Needleman, Leader of the firm's Consumer Financial Services Regulatory & Compliance Practice Group, serves as a navigator to her clients seeking advice and guidance in the complex regulatory environment facing the financial services industry. She provides counsel, consultation, and litigation services to a wide array of financial institutions, law firms, credit reporting agencies, as well as venture capital firms looking to invest in the fin-tech space. A former member of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) Consumer Advisory Board, Joann has been able to provide her clients with useful strategies in order to prepare for new areas of regulatory scrutiny. Often asked by clients to quickly assess a new policy statements or guidance issued by federal and state regulators, Joann is able to break down the issues and provide common sense solutions that ensure her clients’ policies, procedures and business operations are fully compliant with current regulatory expectations.
Joann is a member of Clark Hill’s Cannabis Industry Financial Services Task Force working with owners, investors, lenders and financial-services providers in the cannabis industry to inform them of the enforcement priorities of federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Justice and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).The Task Force is currently working on solutions to provide financial services and banking options to legitimate and licensed cannabis and related businesses.
Joann also has far reaching litigation experience in state and federal courts, successfully defending creditors against a variety of federal consumer protection claims including but not limited to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and Fair Credit Reporting Act, as well as state statutes.
Joann is frequently quoted in American Banker and the Wall Street Journal for her insight of the CFPB.
Joann is the immediate past President of the Board of Directors of the National Creditors Bar Association (NARCA).