Scott M. Pearson, who focuses on complex business litigation and regulatory enforcement with an emphasis on the financial services industry, has joined Ballard Spahr’s nationally recognized Consumer Financial Services Group as a partner in Los Angeles, firm Chair Mark Stewart announced today.

Mr. Pearson is well-known for his work in handling consumer financial services litigation, particularly consumer class actions. During his 20-year career, he has prevailed in more than 75 class-action lawsuits, many of which involved overlapping claims and multiple jurisdictions. His clients span the financial services industry, from global banks and credit card issuers to community banks and specialty finance companies. They also include Internet companies, manufacturers, and other firms that regularly interact with consumers.

Mr. Pearson’s arrival further strengthens Ballard Spahr’s formidable Consumer Financial Services Group and is part of a strategic plan to expand the firm’s litigation capabilities in the West. Ballard Spahr is home to a pre-eminent consumer financial services litigation practice that defends financial institutions throughout the United States in class actions, government enforcement proceedings, and other complex litigation.

“Scott is experienced in the very issues facing our CFS clients—including some of the world’s largest banks—during this time of unprecedented regulatory change and increasingly assertive enforcement,” Mr. Stewart said. “Scott adds an even greater level of service and sophistication to a practice that few firms can match.”

Mr. Pearson is particularly well-versed in consumer lending issues, including the regulations governing mortgages, credit cards, student loans, auto finance, debt collection, and credit reporting. In addition to litigation, he regularly handles high-profile government enforcement proceedings brought by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and he advises some of the world’s largest financial institutions on a wide variety of consumer compliance issues.

Before joining Ballard Spahr, Mr. Pearson was a partner at Seyfarth Shaw LLP in Los Angeles, where he was Co-Chair of its Consumer Financial Services Litigation Group. Before joining Seyfarth Shaw, he was a partner in the Financial Services/Class Action group at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, also in Los Angeles.

On January 29-30, 2015, Mr. Pearson co-chaired the American Conference Institute’s 18th National Conference on Consumer Finance Class Action & Litigation in New York City.

“I know Scott well, and his prior experience in an extraordinarily successful national consumer class action group and familiarity with the CFPB brings an even greater depth to our team,” said Alan S. Kaplinsky, leader of Ballard Spahr’s Consumer Financial Services Group. “California is a hotbed for consumer financial services litigation. Scott greatly strengthens our ability to handle such litigation in California and throughout the United States.”

Ballard Spahr’s Consumer Financial Services Group has more than 100 attorneys nationwide. Chambers USA consistently ranks the Group in the highest tier nationally and the group hosts the award-winning CFPB Monitor blog. Its attorneys represent clients in consumer financial services litigation, CFPB, and other federal and state government enforcement proceedings; conduct compliance, diligence, and fair lending assessments; and provide the legal backbone for new financial services products and programs, including consumer-facing documents and program agreements. They also analyze and submit formal comments on proposed rules, and handle a broad array of joint venture agreements and transactions.

“Ballard Spahr has the best consumer financial services practice in the country and offers a national platform for me to grow my practice and serve my clients,” Mr. Pearson said. “I am looking forward to working with my colleagues in Los Angeles to bolster our litigation team in that market.”

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