Hudson Cook, LLP Announces Formation of Group to Address Growing Government Scrutiny of Collection Industry

Hudson Cook, LLP, a nationwide provider of legal compliance services for the financial services industry, announces that it has added as partners two nationally-recognized collections attorneys, Gary Becker and Barbara Sinsley, to its existing collections practice.

Gary and Barbara will join current Hudson Cook attorneys in creating a new practice group to focus on lender oversight and regulatory compliance for third-party debt collectors, debt buyers, collections law firms, and creditors collecting their own debts.

Gary W. Becker is an attorney and entrepreneur who has worked in the collections industry for nearly 30 years.  He is the former CEO, Chairman and General Counsel of national collection agency DCM Services; a founding partner of Balogh Becker, one of the nation’s largest collection law firms; and a founding board member of the National Association of Retail Collection Attorneys.  Gary is an innovator in the application of technology to collections and a recognized leader in applying legally compliant customer-centric approaches in collections and recovery.  He received his law degree in 1978 from Ohio State University College of Law.

Barbara A. Sinsley is considered one of the nation’s leading attorneys in the area of debt sales and consumer collections regulatory preparedness and compliance, with over 24 years of experience.  She previously served as General Counsel of DBA International (formerly the Debt Buyers Association).  Over the course of her career, both as an outside attorney and in-house counsel, Barb has assisted dozens of large and small collections businesses in coming into compliance with state and federal  laws, and has represented numerous industry members before the CFPB, Federal Trade Commission, state attorneys general, and in the courts.  She received her law degree in 1989 from South Texas College of Law.

Gary and Barb will be joining several current Hudson Cook attorneys, including Joel Winston (former head of the FTC’s debt collection enforcement program), Chuck Dodge, Ron Gorsline, Eric Johnson, Blake Sims, and Tom Buiteweg, in a group that focuses on compliance as it relates specifically to the regulated aspects of lenders’ collection and recovery; creditor supervision of third-party debt collection by agencies and law firms; and the sale of consumer debt.

Tom Hudson, Chairman, Hudson Cook, LLP, said, “Gary and Barb bring to the table a wealth of experience and knowledge, allowing us to increase the breadth and depth of our collections and debt buying practice.  They will develop and offer broad-based solutions, including compliance audits, for businesses trying to “stay ahead of the curve” as the government increases its enforcement and regulatory efforts in this area.  By leveraging new technologies, we can provide these services in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible.  In addition to counseling businesses on the specific concerns they face, we believe we best serve our clients by helping them be prepared in advance, if and when the regulators come calling.  We are very pleased to welcome Gary and Barb to the firm.”

Hudson Cook, LLP is a 59 lawyer consumer financial services law firm with offices in California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Virginia.  The firm represents many of the nation’s top banks, savings associations, holding companies, finance companies, auto dealers and others who provide services to auto financing and leasing and mortgage bankers, insurance and securities companies, investment banks and “e-commerce” firms, including several Fortune 500 companies.  Hudson Cook’s related Internet publishing company, CounselorLibrary.com, offers online compliance database and update services, including industry standards CARLAW and HouseLaw.  For more information regarding the law firm and the publishing company, call Tom Hudson at 410-865-5411 or visit online at www.hudco.com.