Conducting and Responding to Investigations

Venable has significant experience in conducting internal investigations on behalf of management or independent board committees, as well as in responding to investigative requests from regulators and law enforcement agencies. Over the years we have conducted numerous internal investigations on behalf of institutions in order to ensure that an appropriate control environment is maintained and specific problems are identified and resolved. We have been retained by institutions to conduct due diligence inquiries required by regulators to ensure that the institution’s management and personnel are properly assessing and addressing risks to the institution.

Our attorneys have addressed many topics that have become a special focus of regulator and prosecutorial efforts, private claimants, or inspectors general. We have responded to audits of compliance with FHA and VA lending guidelines and to audits of asset managers' compliance with FDIC asset management requirements.

We have a long history of responding to investigations arising from mortgage servicing and fair lending practices, and, when necessary, have actively defended such claims.

We regularly respond to inquiries focused on compliance with orders resulting from settlements with federal regulators. In many cases, we have been retained to work with expert witnesses and consultants on behalf of clients when required to support a client's positions.

Government Experience
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Our team includes more than 20 attorneys focused on financial services and regulatory issues who regularly deal with, or who formerly served as senior officials and legal counsel of, federal and state agencies responsible for the supervision of banks and other financial institutions, including

  • Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
  • Federal Reserve Board
  • Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
  • Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN)
  • Federal Housing Finance Agency
  • Department of Housing and Urban Development
  • Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council
  • Financial Stability Oversight Council
  • Commodities Futures Trading Commission
  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Treasury
  • Securities and Exchange Commission
  • Office of Management and Budget
  • Federal Trade Commission

Recognition
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  • Chambers USA
    • Financial Services Regulation: Banking (Compliance), 2007 – 2016
    • Financial Services Regulation: Banking (Enforcement & Investigations), 2007 – 2016
  • U.S. News – Best Lawyers, Best Law Firms, Financial Services Regulation Law, 2012 – 2017, 2020, 2022
  • Legal 500, Financial Services: Regulatory, 2011 – 2023
  • The Best Lawyers in America, 2019 – 2021 (Venable attorneys selected for inclusion)
  • Washingtonian, 2009, 2011, 2014 (Venable attorneys selected for inclusion)