Alexandra Megaris
Counsel
New York - Rockefeller Center
T
+1 212.370.6210
F
+1 212.307.5598
Washington, DC
T
+1 212.370.6210
F
+1 202.344.8300
Alex's experience includes virtually all aspects of consumer protection laws, including state and federal unfair, deceptive and abusive practices (UDAAP) laws, such as the FTC Act and the Consumer Financial Protection Act, the FTC's Telemarketing Sales Rule, and federal and state product-specific regulations (including those regulating credit reporting, loan servicing, and debt collection).
In addition to representing consumer product and financial services companies before government agencies, Alex advises on regulatory and compliance issues, and works with banks and nonbanks alike to conduct internal risk and compliance assessments and prepare for supervision examinations by the CFPB and other regulators.
Experience
Experience
Representative Matters
- Led defense of leading specialty finance company in significant CFPB investigation and settlement involving allegations of unfair, deceptive, and abusive acts and practices and violations of other consumer financial laws, including the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, and Electronic Fund Transfers Act.
- Member of team advising Independent Monitor to Deutsche Bank AG as part of the bank's $7.2B settlement with DOJ over the sale of residential mortgage-backed securities.
- Defended online marketer of nutraceutical products in FTC investigation of advertising and marketing practices under FTC Act and ROSCA; favorably settled.
- Favorably obtained closure of FTC investigation into company providing coaching and mentoring services.
- Advised debt buyer / collector in preparing for and successfully navigating CFPB examination.
- Represented direct-response marketer in investigation by FTC and New York Attorney General regarding marketing practices; favorably settled.
- Defended lead generation company for consumer lending industry in investigation and litigation by CFPB, involving allegations of unfair and abusive acts and practices.
- Representation of major U.S. retailer before the New York State Attorney General involving violation of product-specific law and UDAP; favorably settled.
- Representation of online marketer in parallel investigations by the attorneys general of New York, Washington, and Florida; favorably settled.
- Defense of a leading specialty finance company in a multistate attorneys general investigation, spanning five years, regarding alleged unfair and deceptive acts or practices and violations of state debt collection law.
- Representation of national debt collection agency in connection with parallel investigations by various state licensing agencies and state attorneys general, including Massachusetts and Connecticut, involving allegations under laws regulating debt collection and collection litigation practices.
- Represented major 501(c)(4) advocacy organization before House Energy and Commercial Committee in connection with committee's inquiries relating to the Affordable Care Act, including preparation of organization's representatives to testify.
- Represented clean energy advocacy organization before the Select Committee on Energy Independency and Global Warming in connection with committee's inquiry, including preparation of organization's president to testify.
Insights
Insights
Credentials
Credentials
Education
- J.D. Fordham University School of Law 2008
- B.A. University of Pennsylvania 2005
Bar Admissions
- New York
- District of Columbia
- New Jersey
Court Admissions
- U.S. Supreme Court
Community
Community
Personal Activities
- Alex was appointed as a Young Lawyer Liaison to the ABA Consumer Financial Services Committee subcommittee on Debt Collection Practices and Bankruptcy. The subcommittee focuses on consumer debt collection practices and the aspects of bankruptcy that affect consumer financial services. Alex's appointment runs through fall 2019.
- Alex has a dedicated pro bono practice representing individuals and families seeking asylum in the United States.
- While in law school, Alex interned for the Honorable Loretta A. Preska of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and for the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York.