John Socknat > Ballard Spahr LLP > Philadelphia, United States > Lawyer Profile

Ballard Spahr LLP’s consumer financial services practice offers representation and counseling for matters including class actions, regulatory enforcement matters put forward by the CFPB, and compliance. The group is also active in emerging areas such as the fintech space. Co-leading the team are Daniel McKenna and John Socknat. McKenna, based in Philadelphia, specializes in consumer financial services, privacy and data security, and mortgage banking, offering extensive trial experience representing clients in class actions relating to statutes such as the TCPA, FCRA, and UDAAP. Other key names to note in the firm are Thomas Burke, based in Philadelphia, Joel Tasca, based between Las Vegas and Los Angeles, and John Grugan, based in Pennsylvania.

Noted for its experience in defending clients facing regulatory enforcement action from the CFPB and other agencies, Ballard Spahr LLP advises investment banks and private equity houses across a range of matters, with a growing caseload of crypto asset-related litigation. Payment systems and other fintechs also form a core part of the firm’s varied client base, which the practice advises on buy now, pay later, earned wage access and income sharing agreement products. Co-heading the team are Washington DC-based John Socknat, who assists clients in the run-up to compliance audits by state and federal regulators, and Daniel McKenna, a litigation specialist who takes on class actions and arbitration hearings in relation to mortgage, auto and credit card loans. John Culhane Jr. specializes in student loan regulations, with further expertise in mortgage loan and leasing plans. All lawyers are Philadelphia-based unless otherwise specified. Lisa Lanham left the firm in April 2024.