WilmerHale, which combines a securities and financial regulation practice with a financial institutions practice, often assists banks with fulfilling their fiduciary duties arising from litigation and enforcement actions. The group also displays a strong capacity to assist with navigating potential OFAC sanctions, anti-money laundering regulatory issues. Washington DC-based Franca Harris Gutierrez is at the helm, the chair of the financial institutions practice group who is turned to by a diverse client base of banks, mortgage servicers, student loan servicers, consumer lending companies, among others, evidencing a strength in advice on CFPB challenges. Similarly, the group at large has experience in dealing with prudential banking regulators, and state agencies, a point of contact for clients being pursued by such regulators. Elsewhere, Zachary Goldman, based in New York, characterises a wider focus of the group on regulatory and enforcement matters. Michael Dawson departed from the firm in June 2025.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'We worked with Yoon Hi Greene on a time-sensitive, very complex project, and she went above and beyond to meet our needs. The issue related to a unique request in a relatively obscure area of law, and Yoon Hi exceeded all of our expectations. She met our timing needs, which were quite demanding. She quickly assembled a team of experts, responded to our immediate questions, and came up with a new way of framing the issue that saved our business time and money.'
- 'The firm brings a unique mix of business acumen and legal expertise, as well as a client-first mentality that is rare in the legal industry. They have a very strong bench on securities and banking law, and they have very strong connections in Washington DC.'
- 'Unparalleled knowledge and experience in financial services regulation, with teams having served at the most senior levels of regulators and in-house positions. Sound, rigorous, pragmatic advice.'
- 'Bruce Newman is outstanding - encyclopedic knowledge of the laws and rules, as well as how businesses operates, thoughtful, pragmatic and careful about risk, a great sounding board with fantastic judgment and perspective.'
- 'The firm is thoughtful and knowledgeable about financial services regulations, regulatory expectations and industry practices.'
Key clients
- Citibank
- Navy Federal Credit Union
- PNC Financial Services Group
- UBS
- Former Chief Auditor of Wells Fargo
- Barclays Financial Corp.
- Navy Federal Credit Union
Work highlights
Represented the former Chief Auditor of Wells Fargo in an OCC administrative proceeding concerning the highly publicised events at Wells Fargo whereby bank employees allegedly provided bank customers with large numbers of unauthorised products and accounts.
Practice head
Franca Harris Gutierrez
Other key lawyers
Zachary Goldman; Benjamin Chapin; Yoon Hi Greene