Kara Ramsey represents banks and other financial services clients in a wide range of regulatory, compliance, and enforcement matters before federal and state financial regulators. She has substantial experience with investigations and enforcement actions before entities such as the Department of Justice (DOJ), Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (FRB), Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and New York State Department of Financial Services.
Kara also regularly counsels financial services clients on a variety of regulatory compliance matters, including consumer financial protection, credit reporting, mortgage lending, fair lending, affordable housing, digital banking, affiliate transactions, insider transactions, and Bank Secrecy Act and anti-money laundering (BSA/AML).
Prior to joining Arnold & Porter, Kara worked as a research assistant in the Consumer Finance Section of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. During law school, Kara interned in the Fraud Section of the U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division.
Experience
- National bank, before DOJ, in investigation of allegations of redlining, resulting in a favorable settlement.
- National bank, before DOJ, FRB, OCC, and SEC, in internal and government investigations of allegations of bank fraud, securities fraud, and violations of BSA/AML requirements, resulting in favorable resolutions.
- Community Development Financial Institution in defense of putative class action related to Paycheck Protection Program lending, resulting in a confidential settlement.
- Large automobile finance company, before the CFPB, in investigation, resolution, and remediation of allegations of unfair and deceptive or abusive acts or practices (UDAAPs) and Fair Credit Reporting Act violations relating to indirect automobile financing and servicing activities.
Perspectives
Credentials
Education
- J.D., Order of the Coif, Cornell Law School
- B.S., Economics and Philosophy, summa cum laude, Tulane University
Admissions
- District of Columbia
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Government & Military Service
- Research Assistant, Consumer Finance Section, Federal Reserve Board of Governors (2014-2016)
Clerkships
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia, The Honorable Robert E. Payne
Activities
- Member, Women in Housing & Finance
- Member, Banking Law Committee, American Bar Association
- Member, Banking Law Section, Federal Bar Association