Sarah T. Reise

Sarah T. Reise focuses on complex civil litigation in the area of consumer financial services. She represents clients in financial services and mortgage banking in cases involving lending-related issues, including claims arising under state and federal lending statutes and consumer protection laws, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA), the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), and the Truth in Lending Act (TILA). In addition to defending clients in litigation and regulatory actions, Sarah also advises clients regarding compliance with federal and state consumer financial protection laws, including through compliance assessments and mock examinations.

Representative Matters

• Represents clients in connection with regulatory examinations and investigations brought by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and other regulators with respect to UDAAP issues, mortgage servicing, debt collection, credit reporting, fair lending, and alleged substantive violations of various consumer financial protection laws;
• Advises financial services companies, including indirect automobile lenders, in conducting compliance reviews and mock examinations in anticipation of examinations by federal and state regulators;
• Represents credit furnishers in lawsuits asserting claims for violations of the FCRA and related state laws;
• Defends mortgage lenders and servicers in mortgage origination and foreclosure-related lawsuits;
• Represented mortgage lenders in force-placed insurance class actions across the country;
• Represented an auto lessor in a nationwide Consumer Leasing Act class action;
• Represented a prepaid debit card issuer and servicer in a nationwide class action asserting breach of contract claims based on compliance with card agreement dispute provisions;
• Secured a multimillion-dollar summary judgment against defaulted borrower and guarantor;
• Represented former officers and directors of a land development company in litigation filed by 100 plaintiffs seeking damages for fraud, breach of the Interstate Land Sales Disclosures Act, and breach of fiduciary duty, resulting in magistrate's memorandum and recommendation that complaint be dismissed in its entirety.

Publications

Co-author, "DC Circuit Hears TCPA Oral Argument," Ballard Spahr alert, October 26, 2016

Co-author, "FTC Announces Consent Order with Subprime Auto Lender for Alleged Violations of FDCPA, FCRA," Ballard Spahr alert, June 2, 2014

Co-author, "FTC Announces Settlements with Data Brokers over Alleged FCRA Violations," Ballard Spahr alert, April 14, 2014

Co-author, "Documentation Issues in Non-Mortgage Debt Collection," The Review of Banking & Financial Services, July 2012

Co-author, "Disparate Impact Under Fair Housing Act Returns to Supreme Court," Ballard Spahr alert, June 25, 2012

Co-author, "The Third Time is the Charm for 'Copycat' Class Action," Ballard Spahr alert, June 22, 2012

"Deciding Disparate Impact Under FHA — Take 2," Law360, June 28, 2012

Comment, "Just Say No to Pro-Drug and Alcohol Student Speech: The Constitutionality of School Prohibitions of Student Speech Promoting Drug and Alcohol Use," 57 Emory L.J. 1259, 2008

Speaking Engagements

Speaker, "Compliance Issues With Ancillary Products and Collateral Protection Insurance," 2017 Association of Consumer Vehicle Lessors Conference, New Orleans, October 10, 2017 

Panelist, "Auto Finance State of the Sector," ARN's 2017 Annual Conference, Dallas, September 15, 2017 

Panelist, "Handling CFPB Supervisory Requests for Privileged Information," Association of Consumer Vehicle Lessors' Annual Conference, San Diego, September 28, 2015

"Navigating Compliance Audit Pitfalls: How to Prepare Compliance and Audit Reports Without Providing a Road Map to Adversaries," Ballard Spahr webinar, June 4, 2015

"Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act Under the CFPB: What's New," Strafford webinar, July 24, 2013

"The CFPB and the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act: What's New," Ballard Spahr webinar, May 21, 2013

"Regulatory and Litigation Challenges to Lender-Placed Insurance," Ballard Spahr webinar, May 29, 2013

Emory University School of Law (J.D. 2008, with honors)
Notes and Comments Editor, Emory Law Journal; Member, Order of the Coif; Dean's List; Top 10% Oralist

Boston University (B.A. 2003, magna cum laude)

Georgia

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia

U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia

U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit