Doug Thompson focuses his practice on representation of financial institution clients in the consumer financial services sector, in particular representing those clients in connection with class action litigation and complex transaction level litigation.  Mr. Thompson has experience in defending clients in various federal and state courts against putative nationwide and statewide consumer financial services related class action matters including claims under the following statutes:

• Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA)
• Truth in Lending Act (TILA)
• Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
• Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA)
• State unfair and deceptive acts and practices statutes (UDAP), such as the California Unfair Competition Law and others
• Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) and fair lending statutes

Mr. Thompson has experience in representing financial services and insurance clients in a variety of complex transaction level individual litigation matters as well. These matters have involved claims for lender liability, unfair predatory lending, loan servicing related claims, forced place insurance claims, bad faith claims handling insurance claims, privacy and bankruptcy matters. 

He also has represented financial institution clients in the context of asserting claims for against counter parties for alleged violations of representation and warranties and other mortgage lending related operational and contractual claims.

In other substantive areas, Mr. Thompson has had strategic responsibility for managing complex class actions asserting claims under the federal and state securities laws, shareholder derivative claims, as well as employment wage and hour class action matters. Mr. Thompson has assisted clients in regulatory and government agency investigations.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Thompson served as managing director and general counsel, litigation of Countrywide Financial Corporation, where he headed the litigation department and managed the company’s nationwide portfolio of litigation matters. He has assisted clients in developing and implementing risk assessment protocols and processes. He oversaw the company’s electronic discovery protocols and has experience assessing issues confronting financial institution and other clients in that regard. Moreover, Mr. Thompson has experience in the development and implement of preferred litigation provider systems and Legal Department matter management systems. In connection with Bank of America’s acquisition of Countrywide, Thompson played a pivotal role in the integration of Countrywide’s litigation department into the Bank of America Legal Department.  Thompson began his career at a Los Angeles law firm.

Publications

• “Class Action Update: The Increasing Scrutiny of Class Settlements and Other Developments,” The Business Lawyer, Vol. 60, No. 2, February 2005 (co-author)

Speaking Engagements

• “Managing the Current and Future Waves of Discriminatory and Predatory Lending/Servicing Cases,” panelist/moderator, American Conference Institute Consumer Finance Litigation & Class Actions Conference, January 2009
• “Class Action Reform: One Year Later,” speaker/panelist, Association of Corporate Counsel-Southern California MCLE Conference, January 2006
• “Litigating Consumer Class Actions Involving Bankruptcies, Foreclosures & Defaults,” speaker/panelist, American Conference Institute Consumer Finance Litigation & Class Actions Conference, September 2005
• “Managing Litigation from the Loan Servicer’s Perspective,” speaker/panelist, Mortgage Bankers Association of America National Servicing Conference, June 2000
• Participant, Mortgage Bankers Association of America Class Action Litigation Working Groups, 1998-2002

Professional Affiliations

• American Bar Association, Litigation and Business Law Sections
• Los Angeles County Bar Association
• Association of Corporate Counsel (2003-2008)

Civic Involvement and Distinctions

• Constitutional Rights Foundation – Director, 2005-present
• Civil Justice Association of California – Director, 2003-2008
• Governor-Elect Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Transition Working Group for Civil Justice – Member, 2003