WASHINGTON–Four attorneys who are well known to credit unions have formed a new law, advocacy, and consulting firm called CU Counsel PLLC.
Forming the new firm as principals are Eric Richard, former executive VP and general counsel at CUNA; Mary Dunn, former deputy general counsel and head of regulatory advocacy at CUNA; and Steven Bisker, a former NCUA assistant general counsel and longtime private practitioner representing credit unions. A fourth attorney, Stephen Eisenberg, former executive VP and general counsel for almost 30 years at Pentagon Federal Credit Union will serve as advisor to the firm.
“Each of us brings something unique to this new organization, but we have in common that we have each been involved in hundreds of issues involving credit unions and regulators,” Richard said in a statement. “We approach these problems from varying perspectives that help us tailor uniquely effective approaches. Some of us have the experience of representing the entire industry, or key parts of it, on a national level; others have many years’ experience of pressing for individual credit unions’ interests. Our group includes the kind of background that one gets from working inside a credit union, and we also have credit union system and private practice experience.”
The firm said it intends to offer its services to all segments of the credit union community, including leagues, individual credit unions, groups of coalitions of credit unions, CUSOs, and third parties whose business orientation is closely allied with credit unions.
In a statement announcing its formation, the group credited Bisker with coming up with the initial vision of bringing these four individuals together.
According to the firm, it will focus on a wide range of credit union concerns, including compliance, supervisory, advocacy, corporate governance and pending proposals, among others; will place special emphasis on issues involving the NCUA, the CFPB, the Small Business Administration, the Financial Accounting Standards Board and other agencies such as Treasury and the Federal Reserve; the firm is ready to advocate for credit union priorities as needed to Congress and the White House as well.
“We welcome the opportunity to reach out to the credit union system with our backgrounds,” Dunn noted. “Given the range of regulatory limitations credit unions face, our plan is to combine our passion for credit unions, energy, experience, credibility, tenacity and knowledge of the law and regulatory process to advocate for the betterment of individual credit unions as well as for broader credit union interests. We are prepared to address compliance, supervisory, governance, statutory and other issues to help credit unions.”
The noted said that Eisenberg and Bisker have long been involved in regulatory issues, but both also have experience helping credit unions with questions of governance, regulatory compliance, development of internal and external policies, and business issues that credit unions face.
“I am fully sensitive to serving as counsel for and collaborating with credit union directors and members of the supervisory committee as these officials meet their important roles and responsibilities,” Eisenberg said. “And having been deeply involved in substantial and critical transactional initiatives and corporate governance issues as well as overcome statutory and regulatory hurdles, my experience can be applied to help benefit other credit unions.”
CU Counsel has opened offices 1629 K Street NW, Washington, DC, 20006. It can be reached at 202 508 3795.