Press Release
Press Release
Press Contacts: Erik Cummins, Matt Hyams, Olivia Thomas
02.01.21
NEW YORK – Expanding the firm’s strong financial regulatory and compliance practices, Pillsbury has hired Brian Montgomery as senior counsel in New York. Montgomery was previously Deputy Superintendent in the New York Department of Financial Services’ Consumer Protection and Financial Enforcement Division, where he led a team responsible for examining banks, non-depository lenders, loan servicers, credit reporting agencies, and other regulated institutions for compliance with federal and state consumer financial laws.
Montgomery comes to Pillsbury less than two years after former colleague Cassandra “Cassie” Lentchner arrived at the firm in July 2019. Lentchner had been the leader of Compliance for the New York financial services watchdog and was the principal author of the United States’ first-ever cybersecurity regulation.
“Brian’s arrival is a significant development for our regulatory team, adding vast experience with complex financial services issues such as those involving licensing, auto and other consumer loan products, student loans and mortgage servicing businesses,” said Public Practices section leader Nancy Fischer. “He and Cassie represent an impressive one-two punch for the regulatory and compliance needs of our financial industry clients, in New York and beyond.”
Prior to leading the consumer examinations unit at NYDFS, Montgomery served as Supervising Counsel overseeing a unit that conducted investigations and brought civil enforcement actions involving consumer financial products and services. He has also been the Director of the Student Protection Unit there since 2015. The unit, which licenses and examines student loan servicers, conducts investigations and mediates consumer complaints, was responsible for negotiating agreements with the student loan servicing and credit reporting industries to provide relief for consumers impacted by COVID-19.
Montgomery joined New York’s Insurance Department in 2011 to work on Governor Cuomo’s initiative to create a more comprehensive financial regulator—what would ultimately become the New York Department of Financial Services—by merging the former Banking and Insurance Departments and investing the new agency with additional authority. Prior to that position, he was an Assistant Attorney General in the New York State Office of the Attorney General, which he joined in 2007. In that role, he conducted complex investigations and brought enforcement actions involving numerous consumer finance issues. He also collaborated with other state attorneys general on multistate investigations and enforcement actions.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Pillsbury and to reunite with my former colleague Cassie Lentchner,” Montgomery said. “The firm, its lawyers and its practices are all highly regarded by the financial industry, and I can’t wait to share my knowledge and experience with the firm’s many clients in the sector.”