Susan, co-leader of the firm’s financial institutions industry team, primarily focuses on government investigations and complex civil litigation. She has defended clients in numerous government enforcement actions by the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), among others.
In addition to representing individuals and companies in federal and state court, Susan has experience in dealing with the financial services, communication, transportation, and defense industries. She has also represented individuals and companies in response to congressional inquiries and investigations.
Susan manages third-party and pre-litigation matters for a large financial services client, and the work was recognized by the Financial Times for its legal innovation in 2016.
Before joining McGuireWoods, Susan served as a policy advisor at the Department of Homeland Security, and advised on immigration, including the Form I-9 and E-Verify compliance, border searches, cybersecurity, and electronic surveillance. As part of her duties, Susan trained state and local law enforcement and advised on First and Fourth Amendment issues to assist DHS and the FBI during operations at the national political conventions. She also helped to prepare senior leaders for testimony and briefings before Congress.
Susan served as federal law clerk for the Honorable Frank D. Whitney, U.S. District Court Judge for the Western District of North Carolina, handling both civil and criminal matters. Prior to that, she was a presidential appointee, serving as a staffer in the White House Counsel’s office handling management of judicial nominations and assisting with responses to congressional investigations.
Representation of companies and individuals facing federal criminal investigations and charges regarding white collar matters
Representation of companies facing government audits and enforcement actions
Representation of U.S. Congressman responding to a House Ethics investigation
Advise companies related to Form I-9 and E-Verify compliance, including investigations by the Department of Justice Immigrant and Employee Rights (IER) Section
Advise companies and boards on improving policies, procedures, and training to align with Department of Justice’s guidance on maintaining effective compliance programs
Represent a half dozen employees of a major financial institution in responding to a CFPB investigation into kickbacks between a lender and a title company in violation of RESPA
Represent major wireless carrier in defending against a CFPB enforcement action related to allegations of unfair practices
Representation of a financial institution in connection with a Ponzi scheme perpetrated by an individual account holder in enforcement actions and investigations by the OCC, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN)
Representation of the court-appointed receiver of an international Ponzi and pyramid scheme, arising from a complaint filed by the SEC alleging a $600 million loss with more than a million potential claimants
Represent company in maintaining compliance with RESPA’s kickback provisions related to marketing services agreements and service fee agreements
Represent servicer in defending against a CFPB enforcement action related to marketing service agreements and allegations of deceptive practices, RESPA, FCRA, and Regulation N violations
Represent companies in developing compliance programs, policies, and training based on CFPB regulatory guidance and examination manual
Representation of companies in responding to grand jury subpoenas and government interviews
Representation of financial institutions in responding to third party subpoenas and garnishments
Representation of financial institution in responding to Congressional inquiry related to data breach
Representation of financial institutions in an internal review of debt collection practices and compliance with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the Servicemember’s Civil Relief Act (SCRA)
Counsel to a financial institution on compliance with the Bank Bribery Act
Representation of a financial institution’s Board of Directors in conducting an internal investigation into privacy of consumer financial information and Gramm-Leach-Bliley compliance
Counsel to financial institutions and individuals in complying with notary laws and regulations in mortgage and foreclosure documentation
Representation of company in government investigation involving potential violations of Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) regulations
Representation of an aviation company in connection with government assessed regulatory penalty by DHS Customs and Border Protection
Representation of a company in responding to the FAA’s notice of penalty for violation of Hazardous Materials Regulations
Representation of individual in sentencing phase of Commercial Loan Fraud case
Member, Local Rules Committee, U.S. District Court, Western District of North Carolina
Steering Committee Member, Federalist Society, Charlotte Chapter
Member, American Bar Association
Member, Mecklenburg County Bar Association
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Selected for inclusion in “Legal 500 United States,” Fintech, 2022
Selected for inclusion in America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations, Illinois, Chambers USA, 2022
Ranked in "2022 Fintech Guide," Fintech Legal: Corporate, Securities & Financing, Chambers and Partners, 2022
Named to "North Carolina Rising Stars," Government Relations, Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2017-2019