Professional Experience

Cathy Brennan represents FinTechs, banks, small business financing companies and other financial services companies navigate the multitude of regulatory requirements that apply to their businesses. A Partner in the Maryland office, Cathy guides businesses through the complexities of compliance in consumer and commercial lending, focusing on providing business-friendly advice that can be actioned by clients in real time. A large part of her practice involves advising investors in financial services along all asset classes, including personal loans, auto lending, debt settlement, small business receivables, charged off debt, mortgage loans, earned wage access, real property option contracts, and other innovative financial assets.

Clients rely on Cathy’s responsiveness, deep legal knowledge and her ability to simplify and solve complex regulatory challenges. By partnering with her, businesses can maintain focus on growth and innovation while mitigating the risks associated with legal and regulatory pitfalls, ultimately fostering long-term success and compliance.

With more than 20 years of legal experience, Catherine is a distinguished leader in the field of regulatory compliance in financial services. Since 2022, she has been ranked in Chambers FinTech Guide since 2020 for FinTech Legal: Payments & Lending – USA. She has been named in The Best Lawyers in America for Financial Services Regulation Law since 2021. She is a Fellow of the American College of Consumer Financial Services Lawyers, a member of the Governing Committee of the Conference on Consumer Finance Law and regularly speaks at financial services events such as Lend360 and the ABA Business Law Section. Her articles and presentations on fintech regulation and consumer finance compliance are widely recognized in the legal community.

Cathy lives in Rodgers Forge, Maryland with her wife, Katie, a fellow lawyer. Together, they debate legal and political topics while playing with their five dogs: a Boston Terrier, a French Bulldog, a Shih Tzu, a Pomsky, and a Pekinese. Cathy also is an avid concert goer who sees numerous shows every year, usually in the darkwave genre. A longtime lesbian rights activist who helped repeal Maryland’s ban on gay relationships and campaigned to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation, Cathy advises community groups and elected officials on legal developments in the LGBT community on a pro bono basis. Cathy has two adult children who are her pride and joy.