Practice Focus

Automotive and Personal Property Finance and Leasing
Credit Reporting, Privacy and Data Security
FinTech
May 28, 2026

Optimize This Unusual Federal Regulatory Pause

Patricia E.M. Covington
March 16, 2026

Industry Alert from Hudson Cook: FTC Sends Ninety-Seven Warning Letters to Auto Dealers Regarding Deceptive Pricing

Patricia E.M. Covington + more
January 06, 2026

CFS Bites of the Month – 2025 Annual Review – Auto Finance

Patricia E.M. Covington + more
January 16, 2025

CFPB Bites of the Month – 2024 Annual Review – Auto

Thomas J. Buiteweg + more
January 18, 2024

CFPB Bites of the Month – 2023 Annual Review – Auto

Patricia E.M. Covington + more
June 12, 2023

Adverse Action Notices—A Compliance Issue That Should Not Be Overlooked

Patricia E.M. Covington
January 10, 2023

CFPB Bites of the Month – 2022 Annual Review – Auto Finance

Thomas J. Buiteweg + more
February 15, 2022

Time to Pull Out the Trusty Old Crystal Ball

Nicole F. Munro + more
May 04, 2021

Legal Musings: Keep Privacy and Data Security on Your Radar

Patricia E.M. Covington
July 10, 2020

How Not to Handle a Crisis: FTC Sues Marketer for Deceptive COVID Stimulus Mailers

Patricia E.M. Covington
April 30, 2020

Georgia AG Warns Against Deceptive Advertising Related to COVID-19 Stimulus Payments

Patricia E.M. Covington
April 03, 2020

For Dealers, Many COVID-19 Questions, but Not Many Answers

Patricia E.M. Covington + more
February 28, 2020

En Garde! Do You Have Dueling Arbitration Agreements?

Patricia E.M. Covington
July 31, 2019

The California Consumer Privacy Act

Patricia E.M. Covington
October 01, 2018

Military Lending Act Compliance Continues to Plague Auto Finance Industry

Patricia E.M. Covington + more
March 27, 2018

The Department of Defense … What are They Thinking?

Patricia E.M. Covington
March 27, 2018

Ancillary Products … Where are We and What’s Ahead?

Patricia E.M. Covington
October 12, 2017

Congress Revives the Used Car Safety Recall Repair Act

Patricia E.M. Covington + more

Education

  • T.C. Williams School of Law, University of Richmond, J.D., cum laude, 1992
  • James Madison University, B.A, summa cum laude, 1989

Admissions

  • Virginia, 1992
Professional Affiliations & Certifications
  • Virginia State Bar
  • American Bar Association: Business Law Group, Consumer Financial Services Committee, Privacy Subcommittee Chair 2009 to 2011; Privacy Subcommittee Vice-Chair 2006 to 2008; Liaison to Gatekeeper Task Force 2007 to 2009
  • American Financial Services Association: State Government Affairs Committee; Vehicle Finance Board; Counsel to Independents Auto Finance Executive Group; Ancillary Products Working Group; Operations & Regulatory Compliance Committee; Business Partner Group
  • National Association of Dealer Counsel: Board of Directors, Past-President, Founding Board Member
  • Fellow, American College of Consumer Financial Services Lawyers
  • Governing Committee, Conference on Consumer Finance Law
Speaking Enagagements
  • NAF Power 30: Navigating Change – The 2024 Elections and What’s Next for the Auto Finance Industry, February 19, 2025
  • NAF Power 30: What’s New in Fair Lending?, November 20, 2024
  • Hudson Cook Financial Services Conference, Auto Finance: Recent Regulatory Trends, November 7, 2024
  • NAF Association Compliance Workshop, Facilitator, and Presenter on the State and Federal Examination Issues and Preparation Panel, October 28, 2024
  • Compliance Coffee Breaks: – FTC’s Combating Auto Retail Scams (CARS) Trade Regulation Rule – Finance Co. Impact, March 7, 2024
  • NIADA FTC Vehicle Shopping Rule – What to Know, February 23, 2024
  • Compliance Coffee Breaks: FTC’s Combating Auto Retail Scams (CARS) Trade Regulation Rule, January 23, 2024
  • NAF Power 30 – Adverse Action Notices – Are You Doing them Correctly? September 20, 2023
  • “F&I Masters Series Forum – The Digital Age,” Chernek Consulting, LLC Webinar, April 2022
  • “Regulatory Compliance,” AFSA’s THE EDGE, September 2021
  • “The CFPB, State Agencies and 2021 Legislative Agenda,” Hudson Cook Compliance Coffee Break, March 2021
  • “The Impact of Address Confidentiality Programs on Extending and Servicing Credit,” AFSA Webinar, February 2021
  • “Roundtable Discussions: Privacy & Data Security,” AFSA Annual Meeting & Independents Conference & Expo, October 2020
  • “Remote Working: Best Practices and Strategies,” AFSA Webinar, April 2020
  • “Special Compliance Coffee Break – Payment Accommodations and Modifications During a Crisis (Auto & Installment Lending): A Two-Part Series for Navigating COVID-19,” Hudson Cook Webinar, March/April 2020
  • “Consumer Credit Compliance Certification – Module 4,” NAF Association, February 2020
  • “Regulatory Compliance,” AFSA’s THE EDGE, June 2019
  • “Credit Reporting Issues Faced by Auto Finance Companies,” Consumer Financial Services Conference, Hudson Cook/CounselorLibrary, April 2019
  • “Managing Fair Lending Risk in a Growth Environment,” NAFCU’s Regulatory Compliance School, March 2019
  • “The Endless Opportunities to Get and Use Data – Are There Legal Implications?,” Automotive Intelligence Summit, July 2018
  • “What’s that Loud Sucking Noise? The Sound of States Filling the Federal Enforcement Gap,” Consumer Financial Services Conference, Hudson Cook/CounselorLibrary, April 2018
  • “Regulatory Environment: Let’s Level Set and Look Ahead,” Wells Fargo Preferred Capital Annual Summit, November 2015
  • “Facing The New Reality: The Need for Strengthened F&I Compliance,” AICPA Auto Dealership Conference, October 2015
  • “CMS Development, Implementation & Monitoring…How Is It Getting Done?,” American Financial Services Association, October 2015
  • “Regulatory Compliance,” AFSA Education Foundation: THE EDGE, June 2015
  • “Practical Compliance for Auto Finance and Leasing Professionals,” Consumer Financial Services Conference, Hudson Cook/CounselorLibrary, June 2015
  • “Addressing Regulator Concerns on Dealer Payments and What’s Next in Auto Lending Regulation,” CU Direct Lending & Marketing Conference, May 2015
  • “Snippets on the Law,” October 2015, American Financial Services Association, Independents Vehicle Finance Executive Group, April 2015
  • “Today’s Top Regulatory Activity & Issues,” Leedom Group BHPH World Convention, April 2015
  • “The CFPB, Their Expectations & Compliance Management Systems,” Leedom Group Twenty Groups, March 2015
  • “Conquer Compliance: Protect Your Profits and Legacy,” National Automobile Dealers Association Annual Convention, January 2015
  • “Compliance Management System, What’s Needed,” The National Alliance of Buy Here Pay Here Dealers, January 2015
Publications
  • “Time to Pull Out the Trusty Old Crystal Ball,” Non-Prime Times, February 2022, co-authored with Rochelle Fowler, Eric Johnson and Nikki Munro
  • “Legal Musings: Keep Privacy and Data Security on Your Radar,” Used Car Dealer Magazine, May 2021
  • “How Not to Handle a Crisis: FTC Sues Marketer for Deceptive COVID Stimulus Mailers,” Hudson Cook Insights, July 2020, co-authored by Christopher J. Capurso
  • “Georgia AG Warns Against Deceptive Advertising Related to COVID-19 Stimulus Payments,” Hudson Cook Insights, April 2020, co-authored by Christopher J. Capurso
  • “For Dealers, Many COVID-19 Questions, but Not Many Answers,” Hudson Cook Insights, April 2020, co-authored with Thomas J. Buiteweg
  • “En Garde! Do You Have Dueling Arbitration Agreements?,” Hudson Cook Insights, February 2020
  • “The California Consumer Privacy Act,” Hudson Cook Insights, July 2019, co-authored with Meghan Musselman and Nora Udell
Recognition and Accomplishments
  • AFSA Woman Leader of the Day, March 2022
  • Women in Auto Finance honoree, 2018