About
Legislation Affecting Consumer Financial Services
Bill has worked with Congress in crafting provisions contained in virtually every major piece of legislation impacting the delivery of consumer financial services enacted into law over the course of the past 35 years, from the Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary Control Act of 1980 to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 – and everything in between.
Bill knows and is known by key decision makers on Capitol Hill and in the Federal financial regulatory agencies, and is viewed by those who know him as a subject matter expert who can be trusted to tell them both the pros and cons associated with the options they are considering. He works both sides of the aisle and is respected by Democrats and Republicans alike.
In the legislative and regulatory arena Bill often tackles what he describes as “niche” issues – problems or concerns so unique to a particular institution or subset of institutions that they might be overlooked or ignored if there was no one consistently reminding lawmakers and regulators of their need to be addressed – and he has an established track record of success in dealing with “niche” issues.
The American Banker newspaper described Bill as “sharp and … well-connected” with “tremendous access” on Capitol Hill. The Hill newspaper reported that “even his legislative opponents respect Donovan as a formidable force.”
Credit Unions
With more than 25 years of experience as the chief in-house counsel and subsequently General Counsel at a major credit union trade association, Bill has in-depth knowledge of the credit union industry, the laws that govern credit unions and the rules and regulations that circumscribe the responsibilities and obligations of credit union officers and officials.
As a credit union Board and Supervisory Committee member he acquired the first-hand experience needed to understand the unique challenges facing credit unions and credit union volunteers and officials. As a credit union organizer he has had to navigate the lengthy, burdensome and at times frustrating chartering process. Over the years he has dealt with challenges that both natural person and corporate credit unions must deal with at every stage of their existence, from cradle to grave. He has counseled credit unions in myriad ways, including:
- Charter applications;
- Field of Membership expansions and conversions;
- Disputes with NCUA over examination reports; and,
- In anticipation of conservatorship action.
Congress and Regulatory Agencies
Mr. Donovan represents clients with interests pending before Congress in the:
- Senate Banking Committee
- House Financial Services Committee
- Senate Finance Committee
- House Ways & Means Committee
He also represents clients with interests pending before a variety of Federal regulatory agencies, including:
- Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- Department of the Treasury
- Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
- Federal Housing Administration
- Federal Housing Finance Agency
- National Credit Union Administration
- Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
Education
- J.C.L., Catholic University of America, 2001
- M.B.A., George Mason University, 1994
- J.D., Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, 1978
- M.A., Catholic University of America, 1975
- B.A., College of the Holy Cross, 1972