Firm’s leading consumer financial services team expands with addition of Scott Pearson
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, a multidisciplinary, integrated national professional services firm, announced today that preeminent consumer financial services lawyer Scott M. Pearson has joined as a partner in its Los Angeles office. Pearson brings with him more than 25 years of litigation experience in the consumer financial services industry, defending clients against regulatory enforcement and class actions as well as counseling high-profile stakeholders on a wide array of regulatory compliance issues.
“Scott is a highly regarded litigator with a strong base of financial institution clients, and we are thrilled to welcome him to our financial services team,” said Donna L. Wilson, Manatt’s CEO and managing partner-elect. “His keen understanding of the complex issues facing the consumer financial services industry—and his decades of experience defending and guiding clients through unique regulatory waters—will make him an immediate asset to our clients.”
Founded as a banking law boutique in 1965, Manatt is now one of the nation’s top law and consulting firms, boasting an industry-leading consumer financial services practice led by Richard Gottlieb. “Scott builds on our already solid team in Los Angeles, and nationwide,” said Gottlieb. “Few lawyers have Scott’s breadth and expertise across the spectrum of issues facing consumer lenders today.”
Pearson’s clients include national banks, financial services firms, institutional investors, sports and entertainment companies, real estate firms, and prominent retail and consumer product companies. A preeminent authority in the rapidly evolving fintech (financial technology) legal sector, Pearson was named a BTI Client Service All-Star in 2018 for “delivering the absolute best client service” based on a national survey of in-house counsel.
In addition to defending hundreds of class actions and other complex litigation matters, he has successfully handled numerous regulatory enforcement actions brought or threatened by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and other federal regulatory agencies, state Attorneys General, and state and local regulators across the country. Pearson’s deep experience spans the gamut of consumer finance asset classes, including mortgage, credit card, auto finance, student loan, small business finance and specialty finance products.
“I’ve long admired the financial services group at Manatt and am beyond excited to join the team,” said Pearson. “In addition to its terrific consumer finance and privacy and data security practices, Manatt’s sophisticated corporate finance and M&A capabilities will allow me to offer a much broader array of services as I continue to grow and expand my practice.”
Pearson earned his bachelor’s degree from Claremont McKenna College and his Juris Doctor from the University of Southern California.