Profile

Julia Whitelock
Julia K. Whitelock
Partner
202-715-2018    
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Washington, D.C.
1909 K Street, NW
4th Floor
Washington, DC 20006
202.223.6930
Fax: 202.223.6935
Practices
Federal Trade Commission
Government Investigations, Examinations and Enforcement
Litigation
Residential Property Management
State Enforcement
Professional Experience

Julia advocates on behalf of businesses facing individual and class action litigation and arbitration arising under federal and state consumer protection laws, including the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), California Legal Remedies Act (CLRA), California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA), unfair or deceptive trade practices statutes, and the FTC Holder Rule. She also represents businesses facing investigations and enforcement actions by the CFPB, FTC, state attorneys general, and other state regulators of consumer financial services and products. Industry trade associations have relied on Julia to represent their interests as amici in important litigation in trial and appellate courts.

Clients rely on Julia to navigate the ever-evolving theories of consumer plaintiffs in the areas of consumer finance, consumer reporting, privacy, and alternative finance. She is a trusted advisor who tirelessly advocates for clients and proactively identifies business strategies to minimize the risk of future litigation. Julia has secured favorable jury verdicts, judgments, arbitration awards, and individual and class settlements in a variety of federal and state trial and appellate courts and arbitration fora.

She regularly speaks at industry conferences on litigation and government enforcement developments in auto finance, consumer reporting and background screening, alternative finance, debt collection, and privacy laws. She co-hosts Hudson Cook's Litigation Lessons quarterly webinar.

Prior to joining Hudson Cook, Julia was a partner at a national firm where she represented businesses in consumer, commercial, and intellectual property litigation and arbitration and counseled businesses on consumer protection and advertising law compliance. She began her legal career as a law clerk to The Honorable William D. Missouri, Chief Judge of the Seventh Judicial Circuit of Maryland and Administrative Judge of the Circuit Court for Prince George's County, Maryland.

Julia is Co-Chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Litigation Section Woman Advocate Committee and is an active member with the ABA Litigation Section, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Asian Pacific American Bar Association of D.C., and Women in Housing Finance. She previously served as Chair and was a member of the District of Columbia Bar Association Litigation Community Steering Committee.

In addition to spending time with her family, Julia dedicates her free time to serving on the board of and volunteering with ASIA Families, a non-profit that supports Korean adoptees and their families.

Professional Activities
  • Co-chair, American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Woman Advocate Committee
  • Member, American Bar Association, Sections of Litigation and Business Law
  • Member, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
  • Member, Asian Pacific American Bar Association - DC
  • Member, Women in Housing Finance
  • Former Chair and Member, DC Bar, Litigation Community Steering Committee
Speaking Engagements
  • State & Federal Enforcement and Litigation, National Automotive Finance Association's Compliance Champions Workshop, September 2025
  • "Litigation Lessons: Summer Edition," Hudson Cook Litigation Lessons Webinar, July 2025
  • "Legal Landscape: Key Issues Impacting Auto Finance," National Automotive Finance Association's Annual Conference, June 2025
  • "Auto Finance Under Fire: Key Enforcement & Litigation Trends," National Automotive Finance Association's Annual Conference, June 2025
  • "Courtroom Feud: Survey Says... Juror Psychology Matters!," American Bar Association, Litigation Section Annual Conference, April/May 2025
  • "State Enforcement & Private Litigation Trends," Hudson Cook Compliance Coffee Break Webinar, April 2025
  • "Litigation Lessons: Spring Edition," Hudson Cook Litigation Lessons Webinar, March 2025
  • "Tenant Screening in the Trump Administration: A Litigation and Law Update," Professional Background Screening, Association's Mid-Year Conference, March 2025
  • "The Long and Winding Road - The Latest in Legal," National Automotive Finance Association's Annual Conference, June 2024
  • "Preparing for a Government Investigation or Consumer Litigation," National Automotive Finance Association's Annual Conference, June 2024
  • "Litigation Lessons: Spring Edition," Hudson Cook Webinars, May 2024
  • "Government Enforcement and Litigation Updates," National Automotive Finance Association's Power 30 Webinar Series, March 2024
  • "The Road to Authenticity: Diverse Perspectives on Navigating a Fulfilling Legal Career," National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Convention, November 2023
  • "Government Enforcement and Litigation Updates," National Automotive Finance Association's Power 30 Webinar Series, November 2023
  • "Consumer Litigation and Arbitration Trends and Risk Mitigation Strategies," Hudson Cook/CounselorLibrary's 2023 Financial Services Conference, October 2023
  • "Clear and Conspicuous - Latest in Legal," National Automotive Finance Association's Annual Conference, June 2023
  • "Auto Litigation Updates: Avoiding Litigation and Managing Exposure," Hudson Cook/CounselorLibrary's 2022 Financial Services Conference, October 2022
  • "Potential Liability in California for Attorney's Fees Following Pulliam v. HNL Auto," The Conference on Consumer Finance Law's Consumer Financial Services Conference, October 2022
  • "I Got 99 Problems, but a CID Ain't One," Professional Background Screening Association's Annual Conference, September 2022
  • "Don't Shoot Yourself in the Foot but Shield Yourself From Attack: Smart, Easy Solutions to Protect and Strengthen Your Subscription Business," Subscription Trade Association - Women in Subscription Virtual Event, September 2020
  • "Financial Experts: What Your Attorney Wants You to Know," National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts - Virginia State Chapter Meeting, December 2019
Publications
Education
  • The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, J.D., 2008

Comparative and International Law Institute Certificate

  • George Mason University, B.A. Government and International Politics, cum laude, 2003
Admissions
  • California, 2023
  • District of Columbia, 2010
  • Maryland, 2008
  • Virginia, 2009
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia