Profile
Suite 300
Hanover, MD 21076
Nikki has been assisting financial services providers navigate the complexities of consumer financial services laws at Hudson Cook for over 20 years. As a partner in our Maryland office and Editor-in-Chief of CounselorLibrary.com's CARLAW publication, she provides strategic counsel on regulatory compliance, mitigating risks of unfair, deceptive, and abusive acts or practices (UDAAP), management of sales and finance forms development, and provides litigation and regulatory examination and enforcement support.
With broad experience in consumer finance, Nikki advises national and state banks, credit unions, sales finance companies, licensed lenders, and motor vehicle, personal property, payment assurance device manufacturers, and voluntary protection product vendors and service providers on:
- Designing and maintaining nationwide compliant automobile and personal property finance programs.
- Advising on online motor vehicle and personal property sales and financing.
- Reviewing electronic payments acceptance and consents.
- Developing and managing automotive sales and finance forms in 51 jurisdictions.
- Assisting with the sale and servicing of voluntary protection products.
- Working with the payment assurance industry drafting consents and advocating for the responsible use of devices and technology,
- Responding to regulatory examinations and shaping legislative and regulatory developments.
- Consulting on litigation matters related to consumer finance laws.
Nikki is a sought-after speaker and author on consumer credit issues, including all issues related to automobile sales and finance from marketing through routine servicing and collections, the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), the Consumer Leasing Act (CLA) the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (ESIGN), the FTC Act, FTC and CFPB regulations and other highlights, credit discrimination, voluntary protection products, payment assurance technology, and state consumer credit laws.
A recognized leader in the field, Nikki is Secretary of the American College of Consumer Financial Services Lawyers and has served on the Nominating Committee for the Board of Regents. She has lead the American Bar Association's (ABA) Business Law Section, currently serving as Immediate Past Chair, previously serving as, Chair, Chair-Elect, Vice Chair, Secretary and member of Council, chairing the Council Committee on Membership, Diversity, and Inclusion. She also served as Vice Chair and Chair of the American Bar Association, Business Law Section, Consumer Financial Services Committee. Nikki is also on the Governing Committee of the Conference on Consumer Finance Law.
Nikki is an active member of several key trade associations, including the National Association of Dealer Counsel and the American Financial Services Association(AFSA). At AFSA, she currently serves as Counsel to the Vehicle Finance Subcommittee on AFSA's Law Committee, on the State Government Affairs Committee, the Operations and Regulatory Compliance Committee, and participates actively on the Women's Leadership Council.
Nikki earned her law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law in 2000 and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Nikki is committed to helping financial services providers achieve compliance while fostering innovation in consumer finance.
In her spare time, Nikki enjoys supporting her daughter on the University of Maryland Dance Team by attending Terps football, and men's and women's basketball games, and her son by volunteering at Our Lady of Good Counsel soccer and golf events. She also enjoys live music and traveling. Nikki fosters puppies for Lab Rescue of the Potomac and is a puppy sitter for Warrior Canine Connection, which trains service dogs to support veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Favorite Quote: Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten. Lilo and Stitch, Disney, 2002.
Nikki would like to thank her late husband Brian (1972-2021), who, for 20+ years, supported her career and family and helped her become the lawyer and person she is today.
- Fellow, American College of Consumer Financial Services Lawyers
- Governing Committee, Conference on Consumer Finance Law
- American Bar Association, Business Law Section
Business Law Section, Chair, September 2023 to present
Business Law Section, Chair - Elect, September 2022 to September 2023
Business Law Section, Vice Chair, September 2021 to September 2022
Business Law Section, Secretary, September 2020 to September 2021
Business Law Section, Editor-in-Chief, Volume 77, The Business Lawyer
Business Law Section, New Membership Model Implementation Task Force, Co-Chair, February 2019 to September 2020
Business Law Section Council Committee on Membership, Diversity and Inclusion, Chair, October 2016 to September 2019
Business Law Section Council, September 2015 to September 2019
Member, Advance IV Content Team, June 2012 to January 2013
Member, Educational Programming Board, April 2010 to 2012
- American Bar Association, Business Law Section, Consumer Financial Services Committee
Chair, National Institute, September 2018 to 2020
Chair, August 2012 to September 2015
Vice Chair, August 2009 to August 2012
Chair, Programs Sub-Committee, August 2008 to August 2009
Vice-Chair, Programs Sub-Committee, August 2005 to 2008
- Member, National Association of Dealer Counsel
- Member, American Financial Services Association: State Government Affairs, Vehicle Finance Subcommittee, Women's Leadership Council
- "Artificial Intelligence and Financial Services: The Legal Perspective," AFSA Independent Auto Finance Executive Group, January 2025
- "CARS Rule vs. Vehicle Shopping Rule," AFSA Operations and Regulatory Compliance Committee, October 2024
- "Case Law/Enforcement Actions: Sale and Servicing of Voluntary Protection Products," AFSA State Government Affairs, October 2024
- Presided over 2-day Leadership Meeting, Business Law Section, American Bar Association, January 2023
- "Live - Women in Auto Finance Panel," NAF Association Virtual Conference/Used Car Week, November 2020
- "Compliance Speedsmarts: Operations, AFSA Annual Meeting," AFSA Annual Meeting, October 2019
- "Auto Finance: Back to Basics," The Conference on Consumer Finance Law, May 2019
- Consumer Financial Services Conferences, Hudson Cook/CounselorLibrary, 2004 to present
- "Compliance Considerations in Post Default Collections," National Independent Auto Dealers Association, June 2018
- "Money Smart for Older Adults," various Maryland senior and community centers, 2018-2019; New Orleans, 2017
- "Membership Panel," American Bar Association, Business Bar Leaders Conference, May 2018
- "Compliance Catch 22s," 19th Annual NACCA/AFSA State Government Affairs and Legal Issues Forum, May 2017
- "Mitigating Regulatory Risk in Financing Ancillary Products," Consumer Financial Services Committee, American Bar Association, Business Law Section, Spring Meeting, April 2017
- "Law of Electronic Collections," Cyberspace Committee, American Bar Association, Business Law Section, Spring Meeting, April 2015
- "Use of GPS and Payment Assurance Technology," PassTime U.S.A., March 2014 to present
- "History of Consumer Financial Services Law," National Institute on Consumer Financial Services Basics, September 2013
- "CFPB, Issues Affecting Auto Finance," Autostar Innovate, September 2013
- Industry Summit, September 2013
- "Electronic Contracting," National Association of Dealer Counsel, April 2012
- "Truth in Lending," National Institute on Consumer Financial Services Basics, October 2011
- "Impact of the CFPB on Auto Dealers," Texas Independent Auto Dealers Association, July 2011
- "Basics of Consumer Credit Law," Institute for the Young Business Lawyer, April 2011
- "Handling Internal and External Investigations," Hudson Cook/CounselorLibrary Webinar, July 2010
- National Association of Buy Here Pay Here Dealers' Conference, May 2010
- Leedom Group Buy Here-Pay Here Credit and Collections Conference, May 2009
- National Association of Buy Here Pay Here Dealers' Conference, May 2009
- "Sales and Financing of Vehicle Protection and Other Ancillary Products by Motor Vehicle Dealers," Consumer Credit 2008 Conference, November 2008
- "Sales of Ancillary Products," CreditRe Institute, November 2008
- "Alternative Lending and Credit Outreach: Texas Property Tax Lien Lending," Housing and Auto Finance Workshop, May 2008
- "State Consumer Sales Laws: Recent Changes in Texas, Pennsylvania, and Other States, Auto Sales and Finance," The Conference on Consumer Finance Law, September 2003
- "The U3C and Other State Laws," Conference on Consumer Finance Law: Short Course on Consumer Law, March 2002
- "Consumer Issues, Default and Remedies Under Revised UCC Article 9 and California Variations," Conference on Consumer Finance Law: Short Course on Consumer Law, March 2002
- "Time to Pull Out the Trusty Old Crystal Ball," Non-Prime Times, February 2022, co-authored with Rochelle Fowler, Eric Johnson and Patty Covington
- "It's your duty, and the law, to comply with OFAC regulations," SubPrime Auto Finance News, October 2021
- "State Regulator Pursues Disparate Impact in Auto Finance," Hudson Cook Insights, August 2021, co-authored with Laura Bacon
- "Diversity and Inclusion by Language Choice," Hudson Cook Insights, February 2021
- "CFPB Releases Report on COVID's Impact on Consumer Credit, with Some Surprising Results," Hudson Cook Insights, October 2020, co-authored with Chris Capurso
- Periodic Articles, Spot Delivery and Hudson Cook Insights, 2009 to present
- "Subprime Auto Finance Developments," 71 Bus. Law 723, vol. 71, no. 2, Spring 2016, co-authored by Christopher M.A. Chamness, Katherine C. Fisher and Eric L. Johnson
- "Drafting Arbitration Agreements: A Practitioner's Guide for Consumer Credit Contracts," 8 J. Bus. & Tech. L., vol. 8, no. 2, 2013, co-authored by Peter L. Cockrell
- Monthly Articles, Special Finance Insider, April 2010 to 2013
- "Texas Changes Laws Affecting Motor Vehicle Installment Sales," Spot Delivery, July 2009
- "Congress, the FTC, and State Legislatures Take on the Debt Settlement Industry," Basis Points, July 2009
- "We Finance Anyone, Really?" Spot Delivery, May 2009
- "No Yo Comprendo Arbitration," Spot Delivery, March 2009
- "No Office No License - No License No Office," Spot Delivery, December 2008
- "Pay Attention - Regulators Do Listen," Spot Delivery, October 2008
- Selling Aftermarket Products - Top Five Things You Need to Know," Spot Delivery, July 2008
- "Arbitration - The Good Guys Can Win" World of Special Finance, August 2007
- "Devil is in the Details," World of Special Finance, May 2007
- CARLAW® F&I Legal Desk Book - The Answer Book for Finance and Insurance Professionals, co-authored with the attorneys of Hudson Cook, December 2006
- "Recent Developments in Fair Lending and the ECOA: A Look at Housing Finance and Motor Vehicle Dealer Participation," 60 Bus. Law 627, February 2005, co-authored by Jean L. Noonan and R. Elizabeth Topoluk
- "Giving Consumer Disclosures Online: Is ESIGN the Path to the Paperless Loan," 57 Bus. Law 1187, May 2002, co-authored by Robert A. Cook
- "Recent Federal Privacy Initiatives Affecting the Electronic Delivery of Financial Services," 56 Bus. Law 1143, May 2001, co-authored by Michael A. Benoit
- "Update on Privacy and Security in Electronic Financial Services Delivery," The Review of Banking & Financial Services, September 2000, co-authored by Michael A. Benoit
- Ranked in Chambers USA 2020 - Nationwide, Band 3, Financial Services Regulation: Consumer Finance (Compliance)
- The Best Lawyers in America©2022 - Financial Services Regulation Law
- Women in Auto Finance, 2020
- Fellow, American College of Consumer Financial Services Lawyers
- Super Lawyers, Rising Star, 2013
- Foster Parent, Lab Rescue of the Potomac, Fall 2021 to present.
- Foster Parent, Small Miracle Cat and Dog Rescue, Fall 2021 to present.
- Instructor, Money Smart for Elder Americans, September 2016 to 2020
- Road Assistance, BalletMobile, Inc., August 2014 to October 2018
- Calverton Swim Club Board of Directors, President, August 2007 to August 2012, Member, August 2006 to August 2007
- Junior Achievement, Participated in Ask the Expert Program for Chicago Students, August 2012
- St. Vincent Pallotti High School, Strategic Planning, December 2010 to 2012
- University of Maryland School of Law, J.D., May 2000
- University of Maryland at College Park, B.A., Psychology, May 1995
- Maryland, 2000