Profil
Tarrian L. Ellis serves as regulatory counsel to banks, non-depository financial institutions, fintechs, and other financial services providers on the regulatory landscape governing financial products and services. His practice centers aligning client objectives with regulatory requirements encompassing federal and state regulatory compliance, licensing, product development, and supervisory matters for both domestic and international clients, including trust companies, payment services firms, and other non-bank financial services providers.
Tarrian counsels clients on a broad range of issues, including electronic lending, digital payments, tokenization, mortgage lending and servicing, fair lending, student loan servicing, and medical debt financing. He also advises on compliance with card network rules, ACH network rules, and other payment system requirements. His work frequently involves helping clients navigate multistate licensing and regulatory frameworks, as well as responding to inquiries and demands from federal and state regulators, including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Tarrian also advises fintech companies and technology firms on product development and partnerships, and counsels clients on issues at the intersection of emerging financial technology and regulatory compliance, including blockchain and matters involving digital assets.
Before entering private practice, Tarrian served as a regulatory attorney with both the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the New York State Department of Financial Services. At the CFPB’s Office of Regulations, he participated in complex rulemaking projects, including drafting rules and guidance related to privacy, small business lending, and open banking, and developed subject matter proficiency on mortgage servicing and disclosure as well as electronic payments. At the New York State Department of Financial Services, he supported chartering, licensing, permissible activities and investment oversight, supervision, and examination of state-chartered institutions.
Concentrations
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
- Federal and state regulation of consumer financial products and services
- Anti-discrimination, fair lending, credit reporting, debt collection
- Electronic payments and lending
- Mortgage servicing
- Stablecoins, tokenized deposits, and emerging payment systems
- FinTech – credit, payments, blockchain/digital assets
- Consumer finance – mortgage, student, cards, BNPL
Kluczowe Praktyki
Doświadczenie
- Counseled an international bank on U.S. market entry, including managing applications with state and federal banking regulators, and provided ongoing advice on operational compliance.°
- Advised one of the largest global financial institutions in matters of liquidity covenant compliance and regulatory due diligence for loan purchases.
- Provided legal counsel for a financial institution specializing in real estate capital in matters of mortgage servicing for a major real estate project.
- Provided advice to commercial bank clients on the application and availability of relief concerning contractual obligations following the collapse of a financial institution.
- Advised a leading global investment management firm on regulatory due diligence regarding the acquisition of multimillion-dollar loan portfolios, including consumer loans, mortgage loans, and private student loans.
- Provided counsel to health care credit service providers on multistate analysis of requirements regarding medical debt financing and advised on state usury limits and legislative updates regarding the servicing of medical debt.°
- Assisted a digital payment technology company in a multistate analysis of money transmitter licensing requirements.
- Advised a leading fintech company on a partnership with an educational institution for a Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) student loan product.
- Assisted a retail client in preparing responses to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau civil investigative demand.°
- Assisted in representing a client in an Investigational Hearing before the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
- Provided counsel to online merchants on surcharge rules and analysis of relevant consumer financial services laws.°
°The above representations were handled by Mr. Ellis prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
- Adjunct Professor, Washington, D.C., Legal Practice in Administrative and Regulatory Law, New York Law School, 2023-Present
- Counsel, Office of Regulations, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 2020-2023
- Attorney, Excelsior Fellow, Consumer Protection and Financial Enforcement Division, New York State Department of Financial Services, 2018-2020
- United States Army Reserve, 2011-2019
Wyróżnienia i aktywność zawodowa
- Member, American Bar Association, 2021-Present
- American Bar Association Business Law Fellow, 2025-Present
- Member, Conference on Consumer Finance Law
- Member, Washington Bar Association, 2024-Present
- Member, New York City Bar Association, 2018-Present
- Member, Metropolitan Black Bar Association, 2018-Present
- Member, National Bar Association, 2018-Present
- Member, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Wykształcenie i uprawnienia do wykonywania zawodu
- J.D., New York Law School
- B.P.A., Public Administration, magna cum laude, Florida International University
- District of Columbia
- New York