Norman Roos, chair of Robinson & Cole's Finance Practice Group, concentrates his practice on transactional and regulatory matters relating to the real estate and financial services industries. He represents banks, insurance companies, diversified financial service companies, and other publicly and privately held entities on a broad range of matters involving mortgage banking, consumer and commercial credit transactions, regulatory compliance, and electronic commerce. Mr. Roos served on the Policy Regulation and Consumer Education Subcommittee of Governor Rell's Task Force on Subprime Mortgage Lending. He was recognized by Super Lawyers® in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 as a New England Super Lawyer in the areas of Business/Corporate, Banking, and Real Estate (Super Lawyers is a registered trademark of Key Professional Media, Inc.). Mr. Roos has also been recognized by Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business. Professional Associations - American Resort Development Association, Membership Committee - American College of Mortgage Attorneys, Connecticut State Chair and Board of Regents (2006 to 2010) - Connecticut Bar Association (CBA), Consumer Law Section - CBA, Financial Institutions Law Section, Chair (2006 to 2010) - Connecticut Law Revision Study Committee on Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act and Real Property Electronic Recording Advisory Committee and Real Property Electronic Recording Committee, Member - Connecticut Mortgage Bankers Association, Inc., General Counsel - Greater Hartford Legal Aid Foundation, Board of Directors Honors and Awards - Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® in the areas of Banking & Finance Law and Financial Services Regulation Law for 2012 (Copyright 2011 by Woodward/White, Inc., Aiken, SC) - AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated in Martindale-Hubbell™ in the area of Finance Law (Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings is a trademark. AV Preeminent is a certification mark of Reed Elsevier Properties, Inc.) - Listed in Connecticut Super Lawyers® in the area of Business/Corporate since 2006 (Super Lawyers is a registered trademark of Key Professional Media, Inc.) Experience - Representation of PNBK Holdings, LLC, a special purpose bank holding company formed to acquire a controlling interest in Patriot National Bancorp. - Representation of mortgage lender in defending counterclaims by borrower alleging violation of truth-in-lending laws, the Credit Repair Organizations Act, and the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act, moving to strike all counterclaims against mortgage lender. - Representation of mortgage lender and servicer in defending consumer action alleging violations of state and federal debt collection practices laws, striking all claims from case related to lender's reporting of credit information to agencies. - Representation of U.S. subsidiary concerning its accession to its parent corporation's restructured global credit facilities. - Worked with a number of leading national mortgage lenders as outside regulatory counsel. - Represented industry leaders in connection with the workout of resort construction and time-share receivable loan portfolios. - Assisted lenders and technology services providers in establishing and enhancing their Internet presence on the World Wide Web. - Provided ongoing counsel to numerous local, state, and national institutions as to federal and state regulations affecting licensing, foreign branching, "doing business," loan product development, credit advertising, loan origination, and loan servicing, including the Truth-in-Lending Act, the Equal Opportunity Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, and fair lending. - Assisted a major national lender to establish a manufactured home construction loan program. Publications & Presentations Articles - "New in 2010: Disclosure Rules for Mortgage Lenders" (1/2010), published in The Hartford Courant, Real Estate Supplement - "Environmental Risk Management in Real Estate Lending: A Time to Reassess How to Avoid or Better Manage Toxic Assets," coauthored with Pamela K. Elkow and Richard M. Fil (Spring 2009), published in The Abstract, American College of Mortgage Attorneys more details - "Understanding the Government Bailout Plan" (2009), Aspator's Special Report, coauthor - "The Subprime Mortgage Meltdown: A Simple Explanation...and Some Not-So-Simple Solutions" (Fall 2007), published in The Abstract, a publication of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys - "A Borrower's Best Interests: Subjective "Tangible Net Benefit" Test Leaves Residential Mortgage Lenders in a Quandary," coauthored with Elizabeth M. Smith (Fall 2006), published in The Abstract, a publication of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys - "Navigating the Waters of Contractor-Friendly Laws: What Lenders Need to Know to Protect Their Own Interests in Privately Funded Construction Projects," coauthored with Gregory R. Faulkner (4/2005), published in The Abstract, a publication of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys - "Turning the Key to E-Commerce: E-Sign and Federal Preemption," coauthored with William W. Bandon, III (11/2000), published in The National Law Journal - "E-Commerce Is Here - Can E-Mortgages Be Far Behind?" (Summer 2000), published in Real Estate Finance Journal - "Internet Mortgage Banking: Legal and Business Considerations for Mortgage Banking Pioneers" (1999), published in The Abstract, a publication of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys Books - The CMBA Handbook on Connecticut Mortgage Statutes: An Analysis and Compilation of Connecticut Legislation Affecting Residential First Mortgage Lending (2008) Presentations - Connecticut Mortgage Bankers Association's Legislative Update Seminar (10/26/2011), Moderator - "The Changing Regulatory Environment" (10/19/2011) presented at Housing 2011, the annual conference of the Connecticut Housing Coalition - "Loan Originator Compensation - New Regulation Z Rules," copresented with Catherine Moreton Gray; attorneys from Bankers Advisory, Inc., and Webster Bank (12/7/2010) at Connecticut Mortgage Bankers Association Meeting at Webster Bank in New Britain, Connecticut News 11.17.11, Finance Partner Moderates at Connecticut Mortgage Bankers Association Legislative Update Seminar 11.04.11, Bankers Want Feds to Lay Off is the Message at Connecticut Mortgage Bankers Association Forum 10.28.11, Finance Attorneys Discuss Dodd-Frank and SAFE Acts at Affordable Housing Conference 12.15.10, A Look at New Regulations for Loan Originator Compensation 11.08.10, Program Examines Impact of the Dodd Frank Act on Non-financial Businesses 10.29.10, Training Course Prepares Mortgage Brokers for Newly Mandated Licensing Exam 10.21.10, Mortgage Banking Lawyer Comments on Proposed Freeze on Foreclosures in State Courts 10.13.10, Timeshare Financing Transactions Will Not Bear Full Brunt of Dodd-Frank Act 8.05.10, Norman H. Roos and James R. Kinyon Present on Mortgage Lending Laws 3.30.10, Robinson & Cole Attorney Quoted in The Commercial Record on Bank Efforts to Raise Cash 9.25.09, Robinson & Cole Attorneys Address Legislative Developments Before the Connecticut Mortgage Bankers Association 11.14.08, Robinson & Cole, a leading commercial law firm with more than 225 lawyers and eight offices in the Northeast and Florida, announced today that 9 partners and over 20 additional attorneys from Thelen LLP will be joining the firm. |