John Socknat and Daniel McKenna Named Co-Leaders of Ballard Spahr's Consumer Financial Services Group

John Socknat—who advises mortgage and consumer finance companies across the country in compliance and enforcement actions—has been named Co-Leader of Ballard Spahr’s top-ranked Consumer Financial Services Group, firm Chair Mark Stewart announced today. Daniel JT McKenna—who represents clients in individual and class action litigation in the CFS space and who has led the litigation arm of the national powerhouse practice—now becomes Co-Leader of the Group.

Judy Mok—who negotiates payments transactions and strategic partnership arrangements for some of the world's largest financial institutions and merchants—has been named to lead the firm’s Fintech and Payments Group alongside current Practice Leader Ron Vaske.

“John, Dan, and Judy are known across the consumer financial services industry for their acumen and creativity—and they share our dedication to personalized service,” Mr. Stewart said. “What’s more, they bring a mindset of innovation, an ability to help clients see around the corner on important issues. That’s important as our clients strive to offer new products and services in a highly competitive market and through evolving channels.”

Chambers USA and U.S. News and World Report consistently rank Ballard Spahr’s CFS Group in the highest tier nationally for compliance and litigation. Its attorneys—more than 75 across the country—advise on regulatory matters, assist in the design and commercialization of new credit products, and represent clients in class actions, government enforcement proceedings, and other lawsuits.

Clients of the group include the largest financial institutions in the world. Its digital events regularly draw thousands and feature leaders in government and industry across the consumer financial services space, and the group is home to the acclaimed CF Monitor blog and podcast.

“The clients I work with are grappling with complex and novel issues and have aggressive business goals,” said Mr. Socknat, who led Ballard Spahr’s Mortgage Banking Group since its inception and who serves as Managing Partner of the firm’s Washington, D.C., office. “Ballard can handle it because we have strength across the board. I look forward to helping the group expand its reach and become even stronger.”

The firm’s Fintech and Payment Group brings unparalleled experience to clients in every corner of the FinTech and payments ecosystems. The group brings together attorneys across disciplines, such as transactions, venture capital, compliance, privacy and data security, intellectual property, regulatory enforcement, and litigation.

Ms. Mok is Vice-Chair of the Deposit Products and Payment Systems Subcommittee of the ABA Business Law Section’s Consumer Financial Services Committee and was recently named to the Notable Women in Law list by Crain’s New York Business.

“Ballard is a unique place with depth, breadth, and industry knowledge that is both institutional and forward-thinking,” Ms. Mok said. “Clients are prioritized by a dedicated team of lawyers who understand their business and legal needs. I’m excited to take the group to the next level.”

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