Overview

Heather’s practice focuses on corporate and regulatory representation of small to large regional and national financial institution franchises. She has counseled institutions on M&A transactions, as well as provided representation on securities offerings, capital planning, and corporate restructuring. She also advises financial institutions and financial service providers on emerging regulatory and compliance issues, mostly recently related to high-risk customers and Fintech opportunities.

Experience

Strategic business planning

  • Structuring and raising equity and debt through public or private offerings.
  • Shareholder matters including share repurchases/tender offers, responses to activist investors and related corporate governance planning.
  • Structure changes and expansionary activities such as de novo formations, charter conversions, holding company formations, expansion of existing lines of business (trust, insurance, securities and non-banking activities).

Acquisition transactions

  • Advises clients on all matters related to the acquisition or sale of existing financial institutions and their nonbank subsidiaries and the acquisition, sale, establishment and relocation of branch offices.
  • Mergers and acquisitions of banks with nonbank entities, such as mortgage companies and Fintechs, and investments in banks by third parties.
  • Awarded a top legal ranking in the U.S. for the 13th year in a row in SNL Financial’s league tables for bank and thrift legal advisers. (2019)

Corporate Governance

  • Advises boards of directors in connection with corporate governance, shareholder activism, and other fiduciary duty matters.
  • Management planning, incentive compensation, corporate succession matters and board advisory services.

Regulatory Compliance

  • Advises clients on a broad variety of bank regulatory and compliance matters, including consumer compliance, third party risk, compliance management systems, incentive compensation, high-risk customers, transactions with affiliates and other regulatory and compliance matters.
  • Response to formal and informal administrative actions and supervisory issues.
  • Advises banks and Fintechs on risk management and compliance, including implementation of tailored compliance management systems.

Accolades

Honors & Recognitions

  • Named Best Lawyer in FinTech Practice, The Best Lawyers in America, 2024

Affiliations

Professional

  • Member, American Bar Association, Banking Law Committee
  • Member, Virginia Bankers Association
  • Member, Women in Housing and Finance, Inc.

Insights

Events & Speaking Engagements

  • January 28, 2024
    Event
    Panelist
    How to Best Partner and Manage Your Tech Stake, AOBA FinXTech Session
  • November 2, 2023
    Event
    Preparing Your Bank for an Economic Downturn, Vermont Bankers Association Annual Directors Conference
  • September 29, 2023
    Event
    How Directors Should Address the Changing Bank Environment, Community Banks of West Virginia Annual CEO & Director Conference
  • September 26, 2023
    Event
    Cannabis in Banking, ICBA Webinar
  • September 15-19, 2023
    Event
    Attendee
    IBAT, Frisco, TX
  • August 14, 2023
    Event
    Regulatory Hot Buttons, ICBA CFO Forum, Kansas City, MO
  • July 12, 2023
    Event
    Third Party Risk, Including Fintech Relationships, ICBA Webinar
  • April 2023
    Event
    Presenter
    GSB Digital Banking School: Foundation & Compliance
  • April 2023
    Event
    Presenter
    Fintech/Third Party Risk, ICBA Webinar
  • March 23, 2023
    Event
    Moderator
    Engage with Experts, ICBA Live
  • March 2023
    Event
    Speaker
    Partnering with FinTechs, ICBA Live
  • March 2023
    Event
    Speaker
    State of Crypto, ICBA Live
  • January 2023
    Event
    Speaker
    Sharing in the Dream: How to Create and Capture Wealth for Executives, Bank Director Acquire or be Acquired Conference
  • January 2023
    Event
    Speaker
    A Deep Dive on Tech Strategy Bank Director, Acquire or be Acquired Conference on FinXTech Session
  • January 2023
    Event
    Speaker
    Managing M&A Successfully During a Recession, Maryland Bankers Association Key West Community Banking Symposium
  • November 2022
    Event
    Strategic Plans, Capital Plans and Risk Appetite, Annual Economic Outdoor & Risk Management, Kansas Bankers Association
  • October 2022
    Event
    Speaker
    Preparing Your Bank for an Economic Downturn, Maryland/Delaware/West Virginia Bankers Association
  • October 2022
    Event
    Presenter
    Crypto 101 Webinar
  • October 2022
    Event
    Presenter
    ESG Perspectives: What Your Bank Can Do, ICBA Annual Directors Conference
  • September 2022
    Event
    Presenter
    Cryptocurrencies, ICBA Lead FWD Talk
  • September 2022
    Event
    Presenter
    Banking Crypto, ICBA Webinar
  • August 2022
    Event
    Presenter
    Banking Cannabis, CFO Conference
  • May 2022
    Event
    Presenter
    Strategic Plans, Capital Plans & Risk Appetites – How They Fit Together, Virginia Bankers Association
  • May 2022
    Event
    Presenter
    ESG Perspectives: What Your Bank Can Do, ICBA Webinar
  • April 26, 2022
    Event
    Speaker
    Building the Foundation to Help You Achieve Digital Banking Success, Graduate School of Banking
  • April 4 , 2022
    Event
    Independent Bankers Association of New York State - ESG Perspectives: What Your Bank Can Do
  • March 29, 2022
    Event
    Independent Community Bankers of America – BaaS, Online Lending and Digital Banking
  • March 2, 2022
    Event
    Independent Community Bankers of America – ESG Perspectives: What Your Bank Can Do
  • December 9, 2021
    Event
    West Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware Bankers Association – Strategic Plans, Capital Plans & Risk Appetites – How They Fit Together
  • October 22, 2021
    Event
    Speaker
    Strategic Plans, Capital Plans & Risk Appetites – How They Fit Together, Louisiana Bankers Association CFO Conference
  • September 29, 2021
    Event
    Independent Community Bankers of America – Three Forms of Succession Planning
  • September 17, 2021
    Event
    Speaker
    Anti-Trust, Charter Wars, Crypto Regulation – Perspectives from Practitioners, Commerce Street Capital Conference
  • September 14, 2021
    Event
    Speaker
    Strategic Plans, Capital Plans & Risk Appetites – How They Fit Together, Arkansas Community Bankers, 2021 CFO & Financial Officers Conference
  • September 9, 2021
    Event
    Speaker
    Strategic Plans, Capital Plans and Growth Initiatives – How They Fit Together, Independent Community Bankers of America
  • Event
  • Event
    Graduate School of Banking Digital Banking School at the University of Wisconsin Webinar, “Building the Foundation to Help You Achieve Digital Banking Success,” May 18, 2021, March 17, 2021, October 14, 2020, October 13, 2020
  • Event
    Independent Community Bankers of America Webinar, “Banking Cannabis & Hemp,” May 11, 2021
  • Event
    Independent Community Bankers of America Webinar, “BaaS, Online Lending & Digital Banking,” April 13, 2021
  • Event
    Independent Community Bankers of America, Virtual Peer Connection, Roundtable Discussion Leader, “Current BSA/AML Issues,” March 24, 2021
  • Event
    Mississippi Bankers Association, Mergers & Acquisitions Conference Webinar, “Capital Offerings and Planning – Key Considerations for Bank Executives,” February 3, 2021
  • Event
    Bank Director, Acquire Or Be Acquired Virtual Conference, “Growth by Digital Banking and Banking as a Service,” January 6, 2021
  • Event
    Massachusetts Bankers Association, 2020 Risk Management Conference Webinar, “Strategic Plans, Capital Plans & Risk Appetites – How They Fit Together,” December 18, 2020
  • Event
    Virginia Bankers Association Webinar, “Update on COVID/Employee Retention Credit,” December 13, 2020
  • Event
    Mississippi Bankers Association Webinar, “Capital Offerings and Planning – Key Considerations for Bank Executives,” November 10, 2020
  • Event
    Indiana Bankers Association Webinar, “A Director’s Planning Role in Today’s Challenging Banking Environment,” August 26, 2020
  • Event
    Illinois Bankers Association Webinar, “A Road Map for Success(ion!),” August 18, 2020
  • Event
    Independent Community Bankers Association, CFO Conference Webinar, “Planning During a Pandemic,” August 17, 2020
  • Event
    Alabama Bankers Association Annual Conference, Gulf Shores, AL, “A Director’s Role in Today’s Challenging Banking Environment,” July 31, 2020
  • Event
    Independent Community Bankers Association Webinar, “Banking Cannabis in 2020,” July 15, 2020
  • Event
    National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions, Regulatory Compliance School Webinar, “Vendor Management,” July 14, 2020
  • Event
    Independent Community Bankers Association Webinar, “Vendor Risk Management,” May 7, 2020
  • March 9, 2020
    Event
    Independent Community Bankers of America, Bank Director Current Issues Seminar, “Banking Hemp Businesses in 2020,” Orlando, FL
  • March 8, 2020
    Event
    Independent Community Bankers of America, Bank Director Current Issues Seminar, “Banking Marijuana Businesses in 2020,” Orlando, FL
  • February 6, 2020
    Event
    Independent Community Bankers of America Live Webinar, “How to be a Fintech Platform Bank,” Dallas, TX
  • December 20, 2019
    Event
    BankersWeb Board of Directors Training Course, Training Video, “What Directors Need to Know,” Washington, DC
  • November 14, 2019
    Event
    West Virginia Bankers Association CFO Conference, “Opportunities to Access New Capital – Key Considerations for Bank Executives,” Charlestown, WV
  • November 6, 2019
    Event
    McKinsey GCI Analytics, Commercial Lending Forum – Panelist & Presenter, “Cannabis and Banking – Rising Challenges, Legal Updates, and Perspectives from Current Players,” Miami, FL
  • October 28, 2019
    Event
    The Risk Management Association, Annual Risk Management Conference, “Bank M&A Issue: what are the hidden risks in the deal?,” New Orleans, LA
  • October 11, 2019
    Event
    Community Bankers of West Virginia, CEO Directors Conference, “Best Practices in Board Governance and Director & CEO Succession,” Roanoke, WV
  • October 7, 2019
    Event
    Independent Community Bankers of America, Community Banker University, “Banking Cannabis Businesses in 2019,” Scottsdale, AZ
  • September 17, 2019
    Event
    Independent Community Bankers of America, Community Banker University, “Community Bank Fintech Partnerships: Due Diligence Requirements & More,” New Orleans, LA
  • September 16, 2019
    Event
    Virginia Bankers Association Legal Affairs Committee, “Banking Cannabis Businesses in 2019,” Richmond, VA
  • Event
    Indiana Bankers Association, Director Conference, “Best Practices in Board Governance and Director/CEO Succession,” Indianapolis, IN, August 13, 2019 and Jeffersonville, IN, August 14, 2019
  • May 20, 2019
    Event
    Independent Community Bankers of America CFO Forum, “Managing Legal Trends and Taking Advantage of Opportunities in 2019,” Indianapolis, Indiana
  • Event
    Annual VT/NH CEO/Senior Management and CFO Conference, “Governance, Director Liability and Strategic Planning: What You Really Need to Know,” May 9, 2019
  • Event
    Independent Community Bankers of America Capital Summit, Panelist, “Fintech and the Future of Banking,” April 26, 2019
  • Event
    Independent Community Bankers of America Webinar, “Banking Cannabis Businesses in 2019,” April 11, 2019
  • March 20, 2019
    Event
    Independent Community Bankers of America Community Banking Live 2019, “Banking in the Niches: Cannabis, MSBs and More,” Nashville, Tennessee
  • February 1, 2019
    Event
    Florida Bankers Association, “Managing Legal & Regulatory Risk,” Tampa, Florida
  • November 7, 2018
    Event
    West Virginia Bankers Association, 2018 CFO Conference, “Putting Capital to Work,” Charleston, West Virginia
  • October 18, 2018
    Event
    Massachusetts Bankers Association, Fall Director Series, “The Evolving Role of the Director: Red Flags and Corporate Governance Updates,” Boston, Massachusetts
  • September 24, 2018
    Event
    2018 BancAlliance Fall Member Meeting, “Strategic Planning: Disruptions and Opportunities,” Washington, DC
  • June 17-20, 2018
    Event
    Virginia Bankers Association, 2018 VBA Annual Convention, “Compensation Planning Strategies,” Hot Springs, Virginia
  • May 22-23, 2018
    Event
    Independent Community Bankers of America’s 2018 Community Bank CFO Forum, “Strategic Planning: Legal Issues and Trends,” Nashville, Tennessee
  • Event
    Independent Community Bankers of America – Webinar “Legalization of Cannabis in 2018,” April 2018
  • March 13-17, 2018
    Event
    Independent Community Bankers of America - 2018 ICBA Community Banking Live, “The Evolving Role of the Director: Changing Shareholder Expectations, Red Flags, ERM and Governance,” Las Vegas, Nevada
  • November 16-17, 2017
    Event
    West Virginia Bankers Association, CFO Conference, “How Banks Should Make the Decision to Buy or Sell,” Charleston, West Virginia
  • October 23, 2017
    Event
    The Affiliation Program, Sheshunoff Consulting, 2017 CEO Affiliation Program, “Capital Planning and Capital and Preparing for the Sale,” Colorado Springs, Colorado, September 11, 2017; Pebble Beach, California, September 18, 2017; Naples, Florida, October 16, 2017; and Charleston, South Carolina
  • October 15-17, 2017
    Event
    Independent Community Bankers of America, 17th Annual Directors Conference, “Capital Planning and M&A,” St. Pete Beach, Florida
  • Event
    Independent Community Bankers of America Webinar “Third Party Risk for Directors,” July 20, 2017
  • June 2017
    Event
    Independent Bankers Association of New York State CFO Conference, “Capital,” West Point, New York
  • May 2017
    Event
    Indiana Bankers Association, 2017 Mega Conference, “A Director’s Role,” Indianapolis, Indiana
  • May 1, 2017
    Event
    Independent Community Bankers of America - Capitol Summit and Future of Banking Symposium: FinTech Panel
  • March 2017
    Event
    Independent Community Bankers of America - 2017 ICBA Community Banking Live Convention, “Incentive Compensation – New and Emerging Trends Bankers Need to Know” and “The Anatomy of a Deal: Bank M&A in 2017,” San Antonio, Texas
  • February 2017
    Event
    South Carolina Bankers Association, Safety & Soundness Conference, “Capital and Management,” Columbia, South Carolina
  • Event
    Independent Community Bankers of America Webinar, “Banking Cannabis Business in 2017,” January 2017
  • October 2016
    Event
    Community Bankers Association of Illinois CFO Conference, “Overcoming Today’s Operational Challenges at Your Bank,” Springfield, Illinois
  • September 2016
    Event
    Independent Community Bankers of America, Lead FWD Summit, “Overcoming Today’s Operational Challenges at Your Bank,” Denver, Colorado
  • April 2016
    Event
    Virginia Bankers Association, Burgers with Bruce, “Low-Hanging Fruit: Making Money, Saving Money and Avoiding Risk,” Richmond, Harrisonburg, Northern Virginia
  • April 2016
    Event
    Independent Bankers Association of New York State, Director Conference “Thinking about Selling – What to Know,” Rochester and Albany, New York
  • March 2016
    Event
    2016 CEO Affiliation Program sponsored by Sheshunoff Consulting, “Low Hanging Fruit: Making Money, Saving Money and Avoiding Risk,” Avon, Colorado
  • February 2016
    Event
    South Carolina Bankers Association, Safety & Soundness Conference, “Capital and Management,” Columbia, South Carolina
  • January 2016
    Event
    Florida Bankers Association, Safety and Soundness Conference, “Current Regulatory Practices,” Miami and Tampa, Florida
  • October 2015
    Event
    Florida Bankers Association,  M&A Conference, “Preparing for the Transaction: What Buyers and Sellers Should Know,” Tampa, Florida
  • September 2015
    Event
    Independent Community Bankers of America,  Leadership Development Conference, “Navigating Third Party Risk,” Indianapolis, Indiana
  • Event
    Independent Community Bankers of America Webinar, “Banking Cannabis Business,” August 2015
  • May 2015
    Event
    Southwest Regional Bank Strategy Forum sponsored by Sandler + O’Neill, “Recent Regulatory and Legal Developments in M&A,” Dallas, Texas
  • March 2015
    Event
    South Carolina Bankers Association, 2015 Safety & Soundness Workshop, “Capital Adequacy and Management,” Columbia, South Carolina
  • March 2015
    Event
    Independent Community Bankers Association National Convention, “Capital, Understanding It and Building It,” Orlando, Florida
  • October 2014
    Event
    Independent Bankers Association of New York State, Directors’ Conference, “Capital is King: Raising Capital for Community Banks in Today’s Challenging Market,” Syracuse, New York
  • September 2014
    Event
    California Bankers Association,  Safety and Soundness Conference, “Management,” Newport Beach, California
  • September 2014
    Event
    Independent Bankers Association of New York State, Annual Convention, “Liabilities, Fiduciary Duties & Best Practices for Bank Directors,” Lake Placid, New York
  • April 2014
    Event
    Virginia Bankers Association/Virginia Association of Community Banks, 2014 Directors Conference, “Liabilities, Fiduciary Duties & Best Practices for Bank Directors,” Richmond, Virginia
  • April 2014
    Event
    Virginia Bankers Association/Virginia Association of Community Banks, 2014 Directors Conference, “How to Build and Retain a High Performing Bank Directors,” Richmond, Virginia
  • October 2013
    Event
    EPCOR - Payments Conference, “Regulatory Scrutiny of Third-Party Service Providers,” Overland Park, Kansas
  • September 2012
    Event
    Virginia Bankers Association, 2012 CEO Forum, “Consumer Compliance and Regulatory Hot Buttons,” Irvington, VA

Publications

  • February 2020
    Publication
  • July/August 2018
    Publication
  • March 2018
    Publication
  • January 2018
    Publication
    Co-author
    Attorney General Jeff Sessions Announces Return to Traditional Guidelines for Prosecuting Marijuana Crimes; Rescinds Cole Memo Referenced in FinCEN Guidance
  • Publication
    2018 M&A Reporter – 2017 M&A Year in Review for Bank Mergers
  • July 2016
    Publication
    Author
    Impact of Re-Proposed Rule on Incentive-Based Compensation on Community Banks
  • July/August 2015
    Publication
    Co-author
    ACH: Compliance Burden or Revenue Opportunity?, In Touch – Community Bankers Association of Kansas
  • July 2015
    Publication
    Co-author
    Banking Cannabis Business
  • July 2015
    Publication
    Co-author
    ACH: Compliance Burden or Revenue Opportunity? The Wyoming Banker
  • August 2014
    Publication
    Co-author
    FinCEN Expands Customer Due Diligence Requirements
  • January 2014
    Publication
    Co-author
    Fourteen Steps to Address Third-Party Risk
  • January 2012
    Publication
  • February 2011
    Publication
    Co-author
    Proposed Regulations on Incentive-Based Compensation Provide Guidance for All Financial Institutions
  • April 2009
    Publication
    Author
    Interest Rate Restrictions on Institutions that Are Less than Well-Capitalized, Kentucky Banker
  • October 2008
    Publication
    Co-author
    The FDIC Adds to the Cost of Brokered Deposits with Changes in Assessment Rates

News

Education

LLM, Georgetown University, with distinction, 2003

JD, George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School, cum laude, 2000

BS, The College of William & Mary, 1996

Admissions

District of Columbia

Texas

Virginia

Jump to Page