Reed Smith recently added Steven Nesmith to its Financial Industry, Financial Services Regulatory, and Government Relations Group. Steven’s practice will focus on, among other areas, assisting bank and non-bank clients with housing/mortgage, banking, financial services and international trade issues before Congress, and the regulatory agencies.
Steven's background combines extensive experience at senior levels, as in-house corporate counsel, in private practice, and in government service as a former Assistant Secretary of HUD in charge of congressional, regulatory and industry relations, and as a Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration.
Prior to joining Reed Smith, Steven was a senior executive and regulatory counsel for the largest national title insurance company in the U.S. He has also served as Assistant General Counsel for the largest non-bank mortgage serving company in the U.S., with a focus on regulatory and mortgage business issues before Congress and regulatory agencies, including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Steven’s expertise and experience as in-house counsel, as a senior government official, and in private practice, will assist clients in solving regulatory/compliance issues and navigating the various federal agencies such as HUD, FHA, Ginnie Mae, Treasury, and the FDIC, as well as Congress.
“I’m thrilled to join Reed Smith,” Nesmith said. “I was attracted to Reed Smith because its Financial Industry Group provides clients with an integrated approach, combining litigation, regulatory, and transactional teams to find legal and business solutions, to help their clients grow their businesses. This integrated approach in serving clients, along with Reed Smith’s industry expertise, greatly distinguish the firm from others in the marketplace.”
Steven regularly speaks at mortgage and housing financial services industry groups – for example, the National Mortgage Bankers Association, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, and many national housing organizations. Steven was captain of American University's basketball team, was honored by the Washington, D.C. Basketball Hall of Fame during his senior year, and later played professional basketball in Europe.
Nesmith is the latest edition to Reed Smith’s growing powerhouse of consumer financial services litigation and regulation attorneys. In addition to Nesmith, Reed Smith’s team also includes a former Associate General Counsel from the Federal Reserve Board, former Enforcement Counsel from the OCC, former Enforcement Counsel from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, former Deputy Commissioner of Banking for New Jersey, former Assistant Counsel from the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities, former federal prosecutors, several seasoned trial attorneys, and former general counsels and assistant general counsels from some of the country’s leading financial institutions.