Jennifer Stevens Email & Phone Number

Westlake, Tx

Litigation & Regulatory Group- Defend broker-dealer in FINRA hearings (as first chair and in partnership with outside counsel); as first chair trial counsel, prepare all pre-trial filings and exhibits, handle opening statements and closing arguments, and conduct direct and cross-examinations of witnesses. - Manage all aspects of litigation pending in state and federal court and arbitration forums, including reviewing and drafting motions and briefs, managing discovery, and interviewing and preparing witnesses for testimony. - Develop and implement strategy around and manage complex civil litigation and arbitrations.- Manage outside counsel to drive effective litigation strategy and limit financial liability.- Counsel business units on pre-litigation disputes.- Engage associates and leaders throughout the firm to leverage their subject matter expertise in rendering advice and directing litigation. - Collaborate with internal paralegals to develop factual analysis and case evaluations.

Plano, Texas, United States

Government Investigations & Regulatory Enforcement- Investigated and responded to requests and inquiries related to trading activity and securities laws from government agencies, regulators and SROs, including SEC, FINRA and DOJ.- Coordinated and worked closely with line-of-business legal and compliance on government investigations and regulatory matters. - Collaborated with legal and compliance colleagues in Europe and Asia on regulatory requests involving global participants. - Communicated with senior legal, compliance and business management on legal issues relating to regulatory investigations and inquiries. - Active member of working groups related to increasing spend with diverse law firms and timekeepers.

Plano, Texas

Home Lending Litigation: Early Dispute Resolution Team- Actively managed 50-70 cases in early stages of mortgage litigation with focus on evaluating exposure and personally developing and implementing settlement strategy to avoid legal expense and extended litigation. - Communicated with internal business clients and management regarding case status, settlement options, and legal risk arising from business practices. - Supervised paralegal assigned chain of title cases; mentored and trained newly hired attorneys and paralegals.

Phoenix, Arizona Area

- Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation, Financial Services Litigation- Defended financial institutions in consumer financial services and mortgage-related litigation, including claims under the Truth In Lending Act (TILA), Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and state consumer fraud statutes.

Phoenix, Arizona Area

- Practice Areas: Securities Litigation, Commercial Litigation - Defended complex lawsuits alleging violations of federal securities laws.- Represented broker-dealers, registered representatives and investment advisors in FINRA customer arbitrations and enforcement and disciplinary actions before the SEC and FINRA. - Assumed primary responsibility for preparing and organizing pre-trial and pre-arbitration filings, including pre-hearing briefs, joint pretrial statements, motions in limine, and jury instructions.- Represented court-appointed monitor overseeing implementation of AML program for international money services business; drafted testing procedures and assisted with testing effectiveness of various facets of AML program; prepared periodic reports detailing company’s progress.- Defended former CFO of a public company in an SEC enforcement action alleging accounting irregularities in violation of the antifraud provisions of the Securities Act and Exchange Act.

Phoenix, Arizona Area

- Practice Areas: Appeals, Municipal Liability, Insurance Defense- Wrote and filed appellate briefs in federal and state courts in all types of civil litigation, including medical malpractice, governmental liability, family law, and torts.- Argued before Arizona Court of Appeals, U.S. District Court and Maricopa County Superior Court. - Partnered with trial counsel in complex personal injury and wrongful death matters to develop litigation strategy, preserve the record for appeal, and prepare and argue complex or dispositive motions. - Second-chaired three jury trials.

Doctor Of Law (J.D.)

Activities and Societies: Arizona Journal of International and Comparative Law

B.A., Political Science

Activities and Societies: Phi Beta Kappa, Trinitonian - Managing Editor